This page serves as an introduction to the areas listed and makes no claim to be all inclusive. See department coordinator, counselor, or advisor for more complete information.
| College/School/Department | Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences |
| Name of Program Emphasis | English Language and Literature |
| Counselors | Bryan Hay, Undergraduate Coordinator 625 Lindquist Hall 978-6695 hay@twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu Derek Soles, Director of the Writing Program 608B Lindquist Hall 978-6271 dxsoles@twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu Maureen Hoag, Assistant Director of the Writing Program 604 Lindquist Hall 978-6691 hoag@wsuhub.uc.twsu.edu |
| Overview | The English department offers a broad and
flexible program of courses that are central to a liberal arts education while offering
students the opportunity for personal enrichment and a variety of career possibilities. The department offers bachelor's degree programs in literature, creative writing, and teaching, as well as a range of courses in linguistics. Students who pursue an English major will find the knowledge of communications skills acquired in their work in English a valuable asset as they seek entrance into a wide range of fields that include communications, education, government, law, and business. The 33-hour program in English language and literature consists of a 21-hour core and 12 hours of elective courses. The core requirements provide background in the great literary works that have helped shape the western literary tradition; give a basic understanding of the nature of poetry, drama and fiction; and introduce the essentials of the language used to transmit the experience of literary imagination. Mastery of the core courses gives students the confidence they need in approaching literary works. The electives allow students, with the help of a faculty advisor, to design a program to suit many career objectives and intellectual interests. Students may, with departmental consent, select one course in a related subject from an area such as Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures or Theatre. A minor consists of 15 hours and is composed of a 9-hour core and 6 hours of upper-division elective courses. A number of minors have been specifically designed to support majors in other fields; for further information contact the undergraduate coordinator. |
| Places for
Employment (Examples) |
Teaching at university and college level Advertising agencies Business and industrial offices Publication houses Government agencies Newspapers Magazines |
| Specializations
in the Field |
Teachers Researchers Public Relations firms Free-lance writers Editors Professional and legal writers Insurance underwriters Business and technical writers Linguists Undergraduate preparation for advanced degrees in professional schools such as law, library science |
| Working Conditions | Working conditions vary, depending on the organizations. Generally, most jobs occur in an office setting. Some positions involve working with people, others involve individual tasks. |
| Personal Qualifications | You should be intellectually curious and able
to think logically, sort out material, and organize information. Since many writing tasks are accomplished on an individual level, you should be self-disciplined in your work habits and able to work without supervision. |
| Undergraduate Internships/Cooperative Educations & Job Opportunities |
Geraldine Hammond Award for Academic
Achievement Louella Bosworth Scholarship Flora C. Clough Scholarship English Alumni Scholarship Mary Haymaker Scholarship Marguerite Bliss and Isabel Ford Scholarship Carrie Halfman Memorial Scholarship |
| Student Organization | Sigma Tau Delta |
| Try-out Courses | English 220G English Masterpieces (3) English 230G Exploring Literature (3) English 232G Themes in American Literature (3) English 252Q Modern American Writers (3) English 285Q Intro to Creative Writing (3) |
| Future Outlook | The future outlook is good, for someone who combines an English major with a solid undergraduate curriculum and/or a second major. A foreign language is a good choice here. It must be remembered that the ability to read and interpret material as well as the ability to write well are essential to the performance of most jobs. |
| Famous English Majors | Alan Alda (actor), Stephen King (writer), Russell Baker (journalist), Dave Barry (humorist), Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (television writer/producer) Chevy Chase (comedian), Mario Cuomo (governor of New York), Michael Eisner (Walt Disney CEO), Jodi Foster (actress), Cathy Guisewite (cartoonist), Paul Newman (actor, entrepreneur), Joe Paterno (football coach), Sally Ride (astronaut), Diane Sawyer (broadcast journalist). |
| Quotes | "The man who does not read any good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them." Mark Twain |
| More
Information & Resources |
See the English department web site. (It will be ready soon!) |
| As A
Student in English |
You will study literature--English, American, and European--in a variety of courses that concentrate on particular periods (like Modern American Literature), authors (like Shakespeare or Mark Twain), or types of literature (like fiction, poetry, drama). Many students decide to pursue advanced degrees in English. A number of WSU graduates have earned fellowships to do masters and doctoral work at such distinguished institutions as Harvard, Claremont, and Washington. |
| As a
Graduate with an English Degree |
You will be among those who have a strong
educational foundation in the area of knowledge called the humanities. In addition to
possessing an extensive knowledge of literature and our language, you will also possess some understanding of related forms of knowledge, like history and philosophy. Depending on what you study in the rest of your curriculum, with an English major you may choose among a number of possible career options: teaching; writing; occupations in business, government, industry, journalism. You will be well prepared for graduate study in fields related to English or in the professional school of law, business, dentistry and medicine. Because they are attractive to the professional schools, many students combine a liberal arts major like English with the required preprofessional curriculum. Whichever career option you choose, you will find that the requirements for success in your career are basically the same as those for success in the English major: you will need to be intellectually curious, enthusiastic, self-disciplined, clear-thinking, and articulate. |
| The
University reserves the right |
To revise or change rules, charges, fees, schedules, courses, requirements for degrees and any other regulations affecting students whenever it is considered necessary or desirable. |
| Notice of Nondiscrimination |
Wichita State University does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260-0145; telephone (316) 978-3371. |