School of Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Journalism, and Media Communications

Department Information

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English & Journalism Degrees

The Department of English, Journalism, and Media Communications supports the core curriculum with student-centered instruction in languages, literature, composition, speech, and journalism, and prepares students for graduate study and varied professional careers. The Department also supports the mission of the college by helping to produce graduates who express themselves clearly through writing and speaking, use technology skillfully, demonstrate the ability to do independent research, and exhibit a strong commitment to service. 

English majors seeking secondary education teaching certification (through the Stillman Teacher Education Program (STEP) housed in the School of Education) must follow the state curriculum of prospective teachers of English Language Arts and maintain the 2.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA) required for admission to the Stillman Teacher Education Program (STEP).

OUR BACHELOR’S DEGREES

The Department of English, Journalism, and Media Communications offers two (2) Bachelor of Arts degrees: one in English and one in Journalism.

Career Options

The Department encourages the use of English as part of a double major for any discipline for students interested in increasing employment options and in preparing for graduate or professional schools.

Through internships and practicum, students gain beneficial work experience.

A major in English and/or journalism prepares graduates for graduate/professional study and/or careers in the following areas:

  • Public speaking
  • Mass media
  • Advertising
  • Law
  • Radio production
  • Editing
  • Publishing
  • Education
  • Digital video production
  • Communication
  • Public relations
  • Advertising
  • News producer
  • Business
  • Information processing
  • Technical writing
  • Library science

English majors seeking secondary teacher certification must follow the state curriculum of prospective teachers of English Language Arts and maintain the 2.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA) required for admission to the Stillman Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students admitted to the English program must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in English and must pass ENG 199/200; and in the second semester of the sophomore year, must participate in a skills assessment for guidance purposes.

ENGLISH MAJOR

Student Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the English major, students will be able to perform the following:
  • Describe characteristics of major historical literary movements (Content).
  • Apply knowledge of and proficiency in writing acceptable literary/critical analyses (Critical Thinking).
  • Demonstrate proficiency in using standard spoken and written American English (Communication).
Program Outcomes The program will produce graduates who will do the following:
  • Pursue advanced study at a graduate school or professional school.
  • Enter careers in teaching, journalism and media, publishing, public relations, advertising, technical writing, and the fine arts where distinctive verbal capabilities of precision, persuasiveness, and clarity in thinking or writing are valued.
  • Contribute to any work environment where advanced vocabulary, critical thinking, creativity, interpretation, and complex, original composition skills are needed.
  • Use technology to communicate effectively.
The major in English consists of a minimum of thirty-six (36) credit hours, including six (6) hours of General Education Core Courses.

JOURNALISM MAJOR

Student Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the Journalism major, students will be able to perform the following:
  • Identify basic terms of the profession and report, design, edit, and function within the climate of the newsroom (Content).
  • Use professionalism, leadership, and critical thinking skills related to the presentation of information (Critical Thinking).
  • Write in traditional news, feature, and opinion styles as well as literary methods and in public relations forms (Communication).
  • Demonstrate proficiency in journalism-related oral communication (Communication).
Program Outcomes The program will produce graduates who will look to do the following:
  • Enter careers in journalism, media, mass communications, editing, public relations, publishing, and teaching where distinctive technological and verbal capabilities of precision and clarity in thinking, speaking, or writing are valued.
  • Exhibit professional practices and skills of journalism and communication, which include a process approach for writing, speaking, and producing.
  • Use technology to communicate effectively.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the responsibilities of a professional journalist.
  • Pursue advanced study at a graduate school or professional school.
The major in journalism consists of a minimum of thirty-six (36) credit hours.


