Exciting classes, a distinguished faculty, excellent preparation for a wide range of career paths, and many opportunities for extracurricular activities and learning opportunities … These are just a few of the reasons to choose an English major at Columbia College.

A degree in English is an asset to anyone who seeks to become a strong critical thinker and an excellent communicator.  A degree in English from Columbia College allows you to challenge yourself intellectually in the context of a strong and vital community that’s defined by warm and supportive relationships between students and faculty.

The English major at Columbia College is designed to be very flexible, allowing students to tailor their course of study to their individual interests and goals.  The department offers programs in Literary Studies, English Education, and Professional Writing. English majors can also gain professional experience through our practicum and internship programs.

About the English Department

Academic excellence among students and a distinguished faculty who are published authors and noted scholars—these are the hallmarks of the English Department at Columbia College.

With 12 faculty members and an average of about 50 majors, the English Department offers an exceptionally small student-faculty ratio, so students and faculty really have a chance to get to know one another, both inside and outside of the classroom.

One thing English majors consistently cite as a strength of the department is the number of activities and professional development opportunities it offers.  Students can write for any of several campus publications, present papers at regional and national conferences, read their creative work at Lyrical Lattes, travel and study abroad, learn more about possible career interests through internships and practica, and relax and enjoy each others’ company at any of several annual parties and other social gatherings.

Some of the many opportunities for learning and fellowship outside the classroom that are provided by the English Department include …

• writing for and/or editing the campus newspaper, the Post Script; the yearbook, the Columbian, the literary yearbook, the Criterion; and the English department newsletter, Words and Deeds
• joining the English Majors Society and attending its monthly meetings—membership is open to all English majors and minors
• joining the Sigma Tau Delta English Majors Honors Society—Columbia College has one of the oldest Sigma Tau Delta chapters in the nation
• attending the annual national Sigma Tau Delta conference
• attending other national and regional conferences, including the American Culture Association of the South
• participating in writing and speaking contests through the Pearce Center
• working with the prominent creative writers who take part in our annual Visiting Writers Program—recent visiting writers include Susan Ludvigson, George Singleton and Ron Rash
• working and studying in Washington, DC through our Washington Semester program
• taking part in special department productions like Shakespeare on Stage
• raising money for English Majors Society activities—and stocking up on bargain books—at our annual book sale
• socializing with faculty and fellow students at our annual welcome-back picnic and end-of-the-year banquet

Want to know more? 
Have questions this site doesn’t answer?  We’d love to hear from you.  Contact us at CCEnglish@colacoll.edu.