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The faculty of the Department of English and Humanities develop students who think and read critically, who write and speak clearly, and who understand the contributions humanities courses can make to their knowledge and quality of life. The faculty believe that the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and thinking are the foundations upon which a successful college career is built. Therefore, all disciplines within the department accept as part of their charge the development of writing and speaking skills. In addition, the faculty are committed to providing opportunities for the integration of the disciplines and the fostering of international and multicultural perspectives.

The Department offers excellent opportunities for students to study introductory and advanced courses in linguistics, foreign language, literature, philosophy, writing, communication, cultural studies, and women’s studies.

For More Information

Debra Knutson, Ph.D., Chairperson
Elsie M. Shabazz, Secretary

Department of English and Humanities
Shawnee State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662-4344

Phone: 740.351.3300
Fax: 740.351.3584
E-mail: eshabazz@shawnee.edu 

Composition/Foreign Language Labs

The Department of English and Humanities maintains four classrooms/computer labs for the teaching of composition and foreign language. They support faculty’s efforts to use modern technology in their teaching.

The Writing Center

The Department oversees the operations of the SSU Writing Center, which provides free peer tutoring. A student who is working on a paper for any SSU class is welcome to drop by the WC, located in ADM 031. While most of the students who seek peer tutoring are enrolled in composition classes or developmental English classes, tutors have also worked with students in upper-division classes, including Senior Seminar. For current hours, policies, and additional information about the services provided by the WC, visit http://grammar.shawnee.edu or call 351.3488.

The English Sequence

Students who must take the English sequence (ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1102 and ENGL 1105) are required to participate in the department’s placement procedure.

Bachelor Degrees

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English/Humanities offers you the opportunity to pursue a degree with or without teaching licensure.

The English/Humanities degree (Generalist) provides an excellent background for several career paths, including advertising, government employment, law, and publishing. The degree requires 126 hours, including 15 hours of electives. This distribution of required and elective courses allows you to pursue approved minors or to take a grouping of courses in such fields as science or business, which adds to your employment possibilities. The department strongly recommends that if you plan to attend graduate school, you should take courses in foreign language as well as additional courses in English, linguistics, and philosophy.

The English/Humanities degree (Communication concentration) is an excellent option for you if you wish to pursue a career in journalism, corporate communication, publishing, public relations, editing, or media criticism. The degree requires 125 hours, including 23 hours in the communication core and 3 hours of electives.

The English/Humanities degree (Culture and Media Studies concentration), like the English/Humanities generalist degree, prepares you for a variety of careers, ranging from teaching to government to law. It is an excellent option for students wishing to pursue masters or doctoral studies in the field of English and/or cultural studies. The degree requires 126 hours, including 21 in the cultural studies core and 6 hours of electives that can be taken in areas such as history, sociology, music, art, and philosophy.

The Bachelor of Arts in English/Humanities, Integrated Language Arts with Adolescent to Young Adult Licensure (grades 7-12) combines education and English/Humanities classes to prepare teachers for grades 7 through 12. At a time when a national teaching shortage has become apparent, this degree offers good opportunities for employment.

With all degrees in English and Humanities, classes are relatively small and students receive much individual attention from well-qualified and dedicated teachers.

As with any degree at the University, the Department of English and Humanities very much encourages students to work closely with their faculty advisor. The department secretary (740.351.3300) can easily provide the names of advisors for individual students.

Philosophy and Religion  The integrated major in Philosophy and Religion approaches the study of these disciplines in a fully integrated way, since philosophy and religion both seek to answer fundamental questions of human existence: What can I know?, What should I do?, What may I hope?  In addition, the study of philosophy and religion strengthens the student’s ability to think critically, to develop and defend arguments rationally, and to understand the logical, intellectual, and historical relationships among the various academic disciplines by introducing students to the ideas and beliefs that shape the world.  We have also designed the major for students who seek a double major; and, so, have made it the smallest major on campus at 33 hours.  Careers for which the major in Philosophy and Religion is especially well-suited include law and public service, education, social services, religious ministry, counseling psychology, the arts, journalism, and international relations.

Important Note About Student Assessment

The Department of English and Humanities is very much aware of the national movement that encourages assessment of student learning. Students majoring in English and Humanities are asked to submit papers from a variety of classes for assessment purposes. These papers are kept on file by the department secretary and reviewed by English and Humanities faculty to assess how well the department is meeting its goals in the classroom. Student identities are kept private, and the assessment has no bearing on students’ performance in individual classes or on their graduation. However, students must maintain a “C” average in all courses in the major.

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