English, B.A.
I've known since I was a kid that I wanted to write, but becoming an English major was something that snuck up on me. My first semester, I took Multicultural Literature on a whim and was blown away by the pieces I got to read. I decided to take another English course. Then another. Eventually, I applied to work at the writing center, and soon after I became a reader for our literary journal. I started to really love school, and that's when I knew I'd landed on something special.
Ask our faculty
Have questions? Our faculty are here to share their expertise and help you learn more about this program.
Ask Jess
Professor and Department Chair Jess Clements teaches courses including Writing in Virtual Worlds, Professional Writing, and Writing Center Theory & Practice.
Ask Thom
Associate Professor of English Thom Caraway teaches courses including Introduction to Editing, Book Design & Publishing, and American Literary Journals.
Ask Casey
Professor Casey Andrews teaches courses including Introduction to African American Literature, Film Noir & Hardboiled Fiction, and British Literature.
Our English grads make a difference (and get jobs)
During senior year, our majors work closely with a faculty mentor to assess their own work, refine their professional documents, and consider vocational and career pathways. Each year, our graduates enter competitive graduate programs and are hired to work in a variety of fields, including publishing; professional writing; marketing; community, church and nonprofit outreach; ministry; banking and management; film; and teaching at all levels, at home and abroad.
The English degree helps them land jobs, and their adaptability, thoroughness and creativity earn them promotions.
Our graduates are working in a variety of positions and fields, including:
- Morgan Feddes Satre, communications specialist and managing editor of Advance, Council of Christian Colleges & Universities, Washington, D.C.
- Jennifer Rudsit, publishing coordinator, Sasquatch Books, Seattle
- Devon Clements, copywriter and associate producer, Beavercreek Marketing, Grand Island, Neb.
- Nic Vargus, content and editorial writer, Slack, San Francisco
- Jeremiah Webster, associate professor of English, Northwest University, Seattle
- John Taylor, writing center coordinator & lecturer, University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Andrea Dilley, associate editor, Christianity Today, Austin
- Kathryn Linder, research director, Oregon State University Ecampus, Corvallis
- Jessica Wisse, digital media strategist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Seattle
- Our grads are teaching at schools and universities across the country, including the University of the Incarnate Word, Texas Tech University, Northwest University, the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Western Washington University.
Our recent English grads further their studies in top graduate programs at institutions including:
- Duke University (Ph.D., Philosophy)
- Emerson College (MFA, Creative Writing)
- Michigan State University (Ph.D., English)
- The Ohio State University (Ph.D., English)
- University of Oregon (MFA, Writing)
- University of Oregon (Ph.D., English)
- Penn State (MA/Ph.D., English)
- Portland State (MA, Publishing)
- Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.)
- Purdue University (MA, English)
- University of Texas at Austin (Ph.D., English)
Opportunities outside the classroom
- Work as a writing consultant for the Composition Commons, helping students and other members of the campus community refine and develop their writing.
- Become an editor for and publish your creative work in Script, our student-run literary magazine.
- Present your scholarly or creative work at regional and national undergraduate conferences.
- Work on , our national literary magazine, and read the work of writers around the world as you help decide which stories, essays and poems we publish.
- Travel to annual trade shows and conferences like the Association of Writers & Writing Programs conference and the Festival of Faith & Writing.
- Study abroad through our month-long and semester-long United Kingdom programs.
- Lead workshops with students at schools and community centers throughout Spokane in our Writing in the Community program.
- Engage with visiting national writers and scholars.
- Become a student leader in Westminster Round, our student club.
Tracks
Choose one of three tracks, based on your interests and career goals:
- Track I: Literature
- Track II: Writing Studies
- Track III: Preparation for secondary teaching
We offer six minors: a general (and very flexible) English minor, as well as minors in editing and publishing; film & visual narrative; teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL); medieval and early modern studies; and language arts (designed especially for education students). We also support the university's interdisciplinary minors in U.S. cultural studies and women's & gender studies.