Department of Language and Literature
College of Arts and Sciences
The Department of Language and Literature offers major degree programs and minors in English, English Education, Spanish, Spanish Education, and Writing. The department also offers minors in Journalism and introductory courses in German, Philosophy and Religious Studies.
Faculty
Full-time Faculty: Jim McWilliams – Chair, Margaret Barnhart, Michael Cartmill, Peter Grimes, Kathy Hanna, Holly McBee, Alan Church, Dorothy Renner, and David Schreindl.
Mission
Language and Literature provides high-quality courses and programs that contribute to the quality of life for the citizens of Southwestern North Dakota and the students and members of the Dickinson State University community. Our courses and programs represent the heart of a liberal arts education, providing students with fundamental skills of reading, writing, and thinking considered essential to a well-rounded education. With small class sizes and accessible faculty and staff committed to excellence in teaching and learning, our courses in the general education program develop student competencies in inquiry and analysis, knowledge of human cultures, and social and cultural interaction through the humanities, Our upper level coursework develops students' information and cultural literacy and produces critical and creative thinkers, life-long learners and thoughtful citizens of a global community.
Department
Language and Literature courses form a cornerstone of Dickinson State University’s liberal arts education. These general education, elective, and program courses achieve the following outcomes:
- Enable students to read, write, speak, and think critically and imaginatively as citizens of a global community.
- Develop knowledge of the arts and humanities through the appreciation of literature and literary culture.
- Enhance students’ understanding of the languages and cultures that contribute to a diverse society and a multicultural world.
Each degree program offers a sequence and range of courses to provide students with the knowledge and skills for satisfying careers and experiences in literature, writing, and modern languages (Spanish and German). In addition, Language and Literature supports a variety of co-curricular and extra- curricular activities to enhance our students’ course of study: a student newspaper and literary magazine, a literary speakers series, a humanities festival, an undergraduate English conference, internships and collaborative writing opportunities, learning communities, and collaborative research projects. Student Learning Outcomes and curriculum requirements for the department’s degree programs are described in the following sections.
Students seeking degrees in English and English Education are strongly encouraged to take courses developing their cultural literacy. Especially recommended are courses in British and American history; world civilization, philosophy, and religion; and language arts such as oral interpretation, speech, communications, journalism and theater.
Students completing writing degrees are strongly encouraged to use electives, minors, or additional majors to develop areas of expertise for future employment and professional development. Bachelor of Arts in Writing students should consider minors in foreign languages in order to communicate in an increasingly global society. Bachelor of Science in Writing students should consider minors in computer science or business administration. Those writing students who select the journalism option might also consider electives, minors, or additional majors in communication, geography, graphic design, history, political science, and sociology. Writing students who select the professional writing option might consider electives, minors, or additional majors in accounting, biology, business administration, computer science (internet applications), computer science (information technology), earth science, entrepreneurship, geographic information systems, journalism, and soils. Writing students who select the creative writing option might also consider electives, minors, or additional majors in art, communication, dance, English, English education, graphic design, journalism, music, psychology, and theater.
Majors
Bachelor of Science in Education - English Education
Bachelor of Arts in English
Bachelor of Science in Writing
Options:
Journalism
Professional Writing
Creative Writing
Bachelor of Arts in Writing
Options:
Journalism
Professional Writing
Creative Writing
Bachelor of Science in Education - Spanish Education
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Minors
English Education (Elementary or Secondary Education)
English
Journalism (Secondary Education or Non-teaching)
Writing
Spanish Education (Elementary or Secondary Education)
Spanish
Bachelor of Arts degrees offered by Language and Literature require completion of general education program requirements, major and minor requirements, and 16 hours of foreign language.
Bachelor of Science in Education degrees offered by Language and Literature require completion of general education program requirements, major and minor requirements, and secondary education program requirements.
Bachelor of Science Writing does not require a foreign language.