Curriculum
As an English major at the University of Mount Union, you will learn about authors, explore a wide variety of literature and learn the foundations of professional writing. You will read numerous pieces and gain hands-on experience by expressing yourself through your own writing.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon graduation, students who major in English will be able to:
- Persuasively interpret subtext and significance by connecting literary texts with relevant contexts (cultural, historical, generic, critical).
- Demonstrate the ability to gain insight through close reading as well as the application of literary theory.
- Demonstrate insight into the ways that power relations shape and are shaped by literature, particularly in the case of social justice issues concerning race, gender, class, religion, and nationality.
- Be able to trace key movements and issues in British, American, and Anglophone literary and linguistic history (including the history of literary theory) from foundational texts to current texts.
- Clearly communicate how their research and arguments relate to existing arguments and contribute something of significance.
- Produce focused, graceful, insightful, well-supported and documented literary criticism in written and oral form.
Experiential Learning
Students who choose to major in English at the University Mount Union have many opportunities to hone their skills, broaden their writing abilities and showcase their work. By getting involved in these extracurricular opportunities and student organizations, you can strengthen your writing skills and get valuable hands-on experience, both of which are critical to finding a job after graduation.
These opportunities include:
- Attending and presenting at regional and national conferences
- Traveling to hear published writers speak
- Classroom speakers and guest lectures
- Independent research
- Research with faculty or student peers
- Internships and cooperative education assignments
- Membership in English and writing-oriented student organizations
- Working as a consultant at the DWOC Studio
The Calliope is Mount Union’s annual literary and art magazine. It accepts submissions for publication including poetry, fiction, drama, creative non-fiction and artwork.
Sigma Tau Delta is an international English honor society. Its central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
Book Club is a student-led organization on Mount Union’s campus. The organization promotes an outlet for creativity and curiosity by hosting and attending intellectual and cultural activities pertaining to literature and/or writing.
The Digital, Written and Oral Communication Studio is an interdisciplinary writing support center offered free of charge to Mount Union students. The Center offers English and writing students an opportunity to tutor others’ writing and, in the process, become more effective writers and communicators. Typically, half the 20 yearly staff positions are filled by English and writing students.
Careers
The English major’s focus on developing superior core skills of interpretation and communication prepares students for success in a huge range of professions. For example, apart from the well-known paths to teaching and various kinds of professional writing, the English major is also a traditional preparation for law school because of its emphasis on persuasion and the evaluation of verbal evidence. In fact, English is among a handful of majors that consistently place highest for scores on the national law school admissions test (LSAT). Given that a typical American now switches careers three or even five times, the flexible skill set of the English major is a major advantage in both traditional and emerging fields.
RECENT EMPLOYERS
Modern Machine Shop
Pepperdine University
Epic Systems
|
RECENT GRAD SCHOOLS
University of Cincinnati
The Ohio State University
University of Toledo
Carnegie Mellon University
|
COMMON CAREERS
Teaching English in Middle/High School
Teaching in Higher Education
Publishing and Editing
Law
Library Science
Business
|
