Department Chair Kyle Bishop – BC 308D	Faculty & Staff
Administrative Assistant Alyson King – BC 308F	Student Success Advisors
	Website

Overview of Programs

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a choice of four emphases within the English degree: (1) Literature, (2) Education, (3) Creative Writing, and (4) Rhetoric and Writing. To receive the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete 16 hours in one (1) foreign language.

Mission

The English Department provides a strong and diverse liberal education in literature and writing for majors, minors, and general education students. Our goals are to provide courses, instruction, advising, mentoring, and experiential opportunities for students in an atmosphere that encourages and supports learning, free inquiry, critical thinking, creativity, and clear and honest communication. 

English Literature Program

The academic mission of the SUU English Department’s program in literature is to cultivate knowledge and appreciation of literature from a variety of perspectives and cultures. The department pursues these objectives through a comprehensive program of study, including both broad survey courses and specialized seminars. Instructors foster in students critical thinking and effective writing, research, and oral communication skills.

English Education Program

The academic mission of the SUU English Department’s program in secondary education is to prepare effective educators who can meet the needs of increasingly diverse learners in the 21st-century classroom. The Department pursues these objectives through a comprehensive program of classes, skills-based practicum experiences, and real-world applications in literature, writing, language arts, critical theory, and pedagogy.

Students may personalize their degrees with concentrations (e.g. literature, rhetoric and writing, film and screen studies, or technical writing) while earning a bachelor’s of arts degree in English with an emphasis in education, and fulfilling all Utah State Department of Education requirements for licensure.

English Creative Writing Program

The academic mission of the SUU English Department’s program in creative writing is to develop skills in critical and creative thinking and in written and oral communication. The department pursues these objectives through courses focusing on craft, process, and the major traditions within fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Instructors engage students with a variety of writing experiences: classes, workshops, conferences, readings, internships, and collaborations with other arts and disciplines.

English Rhetoric and Writing Program

The SUU English Department’s program in rhetoric and writing cultivates knowledge in the theory, practice, and pedagogy of writing, rhetoric, and technical/professional communication. Through a comprehensive program of study that includes broad survey courses, specialized seminars, and skills-based practicums, rhetoric and writing students prepare for a variety of communication-centered academic and professional careers.

Film and Screen Studies Minor

The academic mission of the SUU film and screen studies minor is to teach students to apply a medium-specific method of analysis for interpreting cinematic texts, allowing them to participate in informed academic discussions of visual narratives as a sophisticated viewer/consumer of these texts in their regular, everyday lives.

Department/Program Learning Outcomes

English Literature Program

Students who successfully complete the graduation requirements for the B.A. degree in English: Literature will be able to

• Identify, describe, and compare the features of a variety of genres across different historical periods and cultures.
• Apply a range of literary theories and/or critical perspectives through close reading and analysis.
• Articulate interpretations and critical positions through presentations and academic essays.
• Conduct scholarly research.

English Education Program

Students who successfully complete the graduation requirements for the B.A. degree in English: Education will be able to

• The student will demonstrate content-area knowledge through their:
  • 1.1 Knowledge of the central concepts, principles, theories, and tools of inquiry associated with the discipline.
  • 1.2 Ability to organize and present content in meaningful and engaging ways.
  • 1.3 Ability to use students’ prior knowledge and experiences to introduce new content.
  • 1.4 Ability to develop culturally responsive curriculum and instruction through diverse texts which promote multicultural awareness and appreciation.
• The student will demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to apply a variety of pedagogical strategies through their:
  • 2.1 Knowledge of developmentally appropriate, research-based instructional strategies that help students make cross-curricular connections, promote content retention, and transfer knowledge to real-life settings.
  • 2.2 Ability to organize, use, and monitor a variety of flexible student groupings and instructional strategies to support differentiated instruction, engage learners, and generate motivation.
  • 2.3 Ability to use various questioning and discussion techniques to help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • 2.4 Ability to recognize and address differences in learning and development, and adjust instruction to meet a variety of educational needs.
• The student will demonstrate an understanding of educational theory and practice through their:
  • 3.1 Ability to create short and long-range objective-based learning plans which meet Utah Core Standards, utilize higher-order thinking skills, and are assessment-based to ensure progress and motivation.
  • 3.2 Ability to evaluate and select content and incorporate technology in appropriately designed instructional activities which encourage students to engage with rigorous text, address essential questions, and develop as reflective learners.
  • 3.3 Ability to create a safe and effective learning environment in which students participate in independent and collaborative decision-making, are held accountable for their actions, and engage in a variety of purposeful learning activities.
  • 3.4 Ability to manage time, space, activities, and attention to provide active and equitable engagement of students in productive tasks.
• Demonstrate an understanding of professionalism in education through their:
  • 4.1 Knowledge of laws related to students’ and teachers’ rights and responsibilities.
  • 4.2 Ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues, students, parents/guardians, and significant agency personnel.
  • 4.3 Ability to exhibit the professional behavior and dispositions delineated in professional, state, and institutional standards while working with students, colleagues, families, and communities.
  • 4.4 Ability to use professional literature, best practices, and collegial assistance, to articulate a personal philosophy of teaching and classroom management, and to develop as reflective practitioners.

English Creative Writing Program

Students who successfully complete the graduation requirements for the B.A. degree in English: Creative Writing will be able to

• Compose original fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, showing a critical awareness of aesthetics, prosody, and narrative techniques.
• Identify, describe, and analyze the literary features of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.
• Create a polished and cohesive portfolio of work in at least one genre at the advanced level.
• Produce a focused and constructive reflection of their own efforts that indicates an understanding of their writing process, as well as sufficient execution of craft techniques, and awareness of strengths and areas for improvement.
• Revise to strengthen ideas, form, voice, and language.

English Rhetoric and Writing Program

Students who successfully complete the graduation requirements for the B.A. degree in English: Rhetoric and Writing will be able to

• Identify, describe, and compare the rhetorical features of a variety of genres across different historical periods and cultures;
• Produce effective communication in a variety of genres for a variety of audiences;
• Articulate arguments and interpretations through presentations, academic essays, and professional/technical documents;
• Conduct scholarly research;
• Apply a range of theories and critical perspectives through diverse scholarly methods and methodologies;
• Strategically, responsibly, and effectively employ appropriate communication technologies with rhetorical awareness.

Film and Screen Studies Minor

Students who successfully complete the graduation requirements for the minor in Film and Screen Studies will be able to

• Identify, describe, and compare the structural features of film, television, and other visual narratives using medium-specific critical language;
• Interpret cinematic texts, employing critical positions and scholarly research through both written and multimedia essays and presentations; and
• Analyze cinematic texts and narratives from various cultures and historical periods to recognize and value different human perspectives and experiences.

Programs

• English - Creative Writing Emphasis (B.A.)
• English - Education Emphasis (B.A.)
• English - Literature Emphasis (B.A.)
• English - Rhetoric and Writing Emphasis (B.A.)

• Technical Writing (Certificate)

• English - Creative Writing Emphasis (Minor)
• English - Literature Emphasis (Minor)
• English - Secondary Education Emphasis (Minor)
• Film and Screen Studies (Minor)