Elizabethtown College English Department

At the beginning of a new academic year, Elizabethtown College hosts an afternoon of department Welcome Meetings. Every year the English department welcomes new students to learn about their curriculum by meeting professors and fellow students at this event.

On the first Wednesday of the fall semester, new students can meet the English faculty and returning majors at the department Welcome Meeting. Advanced notice of the Welcome Meeting will be given via email interaction from the college, and from the individual departments.

By creating an open environment for students and faculty to talk, students are able to get the information they need to move forward as an English major or minor. This gathering of students and English professors can be helpful to you as either a first year student, someone still questioning which major to choose, or a declared major or minor.

First Year Student Support

The department meet up is most heavily attended by first year students hoping to learn more about the requirements of the majors and minor, the faculty, and their courses. The English department faculty can provide answers for specific questions about courses, and more.

Junior professional writing major Katherine Campbell expressed that her experience with the English department meetup was beneficial to her college experience, as it motivated her to explore the English major.

“I was able to learn about every concentration in one setting, and that helped me choose what experience I wanted for myself early on in my college career,” said Campbell.

It can be challenging to enter college knowing the exact path you would like your undergraduate experience to take, but at Elizabethtown College, the faculty wants to support first year students in establishing an academic plan that they are passionate about. The objective is to give students insight into what each major will offer at the meetup.

The ability to meet face to face with professors also aided Campbell, who stated that she “appreciated the chance to hear what professors’ were enthusiastic about for their classes in the upcoming semester.”

Being able to gather information from professors about the course offerings often helps first year students create a schedule of classes that they are genuinely interested in.

Undecided Student Assistance

The English department welcomes students that have yet to declare a major to come to the department meetup. The event serves as an opportunity to ask faculty questions and gain information tailored to what each student wants out of the curriculum.

Because students have access to all professors at the department meeting, this is an excellent opportunity to request more information about the English department. The faculty can communicate what each concentration offers and the requirements to graduate with a degree in that concentration.

The English Department has major concentrations in secondary education, professional writing, and Literature, as well as minor concentrations in Professional Writing, Literature, and Creative writing. Undecided students can see which concentrations appeal to them most by attending this event.

Information for Majors and Minors

Even students that have already declared a major or minor in English can benefit from attending the department meetup. As course options change every semester, this event is useful for scheduling purposes.

Students are able to learn what each professor intends to do within the courses they create, and are given a description of the theme of the overall class. Specifically, this is helpful with classes that are based on authors or genres.

It is a requirement that English majors take some courses based on authors and genres, and you can find what the exact requirements are in academic requirement check sheets found on the department website.

Sarah Olson, also a junior professional writing major, explained that the event helped her “understand what those specialized classes would entail”. This is important because the courses vary in focus based upon the direction the professor wants to take it in. Olson did not know how frequently the focus changes, so she was glad to stay informed by attending the Welcome Meeting.

No matter where you are in your college career, the English department Welcome Meeting can benefit you when deciding how you would like to direct your academic time at Elizabethtown College. When given the opportunity to meet with the department, run with it, and see where it takes you!

Author Bio:

Kerry Anne Serody is a senior at Elizabethtown College. She is currently working toward a double major in professional writing and business administration. In her spare time she can be found listening to spoken word poetry and baking apple pies.

 

Tags: faculty, fall semester, Welcome Meeting