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English
Division: Humanities
Department: English
English - The study of literature, composition, and the English language.
Because reading, writing, and thinking never go out of style.
Why English?
Fact 1: The job market is constantly changing.
Fact 2: There is one thing that isn't changing: the need
for effective writers and communicators.
Fact 3: A degree in English tells prospective employers
that you have the communication skills necessary to represent their companies
and organizations well.
If you're interested in teaching or simply love poetry and prose, an English
major will engage you in a four-year discussion of language and literature.
If you want to pursue a career in creative writing, technical writing,
law, journalism, advertising, or public relations, an English major is
the place to begin developing the writing, speaking, and critical thinking
skills you'll need to succeed on the job.
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Why English
at SJC?
Core: Because of our nationally renowned
Core Program, a degree in English at SJC
means you'll have read and written twice as much as English graduates
from other schools. It's like getting a double major in English. Core
will also give you the opportunity to better understand the cultures that
have produced your favorite literature.
Expert faculty who know your name: At SJC,
you work closely with M.A.s and Ph.D.s who have published articles, fiction,
and poetry in a variety of respected journals and magazines and who encourage
their students to do the same. You'll have direct access to these experts
in classes ranging from 10 to 20 students, and they'll get to know you
personally throughout the course of the program, helping you develop as
both a writer and a thinker. (Faculty Profiles)
Hands-on Experience: While we know the importance
of classroom learning, we also know you need more than "book smarts" to
land a job. That's why we encourage our English majors to pursue internships
in their areas of interest. That way, when you're a senior and ready to
start job-hunting, you'll already have practical work experience under
your belt. You'll also have an idea of which career paths best suit your
skills and interests. (Success Stories)
- Area Internships: The English Department works with a number of companies and organizations to provide internship opportunities for English majors. Internships and work experience in which our students have participated include: student teaching a literature course at a public school, writing and designing publications for the Prairie Arts Council in Rensselaer, reporting for the Rensselaer Republican, writing for FOX 59 Television in Indianapolis, Indiana, and working for Child's Play Touring Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
- On-Campus Opportunities: Our students have pursued a variety of work experience on campus, from writing for the Office of Publications and Media Relations to staffing our two department publications: Measure, the SJC creative arts magazine, and The Observer, the campus newspaper.
- Creative Writing: Whether you are a poet or a fiction writer, the Creative Writing Program can help you find your voice and develop your style.
- Literature: The program in Literature will provide you with a strong foundation in various areas of world literature, with concentrations in American and British authors and texts.
- Secondary Education: For those who look forward to teaching high school English, our Literature major is accompanied by an Education minor that not only grounds students in theories about teaching, but places them in the classroom so they can see how those theories operate in practice. These hands-on experiences begin your freshman year, so you can have four years to develop strategies for effective teaching.
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