ENGLISH

We’re a community of storytellers. 
Through stories we create and share knowledge; we communicate our ideas, values and identities; and we negotiate our differences. You can see the thread of storytelling throughout our three English degree emphases:

English Literature
Study how we tell and structure stories, and learn how to analyze how written works unite and, sometimes, divide us.

Creative Writing 
Learn how to craft stories while harnessing the forms and techniques of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and screenwriting.

English Education
Teach the power of language to others — and help them share their own stories, whether artistic or professional.

Learn more about licensure to become an English teacher »

Other English program highlights

There are plenty of other reasons to major in English at UW-Whitewater:

• We collaborate with departments across the university to connect language awareness to other subject areas. For example, American Environmental Literature connects English, History, and Environmental Science students, exploring writers’ relationship and long history with nature and wildlife, as well as looking at emerging genres like Cli-Fi (climate change fiction). The class also considers how art and writing can impact environmental change in Wisconsin and beyond.
• The Department of Literature, Writing, and Film offers a variety of student awards and scholarships, including some that help with study abroad expenses.
• Our alumni work in a broad array of fields and participate in many ways to share their professional insights with current English majors.

Put your analytical, reasoning and writing skills into practice through a variety of hands-on learning experiences on and off campus. English majors can study abroad or participate in short-term travel study programs, and they also gain practical experience through workshop- and project-based courses. 

Internships
Pursue an internship to hone your writing, editing and research skills, as well as to boost your career confidence. Because words are everywhere, our students intern in a variety of industries, including media, advertising, publishing, business and health care.

Community-based learning
Help the local community address needs through courses with built-in service components. Or, volunteer at educational events, such as UW-Whitewater’s annual writing festival for local high school students.

Undergraduate research
Take a deep dive into topics that interest you through independent research, or assist faculty members in theirs through the Research Apprentice Program.

There are plenty of ways to get involved in the UW-Whitewater community:

Produce a literary journal
Join the staff of The Muse, UW-Whitewater’s literature and arts magazine. Founded more than 40 years ago, this annual publication features poetry, short stories, essays and art.

Write for campus media
English degree students, especially those interested in a creative writing major, might be interested in creator, production or leadership roles at campus media outlets:

• The Royal Purple – award-winning weekly campus print and online newspaper
• UWW-TV – campus cable television station, located in Conover Studio in Andersen Hall
• WSUW-FM: 91.7 “The Edge” – campus radio station broadcasting throughout the region from a tower atop Hyer Hall

Present your creative work and hear from others
The English program offers many opportunities for students (and faculty members) to share their work with others, such as at public readings and annual events like Literature Crossroads. Our Warhawk Reading & Lecture Series brings to campus published poets and authors from around the world.

Join or lead a student organization
You’ll find hundreds of clubs at UW-Whitewater, and a few that might interest language lovers include: 

• The English Club
• The Professional Writing Core
• Law Society
• Forensics

When you major in English, your professional options are endless. From arts and entertainment to politics and activism, to exploring outer space or creating your own fictional fantasyland, a degree in English can provide you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a wide range of career paths.

Clockwise from top left: Showrunner Shonda Rimes, Director Steven Spielberg, Astronaut Sally Ride, U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, Environmental Activist Rachel Carson, and Musician John Legend were all English majors at their respective colleges/universities.

After earning a bachelor’s in English, UW-Whitewater graduates pursue creative writing careers, establish themselves in editorial positions, begin on the path toward publishing or become English teachers. Here’s just a sampling of positions:

• Marketing writer
• Proposal writer
• Copyeditor
• Production editor
• Technical writer
• Science writer
• Communications director
• Project manager
• English teacher
• Index creator

Our students are also novelists, screenwriters, poets, essayists and editors.

Many of our English majors and minors continue to graduate or professional schools to earn a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, a Ph.D. in literature or a related field, or a law degree. UW-Whitewater graduates have studied at:

• UW-Madison Law School
• University of Virginia
• University of British Columbia
• Vanderbilt University
• Albert-Ludwigs Universitat (Freiburg, Germany)

Our faculty members are published authors, award-winning writers, prolific researchers, professional writing practitioners and engaged educators. Recent credits on the literary journal side include The New Yorker, Narrative Magazine, The Prairie Schooner, The Boston Review and New Republic.

Meet our faculty

Want to learn more about earning an English degree?
262-472-1036 | english@uww.edu