English - Department of English

English
What Can You Do With a
Degree in english?
An undergraduate degree in English is infinitely adaptable. Our
students have gone on to continue their education in graduate
programs and at medical and law schools. Those who embark upon
careers immediately after graduation discover that their superior
written and oral communication skills, as well as their critical thinking
and analytic skills, are credentials sought by all employers in all fields –
a passport to success in virtually any career.
Careers
Some examples of the varied careers our graduates have pursued include:
• Professional writing
• Teaching at all levels, from elementary school to college
• Speechwriting for the president of the College of Charleston
• Research associate, Institute for Health, Science and Society
Graduate School
• Grants writer, Spoleto Festival USA
Recently, our English majors have been accepted into graduate
programs such as:
• Vice president and chief legal counsel, The Washington Post
• TV producers for local stations
• Peace Corps volunteer, Morocco
• University of Kentucky (Ph.D.)
• University of Connecticut (Ph.D.)
• Harvard University (Ph.D. in comparative literature)
• The Graduate School of The College of Charleston (MA)
• Arizona State University (MFA in poetry writing)
• Purdue University (MFA in poetry writing)
• Virginia Commonwealth University (MFA in fiction writing)
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MFA in poetry writing)
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MFA in poetry writing)
• Vanderbilt University Law School
• New England School of Law
“English department faculty are very accessible and
always eager to assist students who wish to pursue
further study in specific literature or language areas.
There are also substantial and reputable outlets for
creative artists, such as the student-edited journal
Miscellany and an emerging creative writing
concentration, as well as opportunities to work on the
professional literary journal Crazyhorse.”
Ilani Blanke ’06
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patricia ward, department chair [email protected] english.cofc.edu 843.953.5664
English
Active Learning Opportunities
Independent studies You can take advantage of the opportunity to
work individually with a faculty member studying an area of special
interest to you. Examples of independent studies and tutorials recently
completed by English majors include:
• The Beat Movement
• The Lost Generation
• Shakespeare’s Fools
• Writing the Family
Memoir
• Family Dynamics in African American Literature
• Arthurian Literature of the Middle Ages
• Pope’s Satiric Art
Internships Recent internships have taken place with: • The Glebe Street Hacks: A newsletter published once each semester
by the English Club
• Arcadia Publishing in nearby Mt. Pleasant
• Charleston Magazine
• CBS News in New York City
• Crazyhorse
• Chrestomathy: Founded by a College of Charleston literary
society in the 19th century. The best undergraduate research
papers in the humanities and social sciences are annually
selected for inclusion.
Study abroad The College of Charleston offers summer or semesterlong study-abroad programs in Europe, South America, Asia and the
Caribbean. Summer travel courses regularly offered by English faculty
include:
Other Special Opportunities
Senior Symposium Faculty nominate students to present research
papers and original works of poetry and fiction to audiences of fellow
students, professors, family, and friends at this unique annual event,
modeled on an academic conference.
• Ireland: Irish Mythology and the Celtic Renaissance
• Italy: Humanism and the Italian Renaissance and Continuities in
English on Italian Traditions
Writer’s Series You have the opportunity to interact with the many
poets and other authors whom we invite to campus every semester. Past
guests have included Brenda Marie Osbey (Poet Laureate of Louisiana),
John Ashbery, and Madison Smartt Bell.
Research We actively promote undergraduate student research and
creative projects in collaboration with faculty. Often, student/faculty
projects are supported by College grants. Most recently, for example:
Temples for Tomorrow An online project that focuses on the lives and
works of African-American writers.
• Five student/faculty teams were awarded summer undergraduate
research grants. 
• Three faculty-sponsored students received undergraduate research
presentation grants.
• Three English majors had research papers published in
Chrestomathy, a College publication.
Student Organizations
English Club Open to all interested students, the club sponsors
student readings and film screenings, organizes career days and
graduate school days and publishes the department’s newsletter.
National publications
• Crazyhorse: A national literary magazine produced annually by the
College of Charleston that has featured some of the most important
writers of the last half century.
• Illuminations: An International Magazine of Contemporary Writing.
Founded in 1982, Illuminations showcases the work of new writers
from around the world in company with that of already established
writers. Each issue carries an extraordinary, highly eclectic range of
material.
College publications
• Miscellany: English majors often take leadership roles in producing
the College’s annual literary magazine.
College
of
Office of Admissions |
Sigma Tau Delta This national honor society promotes interest in
literature and the English language and fosters the discipline of English
in all its aspects, including creative and critical work.
Songwriter’s Club This group helps sponsor the College Songwriter’s
Series. 
English Club Book Group A new club open to all English majors.
Learning Resources
The Writing Lab Writing consultants, including English faculty and
carefully chosen peer writing consultants (who frequently are English
majors), provide students with one-to-one assistance for every stage in
the writing of essays, term papers, letters, memos and book reviews.
Charleston
843.953.5670
| www.cofc.edu/admissions