Visit the English Department Web Site
An Invitation
The Alma College English department invites you to:
- Engage in the traditions of literary study
- Become powerful critical and creative thinkers
- Balance broad thinking with close reading to build knowledge in world literatures and cultures to understand our own
- Take courses in literature, composition, creative writing, journalism, film and critical theory.
Special Features
Women’s studies. The English department participates in an interdepartmental women’s studies minor.
Service learning. Students serve as tutors in the Gratiot County Reading Program. Creative writing students lead poetry workshops for senior citizens, and drama students present plays about service projects in the community.
Off-campus study. Off-campus study has taken students to Martha’s Vineyard and Amherst to study creative writing and Emily Dickinson, and to Taos, NM, to explore writers of the Southwest.
International study. Students can study in an international setting to develop a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, other cultures. Spring Term courses are offered each year in England. Through Alma’s International Study programs, you can study English language and literature for a term overseas. The curriculum of the University of Aberdeen, for example, complements Alma’s liberal arts emphasis, and the classes you take there will count either toward your major or graduation requirements.
Writers on campus. The Lucille Clifton Writer-in-Residence Program brings nationally known writers to visit classes, lead poetry workshops and hold public readings. Dr. Richard Selzer, former chief of surgery at Yale University, spent three days at Alma talking with students about writing essays and stories. Other writers who have visited include Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks. Students have the opportunity to read their poetry and fiction to the College community.
Self-Designed Majors
If you want to develop skills directly applicable to a professional career, you can work with a faculty member to create your own Program of Emphasis. If, for instance, you are interested in advertising, public relations or journalism, you can combine English classes with art and design, business or communication.
Practical Experiences
- Serve as an intern with the Morning Sun, the local daily newspaper
- Coordinate publicity for the city of Alma’s annual Highland Festival and Games
- Work on campus publications such as The Almanian student newspaper, the Scot yearbook and The Pine River Anthology, a journal of student art, fiction and poetry
- Work in Alma’s public relations office and write a variety of materials to learn firsthand about public relations, publications, marketing and promotional activities.
Careers and Advanced Studies
Course work in English is valuable preparation for many careers and branches of study. The abilities to write, read and speak well, to analyze and synthesize information, and to learn how to learn are essential for success in law, medicine, business, government and education, as well as advanced studies in language and literature.
Accordingly, many Alma College students consider a major in English a sound preparation for a variety of careers — such as teaching, corporate law, marketing and public relations. To expand their career possibilities, some students combine their study of English with a second major in business administration, communication, history, philosophy, political science and religious studies.
