College

Title

English Department

Subtitle

Where Creativity and Critical Thinking Meet

Intro text

Welcome to English — a thriving, diverse, student-centered department fully committed to the power of language to communicate ideas, broaden perspectives, find common ground, persuade others, and transform lives. Our focus on both creativity and critical thinking empowers our students to reach beyond the norm, encouraging them to harness their broad skill sets for careers in a variety of fields, including education, marketing, banking, journalism, publishing, entertainment, the arts, technology, and more.

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Intro Text

Majors and Minors in English

The English Department offers an array of emphases within the major and minor, including creative writing; critical studies in literatures, cultures, and film; English and language arts education; linguistics; and the rhetorics of science, technology, and culture. All of our emphases and programs are committed to educating the whole person, valuing the individual while encouraging collaboration and teamwork as well.

English - Creative Writing Emphasis

Certificate | Major | Minor

English - Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Emphasis

Certificate | Major | Minor

English - Linguistics Emphasis

Major

English - Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Emphasis

Certificate | Major | Minor

Chinese students with English flashcards

Interdisciplinary Linguistics

Certificate | Minor

Multimedia Communication

Minor

English student giving youth a writing lesson

Teaching - English and Language Arts

Major

Meet the Faculty

Stephen Ellis, Ph.D.

English Department

Associate Lecturer

Blake R. Westerlund, Ph.D.

English Department

Associate Professor

Kaia Simon, Ph.D.

English Department

Associate Professor

Director of the Blugold Seminar Writing Program

Meet all the English Department faculty

Hallmarks

Kate Gill Library

The Kate Gill Library was founded in memory of a beloved professor of English. Over the last 44 years, what began with a donation of $25,000 has evolved into a vital research and study resource for students and faculty in the English Department. Now, the Kate Gill Library is home to 1500 books and periodicals. Students are welcome to use the library as a study space or to conduct collaborative research.

Visit the Kate Gill Online Catalog

Community Resources

UW-Eau Claire English faculty and students have been connecting with the Chippewa Valley for decades. Through events like the Chippewa Valley Book Festival, organizations like the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild, student interns contributing to area business, faculty and students leading workshops and festivals — Blugold English is all over this community.

Facts List

Just
the
facts

5 Majors, 4 Minors, 3 Certificates

Our personalized curriculum builds your skillset and talent for the future you want.

Student Opportunities

Study Abroad and Immersions

English has historically been among the departments that shows high numbers of majors and minors participating in study abroad, with an average of 20 students studying around the world each year. In past years, English majors and minors studied in Ireland, Scotland, Korea, South Africa, France, Italy, and Japan.

For some Blugolds, a shorter, course-related immersion experience may be a better fit. In past years, classes have gone on immersion trips to Jamaica and India. Afterward, students are able to put what they’ve learned in class to work in examining the culture and history of another country.

Scholarships

Internships

Content Carousel

Blugold Stories

Here You Can

Superstar student Sophia Curran-Moore wins Honors Prechel Scholarship

Sophia Curran-Moore, an outstanding Honors student, wins this year's Prechel Honors Scholarship. She is a teaching English and language arts major who has been committed to helping new students make the most of their college experience.

Here You Can

Exceptional Support

One of the places where I felt the most support on campus would be the English department. I struggled a lot with choosing what my major was going to be, but my professors and other English students just always encouraged me. I felt so much support and warmth from them.

Maggie O'Brien

Teaching - English and Language Arts and Creative Writing Major

Exceptional Support

Creative Writing and Teaching - English and Language Arts Major Maggie O'Brien smiling

Exceptional Support

I had no idea how much I would be welcomed and how much all of my professors genuinely care about me. They are so willing to just have a chat or I can come to their office hours. It's just something that is so nice and I didn't know I was going to have that.

Maggie O'Brien

Teaching - English and Language Arts and Creative Writing Major

Exceptional Support

A student on a study abroad program in Harlaxton, England, taking picture with a stunning sunset over a coastal cityscape

Learning in Action

Fulfill Your Credits in Harlaxton, England

Stay in a Victorian manor house, visit the adjoining carriage house, and take classes with both international students and locals. Located on the edge of Harlaxton village, the College is set amidst the green pastures and rolling hills typical of the English Midlands. Internships and career experiences are also available!

Learn more about study abroad experiences at UWEC

Learning in Action

Cultivating leadership skills on and off the field: Harry Roubidoux

Honors student Harry Roubidoux, an English major with a rhetorics of science, technology and culture emphasis, developed leadership skills as captain of the UWEC football team. After graduation, Roubidoux will be pursuing a career in technical writing.

Learning in Action

Students wearing "Midwest Artist Academy" shirts smile as they walk across a bridge

Learning in Action

Research in the Arts

At UWEC, research expands far beyond STEM programs. The Midwest Artist Academy (MAA) is hosted on campus each year for young artists interested in dance, theater, music, art, or writing. Over the past few years, Blugold student researchers have studied ways to refine MAA into an even more inclusive, collaborative experience.

Learn more about research at UWEC

Learning in Action