Why should I study English?

The English minor allows you to explore the human experience through great works and pen your own under the guidance of professors who are published writers themselves. You'll cultivate skills of analysis and connection useful in any career, including: 

• intellectual capacity for critical thought
• emotional capacity for sympathetic understanding
• aesthetic capacity for appreciating beauty
• moral capacity for ethical action
• creative capacity for effective communication

What can I do with this degree?

Often our English minors pursue majors in other art forms or in teaching. Many of these students go on to pursue publication in print and online. The English minor also strengthens students' qualifications to enter careers in fields such as communications and marketing, and pairs well with graphic design training.

What skills will I develop?

• Communication
• Creative and critical thinking
• Writing
• Editing
• Presenting
• Literary craft techniques
• Contexts, critical approaches, and methods for interpretation

What unique experiences or opportunities will I have?

Take your writing out of the classroom

• Textura is an award-winning magazine created by students in conjunction with a J-Term study abroad trip

Share your writing both on and off campus

• Write for, edit, and publish in peer-reviewed or on-campus publications such as the Coeval, the student literary magazine, and The Clarion, Bethel’s student newspaper
• Compete for our annual Jerry Healy Poetry Prize
• Receive information about opportunities to be published in literary websites and journals
• Meet with visiting writers to get comments on your work in progress 

Learn from accomplished faculty writers

Overall, in the last four years, English department professors have published 5 books, 4 book chapters, 34 creative pieces, 20 scholarly pieces, and given 71 professional presentations. As a result of these professional successes, our professors are well-connected with the writing and publishing communities both locally and nationwide—such as Angela Shannon, who serves on the board at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. These connections help to provide students with top internship opportunities where skills can be developed further.

Recent News

Students explore issues and human experiences through stories

March 26, 2024 | Noon

Upcoming Events

MAY 2 2024

Coeval Literary and Arts Magazine 2024 Release Party

7 p.m. Eastlund Room

Contributors of the Coeval Literary and Arts Magazine will present their work from the journal

MAY 16 2024

English and Journalism (ENJ) Celebration

4:45 p.m. Eastlund Room

Celebrate story (and meet friends old and new) at the English and Journalism spring celebration.

Literature changed who I was, allowed me to look at the world in a new way, to become a more curious person. Faith-learning integration at Bethel helped prepare me to link my faith with my work.

Amy Williams '07
Current job: Major Gifts Officer at Ecumen

For me, journalism meant becoming a reporter, but God brought me into ministry. I quickly learned that good writing transcends vocation. Creative storytelling is key anywhere. Studying journalism helped me find my voice and bring good writing to any calling.

Monique Kleinhuizen '08 GS'16
Current job: Communications Strategist at Bethel University

We had numerous opportunities to practice journalism in classroom and professional settings, and we didn't just learn it as a craft. We studied the role of journalism as an institution, which I find very beneficial in today's media environment.

Jared Nelson '16
Current job: Communications Manager, PrepHoops.com