Department of English

Chair: Dr. Jacob Blevins; (936) 294-1402    

Information: Evans Building 458; (936) 294-1404

Website: Department of English

The Department of English offers students the opportunity to study language, literature, composition, and cultures.

Mission

The Department of English strives to provide students with opportunities to grow as learners and as individuals. Students in the English Program may, through study of literature, gain an awareness and knowledge of themselves and their contemporary world. English students may also combine their cultural interests with specific vocational objectives, such as professional writing, teaching, or pre-professional training for law, business, or medicine.

English forms the cornerstone of the humanities. In a variety of courses in literature, writing, and the English language, students find a source of personal enrichment, and they develop verbal, analytic, and cultural skills readily adaptable to a variety of careers.

English students learn to write with precision, to read and analyze texts with accuracy, to conduct research and organize a welter of materials, to speak and listen well — in short, to sharpen critical thinking and inquiry skills. These skills are highly valued by prospective employers. Most professions, while expecting new employees to be familiar with their specific fields, stress above all else the ability of their employees to read, write, think, and speak proficiently. Similarly, professional schools are interested in the student who reads, writes, thinks, and speaks well. Brochures from medical and law schools, for example, reflect an increasing awareness of the importance of an English background for future physicians and attorneys.

Academic Programs

Students in English may choose the Bachelor of Arts in English with an approved minor or may choose composite teacher certification in English, Language Arts, and Reading. Students may also opt to minor in English (with or without Secondary Education Certification), in Creative Writing, in Technical/Professional Writing, or in American Studies.

Highlights

  • The English Department focuses on excellent teaching, featuring numerous Sam Houston State University Teaching Excellence Award winners.
  • Faculty actively publish in national and international journals, win national literary awards, and serve as editors of scholarly journals.
  • Nationally recognized writers are brought to campus each year to read their works to students and discuss the writing and publishing process. Such writers have included Richard Bausch, Alan Cheuse, George Garrett, Allison Joseph, X.J. Kennedy, Maurice Kilwein, Galway Kinnell, Alex Lemon, Larry McMurtry, Marilyn Nelson and Tim O'Brien.
  • Students may publish and present their writing and enter writing contests. Numerous students have published works in regional and national journals.
  • Academy of American Poets Prize - Students may compete for a poetry-writing prize judged by a nationally recognized poet.
  • Students may gain professional experience as they participate in course projects to create documentation for non-profit and other community groups.
  • Students enrolled in English classes may use Iris, a digital humanities creative suite offering state of the art facilities for multi-modal production. 

Suggested Minors

SHSU offers a wide range of courses and areas students may use to structure a minor, and students should choose a minor to fit their individual interests and career goals. English majors may minor in Creative Writing, Professional Writing, or American Studies. Other common minors for English majors include Communication Studies, History, Mass Communication, Political Science, and Education.

Career Opportunities

When graduates leave SHSU with a degree in English, they are prepared for career opportunities or advanced study in teaching, technical and professional communication, journalism, government service, editing, scholarly and trade publishing, law, and business.