Department of English Language & Literature

Anspach 215
(989) 774-3171

Why Study English?

The study of English affords students the opportunity to
master the crucial, interrelated skills of thinking, reading,
and writing through immersion in the manifold products
of language. Courses in linguistics and composition teach
the skills necessary for the understanding and effective use
of language. Courses in literature aid students in absorbing
the full range of literary thought and art, thereby rendering
them better able to understand themselves and their world.
Courses in the art of teaching enable English majors or
minors to transmit effectively the acquired legacy of their
education to future generations.

Overview

At the undergraduate level, the department offers B.A. degrees and B.S. in Education degrees; different concentration areas are available, as are both a major and a minor.  At the graduate level, the department offers M.A. degrees in three specializations: English Language and Literature, which now includes an Option in Creative Writing; Composition and Communication; and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.  Faculty in the department are active in a number of areas, producing literary works as well as doing research in literature, linguistics, and pedagogical theory.