English

The English Department is dedicated to providing our students with the tools they need to engage in critical thinking and to explore literature and creativity. Our core courses offer a solid foundation in literature and literary theory, and our elective offerings allow students to shape the major as they wish, such as a concentration in writing, a particular literary period, western literary heritage, or global diversity. The study of English broadens the mind and fosters intellectual curiosity.

Students with English majors go into a number of careers.  Besides graduate study and secondary teaching, a number of our graduates have gone into advertising, public relations, journalism, library science, law, business, government, and industry.

Vision

As our department moves further into the second decade of the 21st century, we are mindful of new challenges that students face in a world compressed by technology, information, and communication. We want to be a department that is savvy about change and effective in helping students to understand shifting global perspectives and issues of diversity, as well as practical changes in print culture and academic/professional concentrations in English.

Program Learning Goals

• Students will demonstrate the ability to write clearly and effectively in critical and/or creative modes.
   
• Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically about literature, language, and culture.
   
• Students will demonstrate the ability to recognize canonical authors and works in their historical contexts, including an understanding of literary techniques, formal devices, and genres.