B.A. in English with an Emphasis in Teacher Education

As one of the core disciplines of the liberal arts, English promotes an understanding of the way language functions and provides all students with fundamental skills needed to succeed in college, at work, and as citizens. Courses in the department foster critical thinking, leadership ability, and democratic engagement and prepare students to communicate effectively in college, in the workplace, and in public forums. An undergraduate major in English can be a solid basis for the professional study of law, medicine, theology, and business or careers in education, arts management, and publishing. An undergraduate major in Technical Communication can prepare students for careers in nonprofit and government communication, web design and communication consulting, software documentation, and scientific and technical writing and editing. The department also provides communication courses for students across the disciplines through the ISUComm initiative. The goal of ISUComm is to strengthen student communication and enhance students' critical thinking by creating opportunities for them to practice communication skills throughout their academic careers. These courses include ENGL 150 and 250 (ISUComm foundation courses) and Engl 302, 309, and 314 (ISUComm advanced communication courses). These courses benefit all ISU undergraduates by addressing written, oral, visual, and electronic communication, or WOVE. WOVE prepares students for 21st-century communication activities. As part of Iowa State's commitment to interdisciplinary study and cultural inclusiveness, English also has strong ties with African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Classical Studies, Latina/o Studies, Linguistics, Speech Communication, and Women's Studies. In addition to course offerings in literature, creative writing, linguistics, speech communication, rhetoric, and technical communication, the field of English Studies features strong connections with the technical, scientific, and environmental work that distinguishes Iowa State. International students and other nonnative speakers of English can go to the Intensive English and Orientation Program (IEOP) in the department, which offers special courses in English for both undergraduate and graduate students who are native speakers of other languages.