About the Department

The English Department is dedicated to providing our students with the tools they need to engage in the critical process and to explore literature and their own creativity.  Our core offers a solid foundation in literature and literary theory, and our elective offerings allow students to shape the major as they wish, whether it be concentrating on the field of writing or delving into American, British, and Anglophone literature.  The study of English broadens the mind and fosters intellectual curiosity. 

Students with English majors go into a number of careers.  Besides graduate study and secondary teaching, a number of our graduates have gone into advertising, public relations, journalism, library science, law, business, government, and industry.

Our goals are as follows:

• Students will demonstrate the ability to write clearly and effectively in critical and/or creative modes.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically about literature, language, and culture.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to recognize canonical authors and works in their historical contexts, including an understanding of literary techniques, formal devices, and genres.

WELCOME TO MOUNT OLYMPUS! Students in Dr. Edsall's mythology class prepare for their final presentations. They were asked to dress as their mythological character and speak for a few minutes on their topic.	EARLY BIRD! Black and Magenta editor-in-chief Heather Menarchek is often at her desk at 6 a.m., getting the weekly student newspaper ready.

WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. Drs. Varley, DeCuir, and Wagner staff the table at the annual Department Majors Fair. English, Journalism, and American Studies were represented.	AN EVENING OF SHAKESPEARE. It was a full house at the annual student-faculty reading, hosted by First Circle. The theme was Shakespeare, honoring Dr. Alan Chaffee, who retired spring semester after 40 years at Muskingum.

SPOOKY FUN! The English honorary hosted a bonfire event in the fall. They read horror stories and acted them out, while enjoying S'Mores.	A POEM UNFOLDS. Zak Gress prepares to read a poem about "Noodling," the process of catching snapping turtles. First Circle (the campus literary magazine) hosted its annual student reading in early October.