English
Either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science is available in English, but the department strongly recommends the study of foreign language that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Three concentrations are possible for the English major. The first centers on literature, the second on writing, and the third on preparation for secondary school teaching. All require 13 courses (39 credit hours); the secondary teaching credential also requires courses in the Education Department. Students intending graduate study in English generally should choose the literature concentration.
Regardless of concentration, first-year students who major in English should take Rhetoric 101, 102, and 103, in the Honors section if qualified; English 203 or 204 (or Drama 203); and foreign language if seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree.
The degree with Honors in English is awarded to graduates with a departmental average of at least 3.5 who have completed a senior thesis (English 397). Planning for Honors should begin early in the student's undergraduate career, in consultation with the faculty advisor.
Montage
Montage is an annual publication that showcases our students' literary and artistic abilities. Typically, this magazine features student poetry, short stories, photos, and drawings, but it has also offered the lyrics and scores of musical compositions and full-color reproductions of paintings. All students are invited to participate as contributors and staff members of Montage, and English majors are especially welcome.
Alumni Comments
- "I had heard quite a bit about a [graduate] program . . . where you could get certified as a paralegal. I looked into it and began taking classes in January of this year. . . . As to how this relates to my MacMurray experience? The assignments I have submitted have exceeded expectations in every aspect. My ability to be faced with a problem, organize my thoughts about it, research it, and write an understandable brief has made my work exceptional. You will all be proud to learn that I am carrying a 4.0 GPA!!!
"The education that I received at MacMurray was one of how, not what. I learned how to progress through issues and situations that I am faced with daily. My other classmates are sorely lacking in this respect. When faced with a case situation, they flounder and don't know where to begin. Their presentations are unorganized, poorly written, and sometimes don't even address the issues at hand." - Gwen England, paralegal student, class of '95 - "Throughout my English coursework, I appreciated that Mac had a faculty who did not look for 'right' answers, but carefully thought-out, well supported, and clearly expressed ones." - Anonymous alum, library director, class of '92
- "First of all, I felt that all the professors were enthusiastic about the courses they were teaching, which was always a positive influence on me, as a rather unmotivated student. I work on a college campus where professors don't seem that interested or involved in their students, let alone being happy with what they're teaching. I can't recall one bored teacher presenting a boring class in the English Department. That kind of consistent quality is extremely rare in any academic department, I believe. I am grateful to the [MacMurray student newspaper] for my solid experience in writing. I met a lot of fantastic reporters from other colleges and universities in my graduate program who couldn't write worth a lick. I didn't have that problem. After all, I was hired by a newspaper two weeks after graduation with absolutely no news writing samples. I was hired on the basis of my English papers. One more thing: the whole department is tough, tough, tough on students, but never once did I think a professor didn't care about me." - Anonymous alum, public relations news writer and publications writer/designer, class of '90
- "Not only were/are all professors intelligent, entertaining, and helpful, but they also cared about us as people. Thanks!" - Amy Jo Suter Murray, high school English teacher, class of '89
- "All of my experiences with the English/Drama department were wonderful. I felt nurtured by all the professors and I highly enjoyed my time at MacMurray!" - Mary Ponterio, graduate student, class of '98
Faculty
Allan Metcalf, Ph.D.
Professor of English
B.A., Cornell University
M.A., University of California–Berkeley
Ph.D., University of California–Berkeley
Phone: 217-479-7015
Email: allan.metcalf@mac.edu.
Jeannie Zeck, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
B.A., College of St. Catherine
M.F.A., University of Minnesota–Minneapolis
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Phone: 217-479-7019
Email: jeannie.zeck@mac.edu
Ashley Green, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor of English
B.A., Western Illinois University
M.A., University of Illinois
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Phone: 217-479-7191
Email: ashley.green@webmail.mac.edu
