All English majors—whether they focus on Literature, Creative Writing or English Education—learn about the history of literature and culture, developing their own critical judgment and an understanding of literature’s influence on the world it represents. They also develop, as writers, the ability to communicate emotions and ideas through powerful language. With the guidance of professors, students also learn to conduct research to find answers to the important questions that they discover along their collegiate journey.
English (BA)
About
English majors at SVSU choose among three courses of study—Literature, Creative Writing and English Education. Each offers an immersive experience in language, storytelling, writing and culture. Literature majors explore the history of ideas and literary texts from different parts of the world, empowering them to develop their own values and become independent critical thinkers. Creative Writing students hone their craft as storytellers and poets, reading and writing in small workshops. English Education students prepare for careers as teachers who will share the power of language, literature and writing with others. The traits that SVSU English majors develop—critical judgment, effective writing and imagination—equip them for a diverse range of careers. Many attend graduate school, sometimes pursuing further education in literature, creative writing, library or information science, etc. Whether pursuing further education or not, graduates often find their greatest success in fields like publishing, business, education, law, government or public relations.
Cardinal Points
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A Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and a teaching endorsement in English as a Second Language offer additional paths to careers.
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The Voices in the Valley series brings renowned poets and fiction writers from across the country to share their work with the campus community.
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Pass rates among English Education majors on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification subject exam are consistently higher than 80%.
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English majors participate in capstone experiences focused on their major course of study, conducting research and constructing portfolios.
Highlighted Courses
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Key Electives
Click here to see a listing of programs
Programs
Majors
Other
Complementary Minors/Majors
Beyond The Books
Editing and Publishing Opportunities
Cardinal Sins, the SVSU art and literary magazine, and the Valley Vanguard, SVSU’s student newspaper, offer students experience in writing and editing for a wide audience.
Internships at the Theodore Roethke Museum
Creative Writing majors can participate in internships at the Theodore Roethke Museum, an institution dedicated to the legacy of one of Michigan’s great writers.
Annual Tyner Prizes
The Tyner Prizes annually recognize the accomplishments of students in fiction, poetry and non-fiction.
Our Students After Graduation...
Employers
Aevitas Creative Management
Bay County Library System
Covenant Healthcare
42nd Circuit Court, Midland County
Quicken Loans
Siemens PLM Software
Wired Public Relations
Graduate Programs
Central Michigan University
Columbia College Chicago
Oklahoma State University
University of Michigan
University of Oregon
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
Career Opportunities
Attorney
Content Strategist
Editor
Human Resources Specialist
Law Clerk
Librarian
Literary Agent
Teacher
- 8% projected growth for employment of writers and authors with a Bachelor’s degree through 2026. (U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- $54,455 is the median yearly pay for a content writer in the U.S. in 2018. (Glassdoor.com Salaries)
- With a bachelor’s degree from SVSU’s English program, career doors are open to a multitude of fields including education, publishing, law, social work, library and information science, business, government, public relations and many more.
Cardinal Successes
These stories offer insight into how students have turned their SVSU education into successful opportunities yielding real-world success.
SVSU Forensics Team
Emma Kirsch Tutor Leadership Award and Sam Geffert Tutor Of The Year Award
Fully integrated into social networks, SVSU Connect is a valuable networking space dedicated to the community of SVSU students, faculty and alumni which cultivates a culture of helping and giving back. In addition to connecting with each other, students at all points along their journey can reach out to alumni mentors for guidance and insight into making the most of their SVSU experience and successfully transitioning into life after graduation.