All English majors—whether they focus on Literature, Creative Writing or English Education—learn about the history of literature and culture, developing their own critical judgment and an understanding of literature’s influence on the world it represents. They also develop, as writers, the ability to communicate emotions and ideas through powerful language. With the guidance of professors, students also learn to conduct research to find answers to the important questions that they discover along their collegiate journey.
English (BA)
About
English majors at SVSU choose among three courses of study—Literature, Creative Writing and English Education. Each offers an immersive experience in language, storytelling, writing and culture. Literature majors explore the history of ideas and literary texts from different parts of the world, empowering them to develop their own values and become independent, critical thinkers. Creative Writing students hone their craft as storytellers and poets, reading and writing in small workshops. A degree from this program encourages students to share the power of language, literature and writing with others. The traits that SVSU English majors develop—critical judgment, effective writing and imagination—equip them for a diverse range of careers. Many attend graduate school, sometimes pursuing further education in literature, creative writing, library or information science, etc. Whether pursuing further education or not, graduates often find their greatest success in fields like publishing, business, education, law, government or public relations.
Cardinal Points
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A Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and a teaching endorsement in English as a Second Language offer additional paths to careers.
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The Voices in the Valley series brings renowned poets and fiction writers from across the country to share their work with the campus community.
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Pass rates among English Education majors on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject exam are consistently higher than 80%.
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English majors participate in capstone experiences focused on their major course of study, conducting research and constructing portfolios.
Highlighted Courses
Year 1
- ENGL 201 Introduction to Literary Study
- ENGL 244 Introduction to Language Study
- ENGL 261 Introduction to Creative Writing (Creative Writing Track)
Year 2
- ENGL 254 Young Adult Literature (English Education Track)
- ENGL 301 Writing Interpretive Papers
- ENGL 305 Creative Writing: Poetry (Creative Writing Track)
Year 3
- ENGL 313 Literature of Great Britain and the U.S. 1865-present
- ENGL 306 Creative Writing: Fiction (Creative Writing Track)
- ENGL 380 Teaching the Art of Writing (English Education Track)
Year 4
- ENGL 373 Literary Theory (Literature Track)
- ENGL 499 Senior Capstone
Key Electives
- ENGL 205 Studies in World Literature
- ENGL 315 Survey of Shakespeare
- ENGL 345 History of the English Language
- ENGL 307 Ethnic Literature in the U.S.
- ENGL 338 Studies in Drama
- ENGL 355 Language in Society
Click here to see a listing of programs
Programs
Majors
Other
Beyond The Books
Editing and Publishing Opportunities
Cardinal Sins, the SVSU art and literary magazine, and the Valley Vanguard, SVSU’s student newspaper, offer students experience in writing and editing for a wide audience.
Internships at the Theodore Roethke Museum
Creative Writing majors can participate in internships at the Theodore Roethke Museum, an institution dedicated to the legacy of one of Michigan’s great writers.
Annual Tyner Prizes
The Tyner Prizes annually recognize the accomplishments of students in fiction, poetry and non-fiction.
Our Students After Graduation...
Employers
Aevitas Creative Management
Bay County Library System
Covenant Healthcare
42nd Circuit Court, Midland County
Quicken Loans
Siemens PLM Software
Wired Public Relations
Graduate Programs
Central Michigan University
Columbia College Chicago
Oklahoma State University
University of Michigan
University of Oregon
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
Career Opportunities
Attorney
Content Strategist
Editor
Human Resources Specialist
Law Clerk
Librarian
Literary Agent
Teacher
- 8% projected growth for employment of writers and authors with a bachelor’s degree. (U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- $62,170 is the median yearly pay for a writer or author in the U.S. (U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- With a bachelor’s degree from SVSU’s English program, career doors are open to a multitude of fields including education, publishing, law, social work, library and information science, business, government, public relations and many more.
Cardinal Successes
These stories offer insight into how students have turned their SVSU education into successful opportunities yielding real-world success.
SVSU Forensics Team
Emma Kirsch Tutor Leadership Award and Sam Geffert Tutor Of The Year Award