Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts Studies
Department
Department of English
College
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Overview of the program
The Liberal Arts Studies program is designed for students who are more interested in a general liberal arts education rather then in specializing in a particular field of study. The major requirements are considered filled upon the completion of 27 semester hours in English and 24 semester hours in one of these subjects:
- Communication
- Criminal Justice
- Dance
- A Foreign Language
- Political science
- History
- Communication
- Music
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Social Work
- Theatre
- Visual arts
A student may pursue an Honors Diploma in Liberal Arts Studies by fulfilling the requirements specified on page 136 of the 2007-2008 General Catalogue. Students in virtually all English courses required in the Liberal Arts Studies curriculum are assigned writing projects that promote critical, analytical, and research skills.
Total semester hours required: 121-124
Strengths of the program
- The Department of English, with fifty-five fulltime and twenty-five part-time faculty members is the largest on campus. In addition, highly acclaimed writers-in-residence add their creative writing skills to the classroom experience.
- The mission of the department is to help students develop effective analytical, rhetorical, and communication skills; to foster an appreciation for broad social and cultural milieus; to prepare students for entrance to graduate school or professional positions.
- Students can use the Liberal Arts Studies degree as a foundation for a variety of careers where the analytic, reading, and writing skills gained in the major are especially valued; as background for advanced training in professional schools (law, medicine, journalism, and business for example); and for graduate work in literature (and other fields).
- The English Department faculty has been recognized on regional, national, and international levels. Some recipients of awards are:
- Dr. Richard Louth: Director of the Southeastern Louisiana Writer's Project. Recipient of numerous awards for his teaching, including the President's Excellence in Teaching Award.
- Alison Pelegrin: Recipient in 2006 of a $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. Most Recent volume of poetry, Big Muddy River of Stars (2007) honored with Akron Poetry Prize.
- Dr. Jack Bedell: Recipient of the 2007 Governor's Arts Award, the Woman's Hospital Endowed Professorship in the Humanities, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Special Humanities Award for his poetry and literary editorship.
- Dr. Tom Fick: Recipient of the 2007-2010 Leola Purcell Endowed Professorship in English for his work on Creole Literature.
- Dr. Jeff Wiemelt: One of twenty faculty nationwide asked to serve as consultant with American Diploma Project on writing and language instruction in public schools.
- Nationally and internationally known Writers-in-Residence:
- Dr. Tim Gautreaux, retired Professor of English at Southeastern, winner of the 2005 John Dos Passos Prize for Literature. Author of two short story collections, two novels, and numerous stories published in such magazines as Harper's, Atlantic Monthly, and GQ.
- Beverly Marshall: visiting Writer-in-Residence. Author of three novels, and winner of the Mississippi Library Association Fiction of the Year Award.
- The Department's dedication to and support for scholarship and creative writing is exemplified in the following publications: Louisiana Literature, a national fine arts magazine; Nineteenth Century Studies, an international interdisciplinary scholarly journal; Gambit, Southeastern's campus student literary magazine; The Pick, Southeastern's journal of exceptional academic writing.
- Our student computer labs are equipped with up-to-date technology including design software, DVD players, VCR's, laptops, and digital cameras as well as a Mobile Presentation Station, which has a Windows machine, a scanner, a projector, high-speed speakers and various types of software.
Preparing for a job in the program
- Strong critical and analytical skills
- Strong communication skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong writing, editing, and rhetorical skills
Careers in the program
- Government, non-profit organization, business administration: in-house publishing and Web design, public relations, copywriting, documentation, fundraising, grant writing, management, research
- Publishing/advertising: editor, manuscript reader, publicity and marketing, literary agent
- Government, non-profit, business administration: in-house publishing and web design, public relations, copywriting, documentation, fundraising, research
- Other media: scriptwriting, web design
- Fine arts: poet, fiction writer, screenwriter, dramatist, arts critic, performer
- Other professions: lawyer, librarian, counselor
- Advancement in careers in second area: communication, criminal justice, dance/performing arts, foreign language, political science, history, mass communication and journalism, music, philosophy, psychology, sociology, social work, theater, visual arts.
Starting Salaries after completing the program (estimates only)
- Business services, insurance, securities, and real estate: $68,000
- Top- and mid-level managerial, executive, and administrative: $63,100
- Broadcasters, writiers, editors, and other entertainment and public relations fields: $52,300
- Teachers: $38,000 at the elementary level and $34,500 at the secondary level
(Estimates only: variations of salary depend on the various fields and location.)
Campus organizations and activities affiliated with the program
- English Club: members regularly visit schools and organizations; through proceeds from book sales, they fund Sigma Tau Delta's yearly trip to the International Convention and have the opportunity to present original works.
- Sigma Tau Delta: members must maintain a 3.0 in the major/minor and overall GPA.
- Creative Writing Group: faculty and students join to share and offer suggestions for their works-in-progress. Members regularly participate in regional conferences.
Related fields that might interest you
- Business: administration, tv host
- Non-profit: fundraising
- Fine arts: performing, museum administration
- Education: school administration
- Positions that are related to second subject area such as communication, history, journalism, etc.
How do I know this is the degree for me?
Common Strengths and interests of students in the program
- A desire to acquire strong writing, analytical and organizational foundation
- An interest in reading and analyzing literature
- An interest in creative writing
- An interest in professional technical writing skills
- An interest in a practical study of writing for professional audiences, such as in script writing, feasibility studies, reports, and professional correspondence
- An interest in technology use as it applies to writing in the business professions
Contact Information
Department of English
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
SLU 10861
Hammond, LA 70402
On Campus: D Vickers Hall, Room 222
Office Phone: 985-549-2100
Fax: 985-549-5021
E-mail: tfick@selu.edu
Advisor: 985-549-2104
