Major in English at Ball State
Why study English?
In a culture saturated with texts of all kinds, the abilities
developed in the English major have never been more important. Our
students develop advanced skills in writing, reading, interpreting, and
understanding the cultural place and importance of a wide variety of
texts.
What can I do with an English major?
The English major is one of the leading preparations for law school.
English majors work in business and government, where sharp written
communication skills are increasingly in demand. We prepare teachers of
language arts in the public schools and aspiring writers of all kinds.
Some students go on to graduate study in literature, creative writing,
or rhetoric and composition.
Above all, the English major is for those who excel at and want to
immerse themselves in the creative and professional uses of the English
language.
Major Areas
We offer majors in four areas:
In addition to these major areas, we offer a major in English
Studies, which offers exposure to all four areas. We also offer
minors in Creative Writing, English, and Linguistics.
Our faculty of published poets and writers of fiction and creative
nonfiction offer classes in these three genres, as well as a multi-genre
introductory class, screenplay writing, and a variety of special topics.
Students also study literature, and advanced classes in literary editing
and writing-in-the-community give them the opportunity to bring their
writing skills outside the classroom and into the wider worlds of
community service and publishing.
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Students read a wide variety of literature, from long-admired
“masterpieces” to works by women, African Americans, and other groups
whose contributions have historically been ignored. With the guidance of
an enthusiastic and knowledgeable faculty of published literary
scholars, students are challenged to read literature in a variety of
ways and to express their understanding in strong expository writing.
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Students in this program are immersed in the theory and practice of
discourse, with an emphasis on written forms. Faculty with expertise in
rhetoric from the classical period to the present and in composition
theory help students develop the ability to write for various audiences,
to understand the historical and social significance of written
communication, and to interpret and situate texts and their strategies.
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Dedicated faculty who have taught in public schools and published
research on pedagogy prepare our students for careers in secondary and
middle-school teaching. Students take content courses in English and
Communications and courses in the methods and strategies of the
classroom. Students who successfully complete the program, which
includes a semester of student teaching, are licensed to teach in
Indiana public schools.
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For more information . . .
For detailed information about a major or minor in English at Ball
State, browse the online Undergraduate Catalog.
You can consult the
catalog for lists of required classes for each major and minor, as well
as course descriptions.
Questions about English at Ball State? Contact the Director of Undergraduate
Programs, Dr. Adam Beach.
Phone: (765) 285-8574.
Email: arbeach@bsu.edu.
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