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  Julia Spicher Kasdorf, Mennonite poet, visits Goshen in S.A. Lecture Series

  Julia Spicher Kasdorf, poet and Goshen College alumnus, visited Goshen on Friday, September 16, as a stop on her book tour for her latest collection, Poetry in America.

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  Peter Fallon, Poet and Publisher, Speaks at Goshen College

  On November 2nd and 3rd, 2011, Irish poet and publisher Peter Fallon visited Goshen College. Fallon gave a public poetry reading, interacted with students, and spoke in a literature class.

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  Goshen Campus Slammed: Student Poetry at the College

  Friday, October 28, 2011, marked the third year of the GC poetry slam...all in all, the event was an undeniable success, for both students and departments alike

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  English students/ Megafauna members read at Art in the Barn.

  Tristan Beechy-King, Sara Wakefield and Phil Weaver-Stoesz read a collaborative piece at Art in the Barn

Goshen College’s English Department teaches students to think purposefully, to organize logically and to express themselves clearly through writing.

As an English major, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice your skills on campus.

• Get your creative writing published by Broadside, a campus-wide original creative writing publication in placard format.
• Submit your work to Red Cents, Goshen College’s creative arts journal.
• Write and edit stories for Goshen’s student-run newspaper The Record.

On literature and English achievement tests, our graduates score in the 99th percentile of all university classes nationwide. Graduates continue on to pursue careers in law school, seminary, international service work, poetry writing, reporting and screenplay writing.

Major in English / Minor in English

The English department approach to the study of literature, language and writing emphasizes human stories and the search for truth. By paying special attention to the contexts of literary creation – cultural, philosophical, historical, aesthetic and rhetorical – we seek to impart an understanding of knowledge as power, and the responsible ways in which that power can be used, both to understand the journeys of others and articulate more fully our own personal search for truth in a Christian context.

Major in TESOL / Minor in TESOL

Goshen College is one of the few colleges in the United States to offer a major as well as a minor and a one-year kindergarten-grade 12 teaching license in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages). If you are interested in international service, travel or teaching internationals in the United States, one of our TESOL programs might be right for you. All three programs of study offer invaluable intercultural and practical training.

Major in English Education

This major includes professional courses in education. English department faculty at GC provide resources, guidance and supervision to aspiring English teachers. Since the GC curriculum provides students with valuable language, international and intercultural experience, GC teacher education graduates have skills that are in demand in today’s increasingly diverse educational settings.

Major in Writing / Minor in Writing

Unique combinations of English Writing with other disciplines will demonstrate that you have the skills most desired by future employers—the ability to write and communicate—as well as the versatility to put them to use in a wide variety of professional contexts.

Minor in Creative Writing

Supported by the Broadside and Pinchpenny Press opportunities, this minor offers students first-hand experience with editing and publishing, preparation for M.F.A. programs in creative writing, and an opportunity to focus in depth on developing creative writing skills. Courses include workshops on poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and playwriting. Seniors create a portfolio of original work in their chosen genre.

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  Center for Mennonite Writing

  A virtual gathering place featuring the latest news about Mennonite writing.

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  Broadside

  Original creative writing by GC students and faculty published in the placard format.

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  Pinchpenny Press

  High quality literary works by GC students, faculty members and friends of the college.