Welcome to the English Department

About the Department

The English Department is one of the largest at the University and its course offerings and paths of opportunity mirror its size and diversity. Whether you are interested in becoming a poet, an editor, a screen/speech writer or a teacher, we have courses that will engage and challenge you. With seven concentrations ranging from English as a second language to film, creative writing to writing and rhetoric, literature to linguistics, you are sure to find courses that appeal to your interests. The skills you will learn from completing a concentration in our department will give you a competitive edge in today's global marketplace.

A Diverse Curriculum

"How invaluable your guidance has been during my college years; you have supported every decision I made and helped me make it all work." -- Melissa Zarou, 2008 English Department Graduate

The English Department always has changing offerings that speak to contemporary issues, from courses in soundtracks in film or postcolonial literature of revolutions. Many of the tracks are anchored in traditions of the language and its literatures, grounding students in social, cultural and historical developments. Each of the concentrations also has opportunity for students to devise their own niche of interest through elective choices. The professors offer new courses each semester, so that there are always appealing and almost never-ending varieties.

Celebrating the Individual

The English Department prides itself on the excellence of its teachers and their ability to reach out to each student in class. In English courses, students are individuals whose voices and developing opinions are nurtured and welcomed. Professors encourage and refine students' written and oral expressions within and beyond the classroom. The low professor to student ratio and the hands-on nature of English classes leads students to proficiency in many skills prized by a wide variety of professions -- and helps the individual student discover his or her own voice and skills as a writer.

Teachers and Scholars

Professors are active scholars in their fields, publishing books, articles and poetry or fiction as well as presenting their work at academic conferences and exploring new pedagogical strategies. They are also active in their communities, engaging with the local libraries' reading groups or sharing messages of literacy with underprivileged children at local schools. The courses often talk to each other and, as you move through the program, you will come to know your professors and refine your own area of interest. With tutoring opportunities in the University Writing Center on campus, students can draw upon their own reading and writing skills to help others. And the department offers a Master of Arts in English too, which includes teaching assistantship positions and a range of areas of specialization.

Learning and Doing

Students are encouraged to professionalize themselves as undergraduates, as the department supports students attending the National Conference on Undergraduate Research as well as presenting their research efforts at the University in its public forums. There are course offerings that will take you around the world literally too, from Ghana, where your understanding of slave narratives will undoubtedly be altered, to the U.K., where you can walk in Wordsworth's footsteps. The Writers on the Shore series brings internationally acclaimed creative writers to campus, while grants support teachers as they gain expertise in helping second language speakers become proficient. Students and their advisors work closely to devise the course of study best suited to a student's interests, and our graduates frequently progress to further graduate studies or law schools. Indeed, the critical thinking, reading and writing abilities garnered through your studies in the department can take you into many career paths upon your graduation.

Get Involved

English majors on campus have many opportunities to hone their skills. From working as tutors with English as a Second Language (ESL) students, to writing and editing the campus newspaper, to organizing and running the creative literary magazine, there are many outlets for students who want to be involved. Taking a Writing for the Web course leads students to develop their own professional Web sites; a beginning creative writing course can lead to poetry readings and open mike nights. The department also offers a variety of internship opportunities. Local teachers often come back to visit the professors who inspired them to become teachers themselves, and former students become colleagues and friends as they enhance the skills learned in the English Department at Salisbury University.