An English degree from NSU teaches valuable skills that transfer easily across disciplines and careers. NSU English students learn to write clearly, read critically, connect ideas meaningfully, understand diversity, relate historical context to human interactions, and see others empathetically.
NSU's English program is structured to help students tailor their major to suit their needs. Each student chooses from several program emphases, each of which prioritizes different skill sets and content to suit students' own career goals.
NSU's English degree pairs well with other specializations, and students are encouraged to take minors, or even to double major in areas such as history, business, political science, and art design.
Many English majors go on to earn master's degrees in education or business. Explore NSU's graduate programs to learn more.
Literature (BA) - Students interested in an English B.A. with literature emphasis prepare themselves for post-graduate ambitions that include law school and graduate study in English (in pursuit of the M.A. or Ph.D. in English). At Northern, this emphasis includes extra surveys in British and American literature as well as training in literary theory and an elective literature course.
Creative Writing (BA) - Students interested in an English B.A. with a creative writing emphasis may focus on at least two of three creative genres: non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. This emphasis also includes instruction in literary criticism and an additional survey of British literature.
Teaching (BA) - Students interested in the Teaching Emphasis within the BA degree in English prepare themselves either for the teaching they are likely to be called upon to do as graduate students in English (in pursuit of the BA or PhD) or for tutoring or teaching that does not require state certification. This emphasis includes coursework in linguistics (modern grammar), rhetorical theory, and additional surveys of British and American literature. Students wishing to earn a state-certified teaching degree should consider the English B.S.Ed. degree instead of the B.A.
Teaching English as a Second Language (BA) - Students interested in the Teaching English as a Second Language Emphasis within the BA degree in English prepare themselves for teaching English either in the U.S. or abroad to students coming to English as their second language. This emphasis includes linguistics coursework (modern grammar, second-language development, and methods of teaching English as a second language) and cultural anthropology. Students preparing for careers in this area may also wish to pursue NSU's twelve-credit Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Professional Writing (BA) - Students interested in an English B.A. with professional writing emphasis prepare themselves for business-oriented careers that include advertising, publicity, and grant writing. This emphasis includes coursework in graphic design, HTML, grant writing, and rhetorical theory. Students wishing to pursue a career in professional writing may wish to consider NSU's minor in Professional Writing and Rhetoric, which may be taken along with the B.A. in English or any other four-year program.
Media Studies (BA) - Students interested in an English B.A. with media studies emphasis receive interdisciplinary instruction in writing, design, programming, and marketing - skills that are in demand in the evolving world of media and media production. Courses offer theory and hands-on practice, teaching students to create content and reflect upon media while acquiring skills in communication, problem solving, planning, designing, writing, editing, producing, and collaborating. Career options include journalist, web content manager, advertising or public relations representative, art designer, news analyst/producer, production assistant, broadcast programmer, editor, publisher, and teacher.
NSU's English program supports career readiness through internships that require students to apply their skills in the workplace. A three-credit internship is required of all English majors.
Internship requirements vary based on the chosen emphasis.
Potential internships include tutoring in the NSU Writing Center; co-editing the English Department's student-run literary publication, Northern Lights, or The Exponent; the NSU student newspaper; assisting in communications and publicity at an area business or volunteer agency; working with regional marketing firms; tutoring in the NSU Writing Center; assisting an English faculty member in the delivery of a literature or writing course; writer/copy editor at the hometown newspaper; grants assistance at the university; public relations for the community theater; or web design and archival work in a museum.
Dr. Andrzej Duszenko has been a faculty member at Northern since 1989. In addition to teaching, he has served on Northern's Information Technology Planning Committee, the South Dakota Board of Regents€' Web Advisory Council and the NSU Taskforce for Mobile Computing. He is website advisor for the NSU English Club and Northern Lights, and an editor of the NSU College of Arts and Sciences newsletter.
"Abnihilization of the Etym: Joyce, Rutherford and Particle Physics." Irish University Review: A Journal of Irish Studies 46.2 (2016).
"Contemporary Science and the Image of the World." Stopping the Process? Contemporary Views on Art and Exhibitions. Helsinki: The Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art, 1998.
"The Relativity Theory in Finnegans Wake." James Joyce Quarterly 32.1 (1994).
"The Joyce of Science: Quantum Physics in Finnegans Wake." Irish University Review 24.2 (1994).