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English at NMU
While serving all students in the university with composition
and study skills courses, the English Department also offers
strong programs in literature and specialized writing. As
literature courses challenge students to consider matters of broad
human significance, so the many offerings in creative writing,
exposition and journalism encourage students to develop their
talents for expressing ideas and emotions. The department directs
its majors and minors toward courses that will further enhance
their abilities to analyze and discuss literature or to write
fiction, nonfiction or poetry. A career in one of these fields,
either teaching or another professional endeavor, can be a richly
rewarding experience.
English Programs
The department offers four undergraduate English majors and
four minors. The popular general English major prepares students
for careers in business and government, and for professions
ranging from law and medicine to publishing. The secondary
education major in English prepares students for secondary school
teaching careers. The more traditional graduate-bound major is
recommended for those interested in graduate school and
post-secondary teaching. The writing major enables students to
acquire a solid background in literature while preparing for
careers that require regular, extensive writing as part of
professional duties. The four minors offered are in writing,
journalism, English and English education. For any major leading
to a career that uses communication skills, a minor in journalism
or writing is useful. The general English minor is a broader
program designed to complement almost any major. The teaching
minor is an option for students in secondary education. The
English Department also participates in the interdisciplinary
majors in technical communications and liberal arts and sciences,
as well as the gender studies minor and the Native American
studies minor.
Department/Program Policies
English graduate-bound majors are required to have
proficiency at the 202 level in a language other than English.
Other students in English are encouraged, although not required,
to complete at least one year of study in a language.
Students majoring in secondary education English or minoring
in English secondary education must maintain a grade point average
of 2.7 or greater with no grade below a “C” in the professional
education sequence, the major and/or minors and required cognates
combined.
Department Facilities
The department operates the
Writing Center in
the Learning Resources Center. This facility is open daily to
help all students, whether or not they are enrolled in writing
courses. This assistance is free to current NMU students.
Special Learning Opportunities
The English Department sponsors a number of undergraduate
prizes for writing and scholarship. It also provides
opportunities and funding for students to attend and to make
presentations at regional and national conferences. English
majors may also gain employment working as tutors in the
Writing Center and
in sections of English 101. As advanced students, furthermore,
they are encouraged to enroll in challenging, graduate-style
seminars and directed studies (EN 411/411Z, EN 490, EN 493, EN 495
and EN 498). |
