Among the most commonly spoken languages in the world, English is the language of media, the internet, business, science, computers, diplomacy, tourism and more. Command over the English language does more than give you culture and style – it opens up a world of possibilities for your future.
Why Choose an English Major at ÃÛÌÒav?
ÃÛÌÒav’s English major prepares students not only for the workplace of today, but the workplace of tomorrow, graduate school and lifelong learning. We cultivate visionary thinkers with a wide range of courses – from analyzing Medieval literature to the strategies of digital media.
As a ÃÛÌÒav student, you could take part in the following opportunities:
Attend on-campus events such as Writers on the Shore, featuring world-renowned writers
Enter the SU Student Film Festival
Study abroad, including places like London, Ghana and Iceland
Take up variety of internships
Our department may be housed in a small city, but our outreach is truly international: Our graduates have taught English abroad in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America. We are also home to one of most distinguished academic journals worldwide, .
English Major Tracks and Concentrations
At SU, students may complete the liberal arts English major in one of seven unique ways to bring their words to life. From creative writing to teacher certification, we will put the pen in your hand and help you write your story.
Let your imagination run free with the creative writing concentration. SU will help you express yourself through fiction, poetry and literary analysis with courses that explore diverse cultures and literary movements. Share your work with fellow authors and get feedback from faculty members with publishing experience. Learn more about the Creative Writing Program.
Make a difference by learning to teach English as a second language. Your reach will cross cultural boundaries as you learn foreign languages offered through SU, such as Spanish, French or German. With the help of field experience and internships, our graduates have taught English throughout the world. Learn more about the English as a Second Language Program.
Big screen dreams start in the classroom at SU, where you will gain an introduction to the film industry, including international cinema. Whether you want to write the next blockbuster or make your name reviewing independent movies, the film concentration gives you a solid foundation. Our students enjoy a large library collection of DVDs for independent study and a fully equipped media room for outstanding film screenings. Learn more about the Film Program at SU.
Issues important to the English language are universal and may be applied to other fields, such as forensics and medical discourse. With the linguistics concentration, students can learn how to interact with people of a variety of language and cultural backgrounds.
Engage with issues of race, gender and sexuality, ethnicity, identity and class as you study everything from British Romantic literature to South Asian traditions. You can explore the human condition with a wide range of authors including Mark Twain and J.K. Rowling. With an ever-growing curriculum, literature courses at SU have included spring break trips abroad. Learn more about the Literature Program.
The writing and rhetoric concentration guides students in shaping writers’ ideas. Students at SU participate in collaborative projects such as co-authored papers and group presentations that develop writing, listening and interpersonal skills vital for career success. This concentration can prepare students for study in a variety of areas, including media, publishing, education and civic organizations. Learn more about the Writing and Rhetoric Program.
By following course requirements through the teacher certification track, SU students can be approved to teach grades 7-12. SU offers teacher certification with the Maryland State Department of Education.
Why I Chose English at ÃÛÌÒav
Thinking about majoring in English? Josey Zeunges, one of our amazing SU students, is here to spill the tea on what it’s really like — answering your top questions with honesty and heart (and a few outtakes).
Careers for English Majors
What do you do as an English major? Writing and command over the English language are prime skills for any job, and a true writer knows that the best way to reach others is often through words. With our English program, you can make your mark on the world as a:
Book Reviewer
Journalist
Literary Agent
Newspaper Editor
Proofreader
Research Assistant
Screenwriter
English Major Faculty with Real-World Experience
At SU, you can be assured that you are learning from masters of the craft. Our professors are active scholars in their fields and publish books, articles, essays and anthologies. They present their work at academic conferences, give readings across the country and are active in their communities. With the instruction of our faculty, SU English majors have won national fellowships.
Meet Your English Faculty: John Nieves
Dr. John Nieves works extensively in creative writing and publishing. He is an accomplished poet, having published dozens of poems in various leading journals, and he has been nominated six times for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. “Curio,” his book of poetry, has received rave reviews from top poets around the country. Nieves is well known for his dedication and enthusiasm for working with students, and his students have had great success publishing their work nationally. He also is involved with students in numerous other ventures, including as the faculty advisory for SU’s Scarab literacy magazine.
Our semester programs allow SU students to spend a semester of study abroad in England, Scotland or Ghana at one of the University’s foreign partner institutions.
At the University Writing Center, we offer a place where you can meet with trained peer consultants to work on your papers and projects at any stage of the writing process.
Compose effective arguments for a range of purposes
Demonstrate an appreciation of diverse cultures, languages, ethnicities and genders
Apply elements of literary, rhetorical, linguistic and/or cinematic analysis to discussions
Distinguish between evidence and interpretation
Demonstrate interpretive and research skills
Articulate how literary, rhetorical, linguistic and/or cinematic elements illuminate human experience and appreciate the functions of language in mediating interactions
Understand the historical backgrounds of the disciplines of the English major
Explain how skills fostered by a degree in English translate into life skills
