English
English majors are among the most interesting people on any campus. Why? They read. They think and write creatively. They know the difference between irony and sarcasm and what a dangling gerund is. They are genuine people concerned with what matters - life, love, learning - as well as with their future professions. They also know that all employers seek out graduates who can write well and think analytically and creatively because so few students graduate knowing how to do those things well. The best preparation for a rapidly changing future is a liberal arts education.
The English faculty believe that good writers must also be good readers, and good readers must also learn to be good writers. Reading and writing are deeply humane activities that lead us to become people whose historical imaginations connect us with the past. The ability to draw on the wisdom and experiences of then and there is an essential skill for leaders who will wisely help us solve the problems of here and now. The study of language and literature is deeply invested in a partnership with the study of history, philosophy, world cultures, religion, and society.
What can you do with a degree in this academic area?
- Journalist
- Digital Media Producer
- Author
- University Professor
- Editor
- Marketing Specialist
- Librarian
- Sportswriter
Student to Faculty Ratio
Student Organizations
Columbus’ rank for best cities for new grads
What You'll Gain as an English Major
- Critical Reading: English majors will develop excellent critical reading skills by reading and responding to complex texts in a variety of genres.
- Effective Writing: English majors will develop the ability to compose effective written texts in a variety of modes and for a variety of audiences.
- Linguistic Sophistication: English majors will study the grammar of English and demonstrate expertise in the major rules of grammar, punctuation, usage, and mechanics.
Our majors are expected to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of courses in English and produce a portfolio of academic and professional artifacts highlighting their achievements in at least one of the following areas: English literature, creative writing, or professional writing/journalism.
Working with a few English professors over the course of their stay in the program, as well as an academic advisor, each English major will tailor their portfolio to meet the relevant objectives below:
- Demonstrate general acquaintance with literary history, including knowledge of chronology and periodization, knowledge of literary movements, and understanding of cultural and intellectual history.
- Understand various strategies of analysis, including close reading of literary texts; recognize genres, forms, modes, various types of intertextuality and literary techniques; evaluate stylistic effectiveness.
- Identify significant authors and texts, characters representative of a range of literary periods, and cultural and global perspectives.
- Illustrate knowledge of the history of literary criticism and of contemporary theoretical approaches.
- Demonstrate the ability to write well-crafted prose that is mostly free of error.
- Explain various strategies for publishing a work of creative writing.
- Demonstrate knowledge of rhetorical principles (e.g., purpose, audience, and context) when producing written/multimedia artifacts.
- Apply principles of effective/appropriate document design to a variety of written/multimedia artifacts.
- Use an appropriate system/platform for presenting the written/multimedia artifacts that allows for an effective showcase of knowledge/professional accomplishments.
Hands-On Experience
Capital English majors are well-prepared careers in a variety of industries after graduation. Students have the opportunity to take part in open readings and to attend readings by distinguished writers. Through professional networking opportunities, students have found internships at the following organizations.
- The White House
- The Boston Globe
- The Columbus Dispatch
- Channel 4 - NBC Columbus
- The Patriot News
- McGraw-Hill Education
- Mount Carmel East Hospital
- Proximity Marketing
- Ohio Department of Insurance
- Columbus City Schools
- Chase Bank
Resources
English Education
In addition to majoring in English, students may complete the adolescent to young adult teacher licensure program for integrated language arts. This program prepares students to seek licensure for teaching all language arts, grades 7-12, in Ohio public schools.
Questions?
For more information on the English Degree at Capital, please contact:
Sergey Rybas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Department Chair
srybas@capital.edu
“As a student at Capital and member of the student newspaper team, I gained hands-on experience that has been invaluable in my first job after graduation. Classroom study of the field gave me the tools to succeed, but my experience on the paper really taught me how to use those tools in the real world.”
-Heather Barr, Journalism and Professional Writing, Class of 2020
Request Information
Request Information
Schedule a Visit
Schedule a Visit
Apply to Capital
Apply Now