MAJOR AREA REQUIREMENTS IN ENGLISH

MAJOR AREA REQUIREMENTS IN JOURNALISM

ENG 199: English Composition I for English and Journalism Majors* 

JN 131: Introduction to Mass Communication

ENG 199 may be substituted with

ENG 131: English Composition I

JN 132: Introduction to Media Writing

ENG 200: English Composition II for English and Journalism Majors* 

JN 231: Newswriting and Reporting

ENG 200 may be substituted with

ENG 132: English Composition II

JN 233: Photojournalism

ENG 231: American Literature I

JN 331: Media Law and Regulations

ENG 232: American Literature II

ENG 331: Advanced Rhetorical Grammar

ENG 236: English Literature I

JN 332: Magazine Feature and Opinion Writing 

ENG 237: English Literature II

JN 338: Radio Production

ENG 330: World Literature

JN 339: Digital Video Production

ENG 331: Advanced Rhetorical Grammar

JN 430: Internship/Practicum

ENG 335: Shakespeare

JN 431: Advanced Newswriting 

ENG 430: Literary Criticism

JN 434: Senior Project

ENG 437: Major Writers


ENG 438: Senior Thesis in English


English Course

Credits

ENG 131: English Composition I

3

ENG 132: English Composition II

3

ENG 199: English Composition I for English and Journalism Majors

3

ENG 200: English Composition II for English and Journalism Majors

3

ENG 230: Introduction to Creative Writing

3

ENG 231: American Literature I

3

ENG 232: American Literature II

3

ENG 235: Technical Writing

3

ENG 236: English Literature I

3

ENG 237: English Literature II

3

ENG 238: African American Literature I

3

ENG 239: African American Literature II

3

ENG 330: World Literature

3

ENG 331: Advanced Rhetorical Grammar

3

ENG 333: Writing Argument

3

ENG 334: Chaucer

3

ENG 335: Shakespeare

3

ENG 336: Creative Writing

3

ENG 337: Contemporary Multiethnic Literatures of USA

3

ENG 338: Development of the Novel

3

ENG 339: Modern Black Fiction

3

ENG 400: Independent Study/Internship/Practicum

3

ENG 402: English Language Arts Practicum

3

ENG 430: Literary Criticism

3

ENG 432: Literature of the 20th Century

3

ENG 434: African Literature

3

ENG 435: Poetry

3

ENG 436: Caribbean Literature

3

ENG 437: Major Writers

3

ENG 438: Senior Thesis in English

3

ENG 439: Modern Drama

3


Courses to consider when building the Pre-law track are listed below:

All English Major Area Required Courses (total of 36 credit hours)

PSC 239: Principles of American Government

ENG 333: Writing Argument

BUS 333: Business Law and Ethics

PSC 332: The United States Constitution

ENG 235: Technical Writing

SPE 331: Persuasive Speaking

PSC 335: American Political Theory

SPE 236: Interpersonal Communication

PSC 336: State and Local Government

ENGLISH & JOURNALISM MINORS


ENGLISH MINOR

JOURNALISM MINOR

The minor in English consists of a minimum of eighteen (18) credit hours beyond the general education requirements.

The minor in journalism consists of a minimum of eighteen (18) credit hours.

MINOR AREA REQUIREMENTS IN ENGLISH

MINOR AREA REQUIREMENTS IN JOURNALISM

ENG 230: Introduction to Creative Writing 

JN 131: Introduction to Mass Communication 

ENG 231: Amer. Lit. I or ENG 232: Amer. Lit. II 

JN 231: Newswriting and Reporting

ENG 236: Eng. Lit. I or ENG 237: Eng. Lit. II 

JN 233: Photojournalism

ENG 330: World Literature

JN 332: Magazine Feature and Opinion Writing 

ENG 335: Shakespeare

JN 338: Radio Production 

Any 400-level English

JN 430: Internship/Practicum

CAREER OPTIONS


CAREER OPTIONS IN ENGLISH

CAREER OPTIONS IN JOURNALISM

Education

Editing

Law

Public Relations

Technical writing

Business

Writing

Writing

Advertising

Web design

Speechwriters

Producing

News and Sports

Radio and Television

SPECIAL PROGRAM IN ENGLISH

Pre-Law Program (shared with Department of Social Sciences)

English majors interested in law may participate in the Pre-law Program. This program includes elective courses in writing, speech, theatre, social sciences, and other liberal arts, which will help majors acquire the knowledge and skills needed for the intense competition for admission to law school.

