English

Admissions: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3465 or (207) 621-3465
Advising Center: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3149 or (207) 621-3149
Coordinator: Ellen Taylor (Augusta)/Jeffrey Sychterz (Bangor)
Website: www.uma.edu/academics/programs/english/

Intro/Overview

The English program includes core classes which emphasize a broad and intensive background in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Students may choose a concentration in rhetoric and writing, cultural studies, or follow a literature-based path. Students who complete a Bachelor of Arts in English from UMA have a strong foundation for careers in education, public relations, business, law, government, writing/editing, and journalism, among others.

Mission Statement: UMA students who complete the English degree have learned how to read closely, think critically, and communicate persuasively. Through their knowledge of literature, language, and rhetoric, they also understand the aesthetic, historical, and philosophical currents that inform their culture and shape their roles in society.

Program Objectives

The Bachelor of Arts in English is a liberal arts program designed to deepen one’s understanding and appreciation of language, literature, rhetoric, and writing. Within a curriculum that blends the humanities, arts, and sciences, students explore the creation and analysis of the written word in the context of cultural history and traditions. In the process, students develop skills related to writing, analysis, collaboration, critical reasoning, and written and oral communication – skills that many employers prefer to specific job preparations – and that lend themselves to a wide variety of career paths.

UMA English majors enjoy personal attention and close working relationships with the English faculty, a small community of scholars and writers dedicated to teaching. Special areas of inquiry include literary explorations of the medieval period, race and ethnic studies, Irish literature, hip hop, and gender and sexuality studies, among others. In addition, our department provides multiple possibilities for creative writing, including classes in poetry, fiction, non-fiction, blurred genres, and graphic storytelling. Students gain skills that provide a superb foundation for graduate study or professional careers in teaching, journalism, publishing, and professional writing, as well as administration, business, government, and social services.

Learning Outcomes

The English faculty delivering the Bachelor of Arts in English degree at the University of Maine at Augusta is committed to the development and enhancement of our students’ skills, abilities, and competencies and anticipate the following outcomes:

Think critically about oral, written, and visual texts
Write well-developed expository, persuasive, and critical essays
Design documents to meet the needs of readers
Edit documents effectively
Understand and evaluate the rhetorical strategies writers use to achieve their purposes
Understand the components of poetry, fictions, drama, and other genres
Have knowledge of works from different periods and genres within the evolving canon of English language texts, including but not limited to texts of women, ethnic and racial minorities, Anglophone authors, and lesbian and gay authors
Understand the historical contexts of literature
Understand various critical and theoretical approaches to texts
Synthesize knowledge and practice through presentations, performances, projects, and research papers
Locate, evaluate and properly cite primary source materials, literary criticism, theory, and other scholarly texts

Capstone Course

The UMA English program includes a required capstone course, ENG 499 Senior Seminar, in which majors must enroll during their senior year. This experience is designed to enable graduating students to reflect back upon and analyze their past experiences in English courses, explore the discipline of English, and become well versed in a specific subject that impassions them. Further, the senior seminar allows English majors to develop a greater awareness of how they might participate in continued discussions and debates that characterize literary studies.

Admissions Requirements (see UMA general requirements )

Academic Advising

English majors are advised by full-time faculty members and are required to meet with their advisors prior to registration. An advisor’s signature or electronic equivalent is required for registration. Students are encouraged to continue to meet with their advisors on a regular basis to help ensure a productive and meaningful college experience.

Graduation Requirements

Upon successful completion of the program requirements listed below, the student will be awarded a bachelor of arts in English degree.

Completion of 120-121 semester hours of credit
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00
Completion of 45 semester hours at the upper level (300-400 series) with grades of “C” or better
Completion of the General Education Requirements
Completion of the English major requirements

Career Opportunities

Skills You’ll Acquire

Students who major in English develop a wide variety of skills which may include persuading, evaluating, problem solving, editing, finding and using resources. An English major may write for a variety of audiences. They may collaborate, analyze, communicate, and build on the ideas of others, asking critical questions, and appreciating different points of view. These skills serve students well as they embark on teaching, writing, public and private sector jobs. The following is a selected list of skills and abilities acquired through the study of English:

Working With People

Relating to people from different backgrounds
Assessing human needs
Interpreting others’ beliefs
Presenting alternative viewpoints
Understanding audiences
Working collaborative

Organization

Summarizing information
Writing concisely
Proofreading
Finding and using resources
Designing documents
Meeting deadlines

Communication

Using one’s command of grammar
Writing creatively
Writing technical reports
Explaining in persuasion and argumentation
Giving directions

Analysis

Reading charts and graphs
Evaluating work of others
Thinking independently
Comparing information
Developing hypotheses
Analyzing different points of view

Careers You Can Seek

Our B.A. degree in English can serve as a foundation for many diverse career paths. The selected list below offers a few options that may be available to you.

Business

Marketing Communications Manager
Book Store Manager
Retail Buyer
Special Events Marketer
Merchandiser
Sales Account Manager
B2B Content Marketing

Publishing/Media

News Reporter
Newsletter Editor/Publisher
Magazine/Newspaper Columnist
Copy Editor
Personnel Director
Internet Publisher
Technical Writer/Editor*
Romance Novelist
Travel Writer
Corporate Blogger
Social Media Manager
Journalist

Public Sector

Press Secretary
Legal Assistant
Grant Coordinator/Writer
Lobbyist
Nonprofit Executive Director
Communications Manager
Program Administrator
Speechwriter

Education/Human Services

Head Start Teacher
Literacy Volunteers Coordinator
Teacher K-12
University Recruitment Director
College Professor*
Curriculum Developer*
Adult Education Director*

*Graduate-level study is generally required for theses occupations.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

English, BA

Minor

English Minor