Overview

• The study of language and literature deepens self-understanding, opens up the broad diversity of human viewpoints and cultures, hones writing and thinking skills, and intensifies the appreciation of the arts of literature and writing. It develops the mind as it teaches skills in critical thinking, research, and communication valued in a wide variety of careers.
  
  The Department of English at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´offers five areas of emphasis to choose from: 1) Literary & Cultural Studies, 2) Professional Writing, 3) Creative Writing, 4) English Language Arts (teacher certification), and 5) English Studies (a very flexible choice for students who desire a more self-directed, but mentored program). We also offer minors in Literary & Cultural Studies, Professional Writing, Creative Writing, and English Language Arts (that last one is for those students with a major in another area of teacher education).
  
  What's special about the English major at EIU?
  
  The size of our program makes it easy for you to get to know other students as well as to work one-on-one with faculty.
  
  The National Council of Teachers of English recognizes our teacher education program as a model for other programs around the country.
  
  Our annual literary festival offers creative writing students the opportunity to learn from nationally known writers who visit campus to read from their work and offer workshops free for EIU students.
  
  Our professional writing program offers its courses both online and face-to-face, so you can shape the schedule that's right for you.
  
  For students who don't plan to teach, we offer lots of support for career planning, beginning freshman year in the first course in the major and continuing on through a job search preparation course in the fall of senior year.
  
  Since 2015 (when national data started to be collected), our career placement rates have been 10% or more above the national average for new college graduates (that's the average for all college grads, not just English majors). 

Let's start a conversation

Would you tell us just a little more about your interests in English? We have 7 questions for future English majors or minors, right here: /english/machform/view.php?id=10078

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Completion time: Varies with choice of Emphasis Credit Hours

Resources

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- Program Sheet
- 4-year Course Sequence
- Department Flyer
- Curriculum Sheet

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