Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Concentrations: We offer three concentrations and a certificate in professional writing; these are ways that students can organize their elective choices to pursue further study in preparation for graduate school, careers, or personal growth. The concentrations and certificate, which are optional, require 1-2 courses beyond the required 4 electives to complete.
- Professional Writing Certificate
- Minor in English
- Minor in English; Creative Writing
The English Department at CSU Channel Islands offers small, interactive courses in which students can engage with theory, interpret literary texts that speak to their experiences, and produce creative and critical writing that imagines new and different worlds. We invite students to explore diverse, artistic and expressive works in genres old and new. We read within and against the tradition. We situate interdisciplinary, global Englishes as the living traditions of a vibrant and evolving field of study. We write both to understand our current realities and to explore possible futures. We examine language and literacy practices through structural analysis and a sociocultural lens. Our regionally, nationally, and internationally-engaged faculty support students outside of the class through a speaker series, community-engaged projects, field trips to write at the Santa Rosa Island Research Station, and literary and professional internships to explore writing careers.
Careers
The B.A. in English prepares students for graduate programs in English, secondary education, creative writing, linguistics, journalism, and international relations, among others. English majors, trained in critical thinking, interpretive reading, and effective writing also do well on the LSAT exams for law schools. The major is excellent preparation for a variety of creative professions such as publishing and marketing (traditional and web-based); advertising and copyediting; public relations; education (in schools and for agencies and other organizations); corporate communications and blogging; policy analysis; journalism and freelance writing; social media management; proposal and grant writing; non-profit management; teaching English overseas; paralegal careers; technical writing; web content curating; and other careers requiring strong communication skills, research abilities, the ability to see things from multiple perspectives, and a well-rounded education.
Program Learning Outcomes
English program graduates will be able to:
- Express original and creative ideas in writing and speech;
- Practice effective editing, including appropriate use of English grammar and usage conventions;
- Analyze a diversity of texts, ideas, and problems from multiple perspectives (multicultural, interdisciplinary, international, experiential, theoretical and/or educational);
- Find, evaluate, and synthesize scholarship, research, and information from a variety of sources and disciplines;
- Articulate an accurate perception of their performance in the program.