English Major (BA)
What can you do with a mastery of the English language? Let us count the ways.
Our English major provides you with the opportunity to explore your own imaginative power. Do you aspire to be a writer or editor? A teacher? A lawyer? A degree in English can launch your career in these fields and countless others. Become a communicator of clarity and grace – someone who can cast a vision, weave a narrative, and craft an experience.
As an English major, you will be taught to read and write with attention to truthfulness, logic, rhetoric and aesthetics. In an increasingly competitive and changing marketplace, a degree in English can be the foundation for the thinking, imaginative and interpretative skills necessary for workplace success.
Concentrations
Literature
Choose this concentration and become familiar with both classic and contemporary works of world, American and British literature. Skills developed include close reading, critical thinking, analytical and problem solving, empathy, and faith integration.
This path will prepare you to pursue graduate studies to become a teacher at the middle school, high school, community college or university levels; attend law school; or earn a degree in library science.
Writing
Choose a writing concentration and practice writing in a variety of genres, including creative writing (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction), journalistic writing, and technical/business writing. Skills developed include analyzing and writing for specific audiences, marketing, editing and publishing. This concentration requires an internship experience.
Why Study English at George Fox?
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Each member of our faculty is a published writer who is knowledgeable about the publishing industry. They teach from practical experience, not textbook knowledge. Each specializes in different kinds of writing, from young adult fiction to poetry to journalism to academic writing.
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Beyond exploring the classics of literature, you will become a more perceptive reader and interpreter of the Bible, helping you gain a better understanding of how your faith informs your writing practice.
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Our faculty are available for tutoring and mentoring and give great advice about careers and grad school options after graduation.
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You will have many opportunities to write and get your work published outside the classroom, whether it be writing for the campus newspaper, The Crescent, or working on the editorial staff of our creative writing journal, The Wineskin. In addition, several students in our Magazine and Feature Writing course are published regularly in media outlets outside the university.
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If you are an English major or minor with a 3.0 GPA or above and three semesters of college credit, you may join the George Fox chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, which qualifies you to submit your creative and scholarly writing and, if selected, to present your work at the international convention. There, you compete for recognition and cash prizes in various presentation categories. Several of our students have won prize money for their work over the years.
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You will become a better thinker, researcher and writer and learn to share that passion with others through writing and teaching. You will find your voice.
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You will benefit from interdisciplinary connections through literature (history, philosophy, art, theatre, religion, etc.)
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As an English major, you have the option to join George Fox University’s honors program. This great books program will allow you to engage in active discussions with your peers and provide you with a challenging academic journey that informs your mind and deepens your spiritual walk.
What will I Study?
- Literature from a variety of times and cultures
- Various theories of interpreting literature
- Analyzing and writing for specific audiences
- Navigating the publishing world and marketing your writing
- The principles of composition and how to teach writing effectively
Gina Ochsner
Author, winner of 2002 Flannery O’Connor Award
What I appreciated the most about the time I spent studying at George Fox was the creative latitude to explore, define, craft and hone my own creative aesthetic. Under the guidance of gifted instructors I was encouraged to examine rigorously what it is I wanted to write and how best to write it.
What’s after George Fox
- Freelance Writer and Editor, Travel Oregon, Word Jones, Handheld Group
- Associate Professor of English, Spring Arbor University
- Author, The Necessary Grace to Fall (Flannery O’Connor Award winner)
- Director of Education, Creative Nonfiction Foundation
- Technical Editor, Apex Companies
- Librarian, Cedar Mill and Bethany Community Libraries
- Language Arts Teacher, Sherwood High School
- ESL Tutor, Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado
- English Professor, Grand Canyon University
- Project Manager and Marketing Assistant, Soulation
- Intuitive Coach and Leadership Consultant, The Courage Practice
- Portland Monthly Magazine
- Oregon Bride Magazine
- Ellichor Publishing House
- Barclay Press
- Newberg Public Library
- Newberg Public Schools
- Yale University
- Notre Dame
- Oxford University
- Duke Divinity School
- University of St. Andrews
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Virginia
- University of Oregon
- Oregon State University
Here’s what a handful of our recent graduates are up to:
Jordan Enobakhare Herman published her first YA novel, Raybearer, which made the New York Times bestseller list. Jordan, who writes under the name Jordan Ifueko, is currently doing publicity for the book.
Ryan Lackey completed his master’s degree at Oregon State University, taught adjunct writing and literature classes at George Fox, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies at University of California, Berkeley – the top-rated graduate literature program in the county.
Brice Ezell, after working for a year as a writer/editor for PopMatters magazine in Chicago, is nearing completion of his fully funded doctoral program at The University of Texas, Austin, where his studies focus on twentieth century and contemporary drama.
Emily Lund, after completing her two-year paid internship with Christianity Today as writer and editorial assistant with the CTLocalChurch website, is at Duke University, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies.