Department of Language and Literature
College of Arts and Sciences
The Department of Language and Literature offers major degree programs in English, English Education and Spanish. The department also offers minors in English, Writing, and Spanish.
Faculty
Full-time Faculty: McBee – Chair, Barnhart, Carlson McGoey, Hirth, McGoey, Moberg, Robinson, and Stevier-Johanson.
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.
Participation in Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Disciplines
By completing the designated courses for English or Spanish degree programs, students will have completed the requirements for the university’s writing program as described in the Academic Affairs section of the catalog for Writing Across the Curriculum/Writing in the Disciplines. See the Writing Across the Curriculum section of the catalog for the designated courses used to meet writing requirements for your program plan. Course descriptions will also identify courses that are part of the writing program.
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). In addition, Language and Literature supports a variety of co-curricular and extra- curricular activities to enhance our students’ course of study: a 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.
Majors
Bachelor of Science in Education - English Education
Bachelor of Arts in English
Tracks:
Creative Writing
Literature
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Minors
English
Writing
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 a foreign language.
Bachelor of Science in Education degrees offered by Language and Literature require completion of general education program requirements, major requirements, and secondary education program requirements.
Course Rotations and Degree Plans