Prose, Poetry, and Writing for Work.
There is something comforting in the smell of a book. The scent of paper, ink, often the requisite mildew, emanates a sense of permanence in an increasingly disposable world. Its weight is also satisfying; while hardcover books are best for this, the right paperback nestles the palm like a baseball in a well-worn catcher's mitt.
Books are quiet things unless you love them; if you do, they scream for your attention. And if you were born under the writer's star, your affliction is even worse -- what you see, what you feel, what you learn, what you do, what you sense, even what you smell (such as your beloved book) must all compulsively find their ways to the page.
Serve your imagination in a practical way. Prepare for "real-world writing." Technical and professional writers move from the book to the laptop, from classroom writing to workplace analysis, from student to leader.
At Wilkes, we understand your love affair
with the book and the page. We have it too. And in our English program, you will work with individuals who will help you explore those passions to deepen your knowledge and skill in your chosen field -- whether literature, teaching, or workplace writing. Our English professors have open-door policies, encourage discussion and debate, and tailor their advising to your needs and expectations.
This is one reason that the number of English majors at Wilkes University has doubled in the past four years. But many other opportunities also enrich our students' experiences. The Allan Hamilton Dickson Fund Reading Series funds visits by major writers such as Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, Amiri Baraka, and Bobbie Ann Mason.
The English Program sponsors an Online Writing Center
that employs student writing consultants, giving students an excellent background in editing, teaching and mentoring. And with thanks to Dr. J. Michael Lennon, one of Norman Mailer's literary executors, The Norman Mailer Room in the E.S. Farley Library contains an extensive collection of Mailer's works and memorabilia.
English majors frequently become certified
in Secondary Education; others take positions in journalism, editing and publication, advertising, or corporate work; or go on to graduate school in English or to law school.
