University of Nebraska Kearney

Students who complete an undergraduate degree in English at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will have acquired the ability to read, write, and analyze English language texts with clarity, understanding, and precision. They will be prepared to pursue advanced degrees in English language and literature, creative writing, linguistics, law, and related fields, and, depending on their areas of specialization, will have acquired the skills necessary for careers in teaching, editing, professional writing, publishing, communication, social institutions, and the media. English majors will have gained advanced knowledge of literature, its backgrounds, history and values, will have had their curiosity stimulated by coursework in literature, creative writing, film studies, pedagogy, popular culture, language, and linguistics, and will have gained an appreciation for the complex nature of language. In keeping with advances in electronic and technological transmission of language, students will gain competency in current means and methods of research, as well as the practices and products of current language technology. Finally, completion of a degree in English will enhance students' life-long affection for writing and reading and aid in the development of their integrity, diligence, initiative, and respect for others.

Objectives

Through reading, discussion, and writing about representative works of literature; through study of the English language; and through the practice of diverse types of creative and expository writing, students will:

1. Improve expository and creative writing skills [Assessment Measures A, B 3.2, C 1-3, 5-6, 9, 13, D I d, e, h, and E I d, e, h];
2. Develop critical reading and thinking skills [Assessment Measures A, C 5-7, 14-15, D I d, h, and E I d, h];
3. Prepare for:
   1. careers as teachers of Language Arts and English in elementary, middle, secondary, and college-level educational institutions [Assessment Measures B, C, E I a-j, E II a-f];
   2. entry into related occupations, such as professional writing, law, publishing, or the media [Assessment Measures D I d, f-h, and D II b, e-f];
   3. the pursuit of advanced degrees in English [Assessment Measures D I a-i, j, and D II a-f];
    
4. Appreciate the diversity of language and culture as reflected in literary works from different cultures and in different periods of time [Assessment Measures C 4, 7, 10, 14, 15, D I a-b, and E I a-b];
5. Increase:
   1. subject matter knowledge of literature, its backgrounds, history, techniques, genres, styles, and values [Assessment Measures B 2.5, C 4-8, 13-15, D I a-c, D II 1, E I a-c, and E II a]
   2. intellectual curiosity [Assessment Measures D II b and E II b]
   3. desire to explore and help others experience language's pleasures and constraints [Assessment Measures C 9, 12, D I f, and D II c]
   4. life-long affection for reading and writing [Assessment Measures B 3.4, D I i, D II d, E I i, and E II d]
   5. competency in research methodologies [Assessment Measures D II e and E II e]
   6. proficiency in electronic and technological literacies [Assessment Measures C 22, D II f, and E II f].