BROOKLYN
245 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11205
Main: 718.940.5300
Admissions: 718.940.5800
Fax: 718.940.5680
LONG ISLAND
155 W. Roe Blvd., Patchogue, NY 11772
Main: 631.687.5100
Admissions: 631.687.4500
Fax: 631.687.4539
Long Island English Department
Learn more about yourself through the medium of the written word.
Are you passionate about a subject that raises more questions than it answers? If you want to grasp novels, short stories and poetry with a critical understanding — and create with a distinct voice all your own — then our Department of English is a perfect fit for you.
For students in English programs at St. Joseph's University, studying texts is just the beginning. With faculty who help you develop writing skills and a greater perspective, you will find a deep connection with classic novels, films and art. We have a vibrant community of readers, writers and scholars who engage the world around them as students of literature.
By building bridges between canonical authors such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton and Mark Twain, and the marginalized yet valuable perspectives of diverse ethnic, religious and LGBT communities, the Department of English at St. Joseph’s University provides a rich and compelling literary education. We offer numerous courses that develop writing skills, including creative writing, scriptwriting, magazine writing, and advanced expository writing. We also have an exciting film/media minor.
Pileigh Shahinian ’24
English Major with a Concentration in Adolescence Education and a Minor in Religious Studies
"From making lifelong friends to being challenged academically, forming close connections with professors and exploring how literature connects us all through the human experience, my involvement in St. Joseph's English department has shaped me into the person I am today. The rigorous nature of the program has given me the foundation necessary to prepare me for my future and pursue higher education post graduation. I feel so blessed to have been a part of such a special department at St. Joseph's University!"
The Long Island English Department Experience
Study Abroad: Global study trips encourage a deeper understanding of cross-cultural literature and film by encouraging students to immerse themselves in other cultures. Past trips include travel to England and France.
Present Your Research: Expand your resume and present at conferences across the United States. Each year, our students present at our very own Student Research Symposium as well as national and international conferences.
Get Involved Outside the Classroom: Apply your interests outside the classroom. Explore your passion for writing, media and the English language by joining such student clubs and organizations as Book Club, Creative Writing Club, Drama Club and Studio 155.
Programs
English Major
Build the tools to discover your own complex perspective.
While our accomplished professors bring wide-ranging interests and expertise to the table, all are committed to providing English majors with the skills and understanding of literature necessary to succeed in fulfilling careers and intellectual pursuits. Majors are accepted into graduate programs in English literature, literary theory, law, education and library science.
English Secondary Education Major
Prepare to successfully educate and instruct.
St. Joseph's University's adolescence education program is consistently ranked among the best teaching programs in the New York Metropolitan area. The program, which prepares students to teach at the secondary level, has a high job placement rating and combines a solid teaching background with a strong English concentration. The English degree program on Long Island is aligned with the professional standards mandated by New York and other states. Students participate in meaningful learning experiences and are introduced to developmental and learning-style theories, constructivism, multiple intelligence theories and the best pedagogical practices that support instruction for all students.
English Minor
Complement your degree with a minor in English.
Students opting to minor in English must complete 18 credits in English, American or world literature (anything above ENG 112). Twelve of these course credits must be at or above the 200 level.
Film/Media Minor
Analyze film and media.
This minor offers opportunities to study a powerful contemporary and historical form of communication and expression: the moving picture. Courses consist of interdisciplinary approaches to the analysis of film and media, covering works from the silent period to the present, from the U.S. and other nations, and from “mainstream” and “alternative” groups. Students learn the art, history, technology, economics, and theory of cinema and media, while also learning the language for analyzing such texts’ forms and practices.
English Concentration
Combine English with your educational future.
Many students choose to combine their interests in English with a major in child study, preparing them to teach at the elementary level. Child study majors who choose English as their area of concentration obtain valuable classroom experience as student teachers across Long Island's public and parochial schools.
Slideshow
English Student Awards and Presentations
Thomas Rushin '16 presented a paper, "Make a Man out of You: Gender Performance and Audience expectation in As You Like it" at the New Critic Conference at SUNY Oneonta this April with English Department Chair Judith Phagan, Ph.D. Rushin also presented at the SJC Undergraduate Research Symposium earlier this May.
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