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Arts & Sciences

English

Language is power with a Bachelor of Arts in English

The world needs storytellers and critical thinkers. The English major fills that need.

 

Teach-Out Information & Resources for Students

ENGLISH AS A DEGREE

Stories are a window into what is most important for people and studying literature will help carry you through your life and human relationships. English majors study literature from a range of periods and cultures in a variety of genres and forms, and also practice both creative and analytical writing.  As an English major, you’ll develop sophisticated critical reading, writing and speaking skills, cross-cultural fluency, and a firm grounding in the humanistic traditions of moral, intellectual and artistic work. A critical thinker can go into any field, but students who go into English are responding to the opportunity to tell their stories and respond to those of others.  

PERSONALIZED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

The English major is built around a core of survey courses, but you have the opportunity to customize the electives to pursue the types of literature they are most interested in. Also unique to FinnU’s English program is the ability for you to select the books you’ll explore in certain classes through a student-created syllabus. Doing so helps drive the inclusion of diverse voices. The English degree culminates in a Senior Capstone that focuses on a subject area of your choosing.

Featured Minor Offering – Creative Writing

The study of literature and creative writing are intimately and inextricably linked, but the creative writing minor will provide an avenue for those interested in this form of original expression to develop their passion and skills with the goal of developing as artists and communicators. Creative writers learn to recognize the technical features of literature and replicate or modify them in their own writing.

English student

carolyn dekker english

ENGLISH AS A CAREER

The small student-to-faculty ratio provides strong opportunities for mentorship and honing communication skills that can lead to a variety of different career paths.

English majors work in writing, editing, print and digital publishing, as well as education, business, politics and social services.  The English major is also excellent preparation for graduate school in education, the humanities or law school.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

There are a number of student groups and activities on campus that appeal directly to English majors and storytellers.

CAMPUS READ

Every year, students, faculty, staff and the community come together around a single book.The author visits campus to give a reading and engage in dialogue with classes and student groups.

HELSINKI SLANG LITERARY MAGAZINE

The Helsinki Slang Literary Magazine is written and edited by students. The students who work on the magazine enjoy creative writing and sharing their work.

NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH WRITE-INS

Write-ins provide students and faculty a time to focus solely on writing and obtain feedback on their writing. Join the faculty and fellow students in the library every November as they participate in a write-in and celebrate the joys of writing as a community.

“Finlandia prepared me for my career by helping me form the kernel of interest that would eventually become my Creative Writing focus, and by providing me with mentors who took a truly active approach toward my studies by always encouraging me to read more, write more, and learn more whenever possible.”

Max Malone ('14)

The Degree

Progress Sheet

The Classes

Course Descriptions

ENGLISH IN THE NEWS

Teach-Out Institutions
Finlandia University Teach-Out Institutions

May 16, 2023

Updated May 16, 2023

On Thursday, March 2, Finlandia University’s Board of Trustees announced that FinnU will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year. Announced Tuesday, March 14, the University’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to dissolve the institution and wind up affairs in an orderly manner.

Finlandia has finalized eight Teach-Out Agreements with Adrian College, Bay College, Michigan Technological University, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Northern Michigan University, University of Dubuque, Waldorf University, and Wartburg College. Several non-partnering institutions have […] Read More

Relive Graduation Day 2023 at Finlandia University | Photo Gallery & Livestreams

May 11, 2023

Finlandia University held its final Spring Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 7, honoring 92 graduates in the Class of 2023. Following commencement, a commendation service was held for Finlandia University students, staff, faculty, alumni, neighbors and friends, commending the University and its 126 years of service.

Full High-Res Photos from Spring 2023 Commencement:

VIEW ALBUM ON FLICKR

On-Demand Livestream of Spring 2023 Commencement:

Full High-Res Photos from Service of Commendation:

Read More

Hirvonen Hall exterior
Finlandia honors legacy, Class of 2023 with final commencement and commendation ceremonies

May 10, 2023

Founded in 1896 as Suomi College, Finlandia University held its final spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 7, honoring 92 graduates in the Class of 2023. In March, the University announced the decision to dissolve the institution and not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year.

View PhotosWatch On-Demand

President Timothy Pinnow congratulates student at FinnU’s Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony.

Delivering the welcome address was Board Trustee Stephen Nikander, whose great-grandfather founded the institution and whose grandfather served […] Read More

ENGLISH GRADUATES WILL BE ABLE TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

  • Global Perspective: Identify, summarize and classify significant works of literature and explain their importance within a global framework.
  • Analytic and Critical Thinking, Communication: Produce original, sophisticated, clear and revised judgments on a range of literary texts and topics.
  • Personal Perspective, Global Perspective, Analytic and Critical Thinking: Summarize and analyze the reception of various texts in both their own period and the present. Relate the texts and their reception to relevant issues and themes.
  • Creative Insight: Formulate and use interdisciplinary approaches to synthesize and produce sophisticated and novel arguments with scholarly potential.
  • Communication, Analytic and Critical Thinking: Construct and argue positions related to a range of topics in literature. Demonstrate ability to articulate the value of both the positions themselves AND the process of knowledge production and dissemination in the field of literature and writing.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Faculty and Staff

Carolyn Dekker

Associate Professor, English

carolyn.dekker@finlandia.edu

Cassandra Hill, Ph.D.

Dean & Associate Professor of Communication

Cassandra.Hill@finlandia.edu

Mark Lounibos

Associate Professor, English

mark.lounibos@finlandia.edu
FinnU will not enroll students for 2023-2024Learn More
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Teach-Out Information