English

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Chairperson: Dr. James F. Wurtz

Department Office: Root Hall, room A-266

Web site: http:// indstate.edu/english/

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

The study of English develops essential skills for professional success and personal fulfillment: an understanding of language and its functions in society; fluency in written communication, in both practical and artistic applications; and a critical appreciation of literary works from diverse time periods and cultures. The most common career paths for English majors are writing, editing, and publishing; advertising and public relations; business administration and management; technical writing; and teaching at middle school, high school, or college levels. A major or minor in English is also an excellent choice for students considering graduate or professional study in the humanities, law, or business. The Department of English’s internship program can provide students with valuable preprofessional experience and job placement opportunities, and the option to study abroad can enhance students’ academic and cultural experiences.

In support of multidisciplinary studies, the Department of English participates in the African and African American Studies Program, the Honors Program, the International Studies Program, and the Gender Studies Program. For all students in the University, the Department of English offers Foundational Studies courses in writing and literature. 

DEGREES OFFERED

The Department of English offers majors in English (with concentrations in Literary Studies or Creative Writing) and English Teaching, as well as minors in English and Creative Writing. Students majoring in English and English Teaching will earn a bachelor of arts degree. Candidates must complete the University requirement of a minimum of 120 credits, including Foundational Studies course work, as well as the requirements for the major. A minor is recommended but not required for English and English Teaching majors.

The English major curriculum with a Literary Studies concentration exposes students to a wide range of literature, from international classics to contemporary multicultural American texts. Enhanced writing skills, critical thinking, and an individually tailored humanistic education with a preprofessional focus are the special features of the English liberal arts major or minor. The English major curriculum with a Creative Writing concentration also exposes students to a wide range of literature, as well as allows students to focus on the craft of writing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Enhanced creative writing skills, supported through the study of literature, are the focus of the Creative Writing concentration. The English Teaching curriculum combines the study of literature, writing, and language to provide a comprehensive knowledge of content and teaching methods for future teachers of English or language arts at middle school or high school levels. The Creative Writing minor allows students to focus on the craft of writing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

DEPARTMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES

English majors and minors and English Teaching majors are advised by the Director of Undergraduate Studies, who provides academic support and serves as a source of departmental information for students. The Department of English has more than a dozen scholarships and awards for undergraduate students, and provides a variety of hands-on learning and career readiness opportunities.

Student organizations sponsored by the Department of English include the Sigma Tau Delta honor society, and the Creative Writing Society, which co-publishes Allusions, a student-generated journal of creative writing and visual art. Throughout the academic year, the Department of English hosts lectures by visiting scholars through the Joseph S. Schick Lectures in Language, Literature, and Lexicography and the Bash Lectures in Modern American Literature, as well as readings by creative writers through the Theodore Dreiser Visiting Writers Series and presentations by faculty and students through the Landini Memorial Seminars.

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