Opportunities Associated with the Major
Graduate Information Night
During the fall semester, the Department of English advisors organize a Graduate Information Night for students who may be interested in pursuing graduate studies. This event is publicized through the English Majors Listserv and the Department of English’s monthly newsletter to majors, Major News.
Sigma Tau Delta
A member of the National Association of College Honor Societies, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 and currently has over 700 chapters worldwide. Members of Sigma Tau Delta participate in literary events and service projects of their own design. They receive The Rectangle, a journal which publishes non-fiction, fiction, and poetry written by members of Sigma Tau Delta, and The Sigma Tau Delta Review, an annual literary journal of critical essays on literature, rhetoric and composition, and pedagogy. Members are eligible to apply for a scholarship offered by the national organizations, and may attend international meetings of Sigma Tau Delta (often in great locations!). A further significant result of membership is that it is part of your record when you apply for work, grants, fellowships, or further study at any time in the future. To be eligible, students must have a 3.0 gpa or higher with 3 semesters or more of coursework completed. Eligible students are invited to apply every fall. For more information, contact Michael Germana, Faculty Sponsor of the Alpha Xi chapter, at Michael.Germana@mail.wvu.edu or call at 304-293-9717.
West Virginia Dialect Project
The West Virginia Dialect Project (WVDP) studies language variation and presents the results of its research to civic and academic organizations.
For more information: http://www.as.wvu.edu/dialect/
London Theater Tour
During the University’s annual Spring Break, an English faculty member takes a group of Morgantown citizens and University students to Great Britain for a London Theater Tour. Any student may receive academic credit for this experience once the academic work associated with the tour is successfully completed. For further information, contact:
Professor Ryan Claycomb
WVU Department of English
PO Box 6296
Morgantown, WV 26506-6296
(304) 293-9710
Email: Ryan.Claycomb@mail.wvu.edu
The Drue Heinz Lecture Series
To date, the English advisors have organized three trips to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for English majors to attend lectures as part of the Drue Heinz Lecture Series. So far, our majors have heard Kurt Vonnegut, Louise Erdrich, and E. L. Doctorow. All three trips were supported by the Undergraduate Academic Enrichment Program.
Internships
Pursuing an internship is a good way to apply what you are learning in the classroom to the work place.
Internships for English majors at WVU include working with: the Center for Literary Computing, the WVU Alumni Magazine, the WVU Press, the West Virginia Dialect Project, the Center for Literary Computing, and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences College Relations Director.
Opportunities outside WVU, but within Morgantown include: Kaleidoscope, Scott’s Run Settlement House, the Morgantown City Government.
Opportunities outside Morgantown include: MTV, Fox News, National Geographic, and more.
For more information on internships, contact any of the English advisors in 118 Colson Hall or call 304-293-9740.
Listserv
All English majors, English/English Education majors, and English minors are invited to be on the English Majors listserv (english-majors@listserv.wvu.edu). This listserv is intended to share information which may be important to the majors. For more information, contact Marsha Bissett at marsha.bissett@mail.wvu.edu or call 304-293-9699.
English 199
This one-credit hour class is offered every fall semester. It runs from 4:00-4:50 p.m. and meets only one day a week. Students in this course will meet with the English Chair Timothy Adams for the first and last class sessions. All sessions in between will be taught by guest speakers who will cover topics such as “What can you do with an English degree?”, Creative Writing, Career Placement, Career Services, Internship Opportunities, Study Abroad, the Center for Literary Computing, Campus Activities for Majors, Sigma Tau Delta, and Navigating the Library. So, if you have room in your schedule for a one-credit hour class, think about registering for English 199. It will be a good opportunity to meet some fellow majors and learn more about the opportunities available to you as you major in English.
Pizza Parties
The Department of English hosts a pizza party every semester for English majors or any other students who are interested in learning more about the English program. At this party, which is generally held in early March and early October, students can get a sneak peek at the English courses which will be offered for following semester. The reception is generally held on a Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in 346 Stansbury Hall. This party has proved to be a nice setting for the faculty and students to talk about the course offerings for the upcoming semester. Many course descriptions and/or syllabi are available for the students to take.
Enrichment Grants
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Enrichment Program can provide undergraduate students enrolled in programs in the Eberly College the opportunity to participate in activities that complement, extend, and enhance their academic experiences at West Virginia University. Students may request financial support for the following activities:
field trips
internship opportunities
workshops
study abroad
research projects
working with faculty or career mentors
performing public service activities
traveling to meetings and conferences
completion of directed study
other projects which advance academic and/or career goals
Application Procedure:
Undergraduate students who wish to apply for Academic Enrichment support should submit the following to the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship Committee:
A one-page typed letter addressed to the Dean that descriobes the academic enrichment activity you are proposing, explaining why you believe this experience will enrich your undergraduate education, outlines the overall budget for the activity, and states the amount of support requested (maximum of $500).
A letter of recommendation from your advisor or faculty member with whom you are working most closely on the activity. Your letter and the recommendation form must be submitted together.
Recipients of Academic Enrichment support will be requested to submit a 1-2 page report of the activity upon completion. The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Enrichment Program is supported by contributions to the College’s Centennial Campaign. Students who participate in the program should be willing, upon request, to write a letter describing to a donor how support from this program contributed to their academic experience as a major in the College.
Applications may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed during the second week of each month.
Minor
English majors can minor in any other field that offers a minor, in or outside the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Usually a minor consists of 15 hours in that field, mostly at the upper-division level. Students wishing to pursue a minor in another field should check the WVU Undergraduate Catalog for that department’s minor requirements. He or she can then obtain a Declaration of Minor form from the English advisers. Students majoring in another field who would like to minor in English need to obtain and fill out a Declaration of Minor form through their major department or through Rose Eavenson in Arts and Sciences advising.
Independent Study
Independent study (English 495) offers students the opportunity to work with a faculty member to explore an area which is not covered under the current course offerings. A student interested in signing up for English 495 must identify a professor who is willing to direct the independent study course and contact Timothy Sweet, the Department’s Associate Chair, the semester before enrolling for the independent study. Special forms need to be completed and a special permit needs to be issued. For these reasons, the independent study must be carefully planned with the supervising instructor well in advance.
English 491 Field Experience
The field experience course allows students to earn college credit for internship work. Students can earn academic credit for internships only if the work performed actually allows them to apply the skills developed by an English degree program. Typically, students are eligible for English 491 credit if they are engaged in a writing or research project directed by a field supervisor or faculty member. Some examples of recent field experiences include student internships at Fox Sports and MTV. As with all special courses, students must obtain an approval form and must make arrangements for credit with the department well in advance of the internship. Students who wish to take English 491 as a capstone course must get approval from the coordinator for undergraduate studies. For more information, contact the English department advisers.
Graduate Course Work
An undergraduate student may enroll in a 600- or 700-level graduate course if University procedures are followed. The WVU Undergraduate Catalog states that an undergraduate junior or senior student who wants to take a 600- or 700-level course should have a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average and needs to get a special form signed by the instructor and the student’s adviser.
Academic Enrichment Grants
Students who major in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences are eligible to apply for Academic Enrichment Grant support. Students may request financial support (up to $500) for field trips, attendance at workshops, study abroad, or performing public service activities. Application forms may be obtained from the Advising Office located in 118 Colson Hall.