Department of English and World Languages

Welcome

Majors in the Department of English and World Languages share a love of language.  They make time to read or to write; they pay attention to how language works and how it is used; they hold onto the striking turn of a phrase.  They wish to visit places, observe characters, and absorb the language created in all kinds of texts.  The Department of English and World Languages welcomes those who seek diversity, who understand the limits of their own worldviews and who seek ways to understand others.  Language is a foundational human bond.  We come to language and literature and linguistics and writing to wonder, to understand, to inspire, and to work.  You are welcome here.

Our department’s mission is to educate citizens to use language effectively and to appreciate the history, diversity, and complexity of their culture.  The department seeks to improve students' abilities to read and write, to listen attentively and to communicate, to think analytically and creatively, to appreciate the aesthetics of literature, and to value diverse cultures.  Department faculty teach purposefully, leading investigations of writing, language, literature, and culture, work informed by research and scholarly activity, service to the University, and broad-based community involvement.

For information, contact Jeff Buchanan, Department Chair:  jmbuchanan@ysu.edu

Academic Programs

The Department of English and World Languages offers:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English.
• In collaboration with the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Studies, a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Integrated Language Arts.
• Academic Minors in:  English Studies, British and American Literature, Public and Professional Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Writing.
• Masters of Arts (MA) degree in English.
• Graduate certificates in:  Literature for Children and Young Adults, the Teaching of Writing, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Public and Professional Writing.
• Coursework in American Sign Language, Italian, Spanish, and Film Studies.

For information about our academic programs, contact the Department Chair or the following Program Coordinators:

• Corey Andrews (ceandrews@ysu.edu): Literature
• Diana Awad-Scrocco (dlawadscrocco@ysu.edu): Public and Professional Writing
• Chris Barzak (cmbarzak@ysu.edu): Creative Writing
• Jackie Mercer (jmercer@01ysu.edu): English Education (Integrated Language Arts)
• Gina Villamizar (gvillamizar@ysu.edu): World Languages
• Nicole Pettitt (npettitt@ysu.edu): Linguistics and TESOL
• Luke Hardy (lhardy01@ysu.edu): Graduate Programs

Academic Activities

Students interested in Italian or Spanish, including non-majors and non-minors, are invited to participate in the Italian or Spanish Club.  Club activities include regular meetings, conversation hours, organized dinners, and attendance at various events such as Opera Western Reserve and the Cleveland International Film Festival.

The Department strongly encourages all students to study abroad.

Majors

• BA in English

Minors

• Minor in English Studies
• Minor in British and American Studies
• Minor in Public and Professional Writing
• Minor in Linguistics
• Minor in Creative Writing