English Degree

English Curriculum

Our English major exposes you to authors from a wide variety of literature types and topics.  As part of the program, you’ll also explore several types of writing and have the opportunity for hands-on work through your own writing as well.

Review the Undergraduate Catalog to learn more.

Our degree in English prepares you to:

• Persuasively interpret subtext and significance by connecting literary texts with relevant contexts (cultural, historical, generic, critical).
• Gain insight through close reading and the application of literary theory.
• Demonstrate the ways that power relations shape and are shaped by literature, particularly in the case of social justice issues concerning race, gender, class, religion, and nationality.
• Trace key movements and issues in British, American, and Anglophone literary and linguistic history (including the history of literary theory) from foundational texts to current texts.
• Clearly communicate how their research and arguments relate to existing arguments and contribute something of significance.
• Produce focused, graceful, insightful, well-supported and documented literary criticism in written and oral form.

Impactful Experiences

As an English major at the University of Mount Union, you have numerous opportunities to build experience through offerings both on and off campus.  You can learn valuable skills by creating content for campus publications as well as practicums and independent studies.  You are also prepared for professional interaction with opportunities for research and presentations at regional and national conferences.  These experiential opportunities are integral and make a lasting impact after graduation.

On-campus Out of Class Learning

As a student at Mount Union, you can directly use the knowledge you learn in class by joining student organizations from the day you step on campus.

• The Calliope is Mount Union’s annual literary and art magazine. It accepts submissions for publication including poetry, fiction, drama, creative non-fiction and artwork.
• Raider Student Media is a student organization that oversees Mount Union’s radio station, WRMU 91.1 FM, the student-led publication, RaiderStudentMedia.com, and Studio M. All students, regardless of major, can create or submit work for publication.
• Sigma Tau Delta is an international English honor society. Its central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to language and literature.
• Book Club is a student-led organization on Mount Union’s campus. The organization promotes an outlet for creativity and curiosity by hosting and attending intellectual and cultural activities pertaining to literature and/or writing.
• The Digital, Written and Oral Communication Studio is an interdisciplinary writing support center offered free of charge to Mount Union students. The Center offers English and writing students an opportunity to tutor others’ writing and, in the process, become more effective writers and communicators. Typically, half the 20 yearly staff positions are filled by English and writing students.