English
An English major, you’ll have the opportunity to both experience great literature and create it. You'll read deeply, listen hard, get curious, go explore, and craft stories that will shape your soul and change the world.
Why should I study English?
As an English major, you'll explore the human experience through great works and pen your own under the guidance of professors who are published writers themselves, all while cultivating skills of analysis and connection useful in any career. You'll develop:
- 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?
When you earn a B.A. in English, you'll be prepared to attend graduate school or work in publishing, journalism, education, marketing, and more. Our alumni have built careers as:
- Editors
- Journalists
- Marketers
- Teachers
- Web developers
- Technical writers
- University professors
- Content designers
- Attorneys
- Project managers
- Human resource professionals
What skills will I develop?
- Communication
- Creative and critical thinking
- Editing
- Literary analysis and research
- Blog, personal essay, technical, user experience, and op-ed writing
- Presenting
- Revision, literary critique, and publishing
- Literary craft techniques
- Contexts, critical approaches, and methods for interpretation
What unique experiences or opportunities will I have?
Learn cross-culturally
Study other cultures in the classroom or experience them by studying abroad. Options include:
- World Literature (Japanese or Central and South American)
- Travel Writing
- The J-Term Textura trip, which gives you the opportunity to practice photojournalism and create a culturally insightful magazine
Learn from accomplished faculty writers
- April Vinding in Ruminate; her most recent book, Triptych
- Marion Larson in The Journal of College and Character; her most recent book, From Bubble to Bridge: Educating Christians for a Multifaith World.
- Scott Winter's most recent book, Nebrasketball: Coach Tim Miles and a Big Ten Team on the Rise, won a 2016 Nebraska Book Award
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.