Crafting Words, Creating Worlds
As the primary means of human expression, language is central to how we understand what it means to be human, as individuals, in community, and as global citizens. The English department examines the role of language in shaping and communicating meaning in literary and social contexts. The study of literature and creative writing in English cultivates strong analytical and communication skills that provide excellent preparation for teaching, for many careers in business and the professions, and for graduate studies in fields ranging from law to library science, from journalism to pastoral ministry to social work. A strong career combination is English and Communication Arts. The English department strives to affirm through its curriculum and programming the diverse, interdependent relationships between readers and writers, texts and canons, self and other, and individuals and communities.
English Major Student Learning Goals
Upon successful completion of the major, students will:
• engage critically with a variety of literary texts, both traditional and contemporary, remaining attentive to issues of social justice and inclusivity;
• produce a substantial body of creative and scholarly writing demonstrating analytical skill, theoretical fluency, and critical insight.
English Major Requirements: Major requirements 33 hours (27 hours required courses plus 6 hours departmental electives). Must be taken within the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students must complete eight hours of foreign language or demonstrate equivalent competence by examination.
Writing and Publishing Minor
Upon completing the minor, students will:
• develop a professional skill set in writing and editing;
• gain hands-on production experience, including layout and design work; and
• work in publishing through professional internships.
Minor requirement: 16 hours.
Bethel’s Writing and Publishing minor allows students to develop professional skills through creative writing, editing/publishing, and graphic design courses. Students create a set of highly sought-after writing skills while also participating in professional internships and hands-on production. The minor, reflected on students’ transcripts, signals a set of core competencies and job readiness to future employers. In the final semester of the program, students complete a professional portfolio and may choose to either give a public reading or submit their most polished work for publication.
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