The English Department offers programs and courses in literature and writing, and courses in speech communication.

English Department Vision
To foster the relevance and urgency of expression in forms such as literature, film, scholarship, creative writing, and rhetoric.

English Department Mission
To foster the ability to appreciate, evaluate, and create the myriad forms of practical and aesthetic communication.

Students intending to major in English, whether in literature, teaching, or writing, should declare their intentions no later than the beginning of their junior year. English majors are encouraged to study an additional language and to participate in a junior year study abroad program such as Eurospring. All University students are introduced to college-level writing through first-year writing and are encouraged to take other English courses.

Note: Transfer students planning to major in English must take a minimum of 11 semester credits of courses from the Bemidji State University English major, including at least two 3000- or 4000-level courses. All requirements for the major must be met. In addition, the Department of English strongly recommends that one writing course beyond the College Writing sequence be taken at Bemidji State.

Career Directions

• Writer/Editor/Copy Editor for magazines, newspapers, publishers, corporations, industry, institutions, and government agencies
• Writer/Editor for commercial and government news media and Web production
• Public Information Specialist/Publicist/Communications specialist for corporations, industry, institutions, and government agencies
• Related career positions requiring skills in critical thinking and writing
• English teacher in secondary education
• Graduate study should also be considered