College of Arts and Sciences 
Ellis Hall 360
Phone: 740.593.2838
Fax: 740.593.2832
english.department@ohio.edu
https://www.ohio.edu/cas/english/

Marsha Dutton, Chair 

Mission 

The English Department’s central mission and goal, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, is to study and teach the history, forms, theory, and practices associated with the production and reading of texts written in English, especially those presenting persuasive, artistic and imaginative evocations of human experience; it is equally our goal to help students develop an expertise in responding to such texts. The Department’s programs prepare students for diverse futures by offering courses that introduce them to the critical skills requisite to a fuller understanding of reading, analyzing, writing, teaching, and arguing about texts of all kinds. 

Programs

The Department of English at Ohio University offers the following academic programs: 

Majors 

English—Creative Writing Major (B.A.) - BA5232
English—Cultures, Rhetoric, & Theory Major (B.A.) - BA5236
English—Literature & Writing Major (B.A.)  - BA5230
English—Prelaw Major (B.A.)  - BA5234

Minor

English Minor  

Certificate

Writing Certificate Program  

Special Opportunities 

The English Tutorial Program is a four-year course of study for exceptional students capable of a more independent approach to learning. The tutorial, a weekly one-on-one meeting with a faculty member, is the core of the program. In their fourth year, students write a thesis, which can be a work of either literary analysis or creative writing. Due to the nature of its core curriculum, the English Tutorial Program must restrict the number of students that it can accept each year. Admission into the program is initiated through the Honors Tutorial College.   Applications are accepted only from incoming or first-year students.

English Departmental Honors are offered to English majors with an exceptional record of academic achievement. Participation in this program makes it especially valuable to students interested in pursuing graduate work. Admission into the English Departmental Honors program involves the completion of an application; students must have at least a 3.5 GPA and must submit the names of two English faculty members for recommendations. The deadline for applications is June 1 in the student’s junior year. 

English Department Scholarships are available to assist English majors throughout their period of study at Ohio University. These scholarships are based on academic achievement or on a combination of achievement and financial need; students apply for them during spring semester and the awards are announced at the end of the academic year. 

The English Internship is useful for students considering careers in areas usually regarded as non-academic: professional/technical writing, research, editing/publishing, administration, law, and library and information science. The senior-level Internship allows students who are in their final year of study and approaching graduation to develop skills by working in a business, service, or institutional setting. 

Sigma Tau Delta is a student-led honor society for English and Integrated Language Arts majors. Besides providing a venue for students to meet and share their interests, membership in Sigma Tau Delta offers career development information, opportunities for scholarships and awards, and the possibility to attend and present their work at national conferences. 

Sphere is the literary journal produced by the undergraduate English majors at Ohio University. Students have numerous opportunities to publish their work in Sphere, and can gain valuable experience serving as genre or production editors.