Department of English

The Department of English is dedicated to offering courses and activities that will challenge our students to become better readers, writers, thinkers, and educators. Students who study in our department can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English or English Language Arts Education (secondary teaching), or they may earn a minor in English as an adjunct to another major.  Majors in the department study great works of literature, learn how to analyze literary texts and their contexts, improve their writing and thinking skills, and explore the nature and beauty of the English language.

Because we emphasize small discussion-based classes, students receive individual attention, flexibility in pursuing particular interests, and opportunities to work with faculty who possess a broad range of knowledge and experience in literature, writing, and language studies. Faculty members in the department are energetic teachers and scholars who often bring their research and creative endeavors into the classroom.

Courses in the English Department reflect the interests of the faculty and cover a wide variety of subjects and genres: American and British literature; post-colonial literature; children’s literature; Shakespeare; critical theory; linguistics; Chaucer; American ethnic literature; composition theory; nature writing; writing and technology; and teaching English as a second or foreign language. Because the richness of these subjects can never be exhausted, our underlying goal is to provide students with the flexible skills needed to approach fresh contexts rather than with a fixed body of knowledge.

We invite you to explore our website, to see for yourself that intellectual diversity is our strength; that our dynamic, creative programs are dedicated to your education, your interests; that a degree--undergraduate or graduate--from HSU is an inspiring opportunity to graduate with real experience.

Welcome.