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Welcome to the Carthage English Department

The English Department offers a program with several kinds of students in mind: those who are satisfying general education requirements, those who wish additional courses in composition, literature and creative writing as electives, those who wish to complete a teaching major or minor in English, and those who wish a major in English as preparation for graduate or professional school or for a career in fields such as publishing, advertising, law, civil service, journalism, public relations and the ministry.

The English Major

The purpose of the English major at Carthage is to foster the imaginative understanding of literature and appreciation of language. Through reading and analyzing texts, students will have an opportunity to develop critical thinking and writing skills as well as to acquire a knowledge of literary history, of literary forms and techniques, and of the questions and issues particularly relevant to the discipline.

By majoring in English at Carthage, students will develop skills that will enable them to pursue any career that requires the ability to think critically and creatively, write clearly and with sophistication, and consider problems from a broad range of perspectives. These skills will contribute to their professional and personal lives as informed and effective communicators.

English majors are expected to take advantage of the many opportunites to attend literary programs and performances of plays, including those of the theatre department. Majors are encouraged to participate in at least one of the annual fall trips to the Stratford Theatre Festival in Ontario.

Creative Writing

In addition, the department encourages interested students to explore the art and craft of creative writing. The creative writing concentration of the English major, or the creative writing minor, encourages serious writers from all majors to develop a passion for creative writing and allows them to hone their skills in the writing of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students graduating with an emphasis in creative writing will be required to produce a chapbook of poems, a short collection of stories, a novella, or a collection of essays in creative nonfiction, under the guidance of one of the writing faculty.

For more information, please navigate using the links to the left, or call Maria Carrig, Dept. Chair, at 262-551-5389.