Admission to law school is normally based on personal and academic records and on the results of a student’s performance on the national Law School Admission Test (LSAT).  Consequently, the Pre-law program at Stillman College helps students to broaden their view of the world, cultivate such personal qualities as honesty and integrity, and acquire and sharpen the diverse skills needed for success in law school, in a law career, and in life. The core skills include listening ability, general research, critical reading ability, analytical skills, logical thinking, and the ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively orally and in writing. At Stillman, a Pre-law student may select a major in a social science discipline with a number of elective courses in English, speech, and theatre, or a major in English with a number of elective courses in speech, theatre and the social sciences. Whatever the major, Pre-law students will pursue a demanding, four-year course of study in the liberal arts, which will help them acquire the knowledge and skills needed for the intense competition for admission in law school.

Courses to consider when building the Pre-law track are listed below:

  • All English Major Required Courses (total of 36 credit hours)
  • PSC 239: Principles of American Government
  • ENG 333: Writing Argument
  • BUS 333: Business Law and Ethics
  • PSC 332: The United States Constitution
  • ENG 235: Technical Writing
  • SPE 331: Persuasive Speaking
  • PSC 335: American Political Theory
  • SPE 236: Interpersonal Communication
  • PSC 336: State and Local Government

HONOR SOCIETIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society

Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. It fosters all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing. It also strives to provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and language in surrounding communities by community service projects. It has two publications to which members can submit their creative or researched work, The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review. With over 870 active chapters, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Sponsors and 9,000 members inducted annually. Also, the honor society hosts an annual conference to which students may submit papers. The cost to join is a one-time fee of $40.00. Students must have a 3.00 GPA in English or Journalism and must have completed 60 credit hours. Dr. Kathryn Brewer-Strayer serves as the advisor to the Sigma Tau Delta chapter at Stillman, and Dr. Paige McCormick serves as the co-advisor. For information on how to become a member of Sigma Tau Delta, contact Dr. Brewer-Strayer (kbrewer@stillman.edu; 205-349-4240 ext. 8995) and Dr. McCormick (pmccormick@stillman.edu; 205-349-4240 ext. 8127).

Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. It fosters all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing. It also strives to provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and language in surrounding communities by community service projects. It has two publications to which members can submit their creative or researched work, The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review. With over 870 active chapters, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Sponsors and 9,000 members inducted annually. Also, the honor society hosts an annual conference to which students may submit papers. The cost to join is a one-time fee of $40.00. Students must have a 3.00 GPA in English or Journalism and must have completed 60 credit hours.

Dr. Kathryn Brewer-Strayer serves as the advisor to the Sigma Tau Delta chapter at Stillman, and Dr. Paige McCormick serves as the co-advisor. For information on how to become a member of Sigma Tau Delta, contact Dr. Brewer-Strayer (kbrewer@stillman.edu; 205-349-4240 ext. 8995) and Dr. McCormick (pmccormick@stillman.edu; 205-349-4240 ext. 8127).

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EJMC

Dr. Paige McCormick

Chair and Associate Professor of English

(205) 349-4240 ext. 8127

pmccormick@stillman.edu

Dr. Shompaballi Datta

Associate Professor of English

(205) 349-4240 ext. 8990

skimball@stillman.edu

Dr. Regina Golar

Associate Professor of English

rgolar@stillman.edu

Dr. Michael Andrews

Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Journalism

(205) 349-4240 ext. 8819

mandrews@stillman.edu

Romeo Reese

Director of Digital Media Communications and Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Communications

(205) 349-4240 ext. 3236

rreese@stillman.edu

Dr. Tamalyn Peterson

Associate Professor of English

(205) 349-4240 ext. 8867

tpeterson@stillman.edu

Larry Pritchett

Instructor of Media Communications and Speech

(205) 886-4292 ext. 8819

lpritchett@stillman.edu

DEPARTMENT CONTACT

Dr. Michael Andrews, Program Coordinator (Journalism)
mandrews@stillman.edu
Phone: 205-349-4240 ext. 8819

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