Majors in English
Students choosing to concentrate in
Literary Studies will
read contemporary writers as well as works of literature and philosophy
that have stood the test of time. Simultaneously, students will learn
how to interpret what they have read by studying new developments in
critical theory. Broadly integrative in design, a concentration in
Literary Studies emphasizes the shaping authority of cultural texts. It
thus prepares students for graduate study and/or careers in teaching,
particularly in higher education, journalism, and public service, and
for jobs which require analytical ability. View the
Requirements for the Literary Studies Concentration.
The concentration in Creative Writing
is for students who have an abiding interest in developing their talent
as novelists, short fiction or creative non-fiction writers, poets, and
dramatists while still emphasizing a strong background in literary
studies and general writing skills. Students in the concentration are
prepared for lives as writers, which includes both career and graduate
school preparation. By the end of the program students will have
completed a full-length manuscript and have the necessary skills to
submit their work. Students will also be prepared for graduate study in
M.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. programs emphasizing Creative Writing. The
department’s emphasis on general writing skills and career-preparedness
also ensures that students will be ready to enter the world of work,
whether in publishing, freelance writing, or in numerous other
writing-related fields. View the Requirements for the Creative Writing Concentration.
Both
English concentrations lead to knowledge of literature, a heightened
awareness of language, an appreciation of cultural difference, and an
understanding of human relations over time.
Secondary certification in English is available. To learn more, visit the Wilson College Department of Education.
Majors in Mass Communication
Students who major in Mass Communications learn to better understand
and write about the world in which they live. Mass Communications
students concentrate in either Professional Writing or Media Studies.
Those students who concentrate in Professional Writing study
how to write and present information for print and broadcast media
outlets, as well as for the subsidiary fields of public relations and
advertising. To view the requirements for the Professional
Writing concentration, click here.
The Media Studies concentration
covers the history and development of the mass media. Students choosing
to concentrate in Media Studies learn current theories of mass and
popular culture and analyze the impact of media on our society. To view
the requirements for the Media Studies concentration, click here.
All Mass Communications majors write for the college newspaper, The Billboard .
A
major in Mass Communications increases students’ visual and textual
literacy. It thus prepares students for such occupations as
advertising copywriter, editor, journalist, media specialist, and public
affairs officer.