SAGU’s English Department recently revised its English program in order to better prepare students for graduate programs and/or individual professions.  The program will maintain a core of 27 hours, with an additional 15-hour concentration from one of three specialized tracks of study to complete the 42-hour program.  The three tracks are Literature, Creative Writing, and Linguistics.  Each faculty member within the SAGU English Department has an individual area of strength, which will provide anchors for the various tracks. 

The revision adds depth to the English program, as the choice of tracks allows students the opportunity to focus on particular areas of interest and, therefore, better prepare for their futures.  The versatility of the program will also benefit students from other departments who have an interest in literature, creative writing, or linguistics, by providing additional options for a minor.

An English degree is beneficial in numerous careers; it often provides the foundation for students entering law or medicine as well as other disciplines.  English classes are foundational.  In these classes, students develop critical thinking and writing skills, both of which are crucial for any profession.  They also teach the important discipline of research.  Career opportunities with an English degree include missions work, linguistics, language studies, writing, journalism, and teaching.

English departments on many other campuses are much more eclectic and fail to provide a strong foundation for students by teaching from the “canon” of literature.  SAGU’s  English department still provides such a foundation.  Other English programs may be very liberal and question truth itself.  According to English Department Chair Diane Lewis, “At SAGU, we study English with no apology for putting God’s Word first, using it as an anchor, and basing our classes on absolutes.  A God-centered perspective anchored in truth is vital in our world.”

The new program will be effective Fall 2008.  Offered for the first time will be Contemporary American Literature for the Literature track and Studies in Nonfiction for the Writing track.  Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) has been a Spring course, but it will be offered now as a Fall class so that students in the Linguistics track will be ready for TESL II in the Spring.  Lewis invites students to take advantage of these new course offerings, whether English majors or students with a passion for one of the track areas.

SAGU’s English Department provides opportunities for students across the disciplines.  The department sponsors two publications—The Southwesterner yearbook and the Image e-journal (adviser, Diane Lewis)—along with a writers’ club, The Christian Writers’ Fellowship (advisers Katherine Jones and Cameron Bishop). 

For more information on the English department or program, contact Diane Lewis at dlewis@sagu.edu.