English, BA

Overview

Discourse is the DNA of human society. It is the key to understanding how society is composed, how society works, how society affects us, and how we in turn can affect society. In literary studies we explore discourse through the study of literature and other cultural artifacts, seeking to understand its codes and nuances, unpacking how it develops and persists, and endeavoring to advance it for the benefit of all.

The major in English at San Diego Christian College engages in the exploration of discourse through the study of literature and the development of writing, both personal and academic. Students read extensively and write broadly, growing as critical thinkers and enthusiastic producers poised to make positive contributions to their chosen professions and to honor their Creator.

The mission of the English Department at San Diego Christian College is to promote the pursuit of excellence in written communication and critical literacy while incorporating a Christian worldview. English is an exciting discipline not only for those who love to read and write but also for those who care about social and cultural issues. The courses in the English program equip students for the professional world by providing opportunities to express and refine their viewpoints as they develop their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

BENEFITS

English Majors Are Prepared For:

    • Professional communication
    • Educational services
    • Social advocacy
    • Creative development

You Should Consider an English Major If You:

    • Enjoy reading
    • Seek opportunities to develop as a writer
    • Think critically and creatively
    • Care about your society

Graduates in English Work As:

    • Elementary and Secondary Education Facilitators
    • College and University Education Facilitators
    • Professional Writers and Editors
    • Artists, Broadcasters, Entertainers
    • Legal Service Providers
    • Public Relations and Business Communication
    • Computer and Information Service Providers
    • Librarians, Archivists, Curators
    • Personnel, Training, and Labor Relations Service Providers

PROGRAM DETAILS

The mission of the English Department at San Diego Christian College is to promote the pursuit of excellence in written communication and critical literacy while incorporating a Christian worldview.  English is an exciting discipline not only for those who love to read and write but also for those who care about social and cultural issues. The courses in the English program equip students for the professional world by providing opportunities to express and refine their viewpoints as they develop their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

Courses You Will Take

  • Critical Approaches to Literature
  • Christian Literature I or Christian Literature II
  • World Literature
  • American Literature I and II
  • Shakespeare
  • Creative Writing
  • The Drama or The Novel
  • Introduction to Linguistics
  • British Literature I and II
  • Approaches to Literature
  • Seminar in Literary Criticism
  • Courses in the Writing Workshop Sequence

 

Your Pathway from Education to Vocation Will Include:

  • Development of critical thinking skills
  • Development of professional writing skills
  • Engagement with prominent theoretical positions in literary and cultural studies
  • Engagement with approaches to engaging the Christian worldview with literary and cultural studies
  • Development of critical and theoretical approaches to cultural artifacts
  • Mentorship in pursuing professional goals

 

Non-English Majors:

Non-English majors are invited to choose a specialization in writing, which involves completing the following courses: Creative Writing, Book Writing I, Book Writing II, and the Professional Writer.

FACULTY

Professor of English, Joe SarnowskiJOE SARNOWSKI, PH.D.
PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH
DEPARTMENT CHAIR, ENGLISH

B.A., University of Toledo
M.A., University of Toledo
Ph.D., University of Toledo

Areas of Focus: American literature, Christian literature, general literature, literary theory and criticism, creative writing, college composition


 

DEBBIE HAYNES, M.A.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

Areas of Focus: Christian literature, world literature, college composition


Ginny Guidry, M.A.

Area of Focus: college composition

 

“I have nothing but the highest praise for the English Department of San Diego Christian College. The classes and the professors were excellent, and I honestly feel like I got the best education I possibly could have under their instruction. The head of the department, Dr. Sarnowski, especially challenged and pushed me to constantly do my best. He pushed me to hold to a high standard in my academic as well as creative writing that I doubt I could have found at another school. The personal attention was exceptional, and I grew there, not only as a student and as a writer, but also as a human being. The English professors genuinely care, not only about our academic success but also about our personal success and development as believers. While I was completing my Senior Capstone, I told a friend of mine who is an English major at another school all that went into the project. She was aghast and said that I was essentially doing graduate-level work as an undergraduate. While slightly annoyed at the amount of work that I had to do, I also felt reassured. I left San Diego Christian college feeling genuinely prepared for grad school and beyond. I know that I was held to a high standard of excellence throughout my time there. Thank you, everyone, in the English Department of San Diego Christian College. You made my time there one of the best in my life.”
— Jenna Lathrop, class of 2015

 

“I have grown such a great deal by being a part of the English Major at SDCC. The community is unique in that we share with each other parts of our lives no one else might understand. The course work is challenging and left me wanting to improve every semester, with encouragement and motivation from my professors and fellow students. Now, as a graduating senior, I look at the skills that I learned, gained slowly through the labor of four years, and I am proud of what I’ve accomplished. I would encourage anyone to take the risk and join a major which will impact not only a future career but also the way you see the world. It is a decision I will never regret.”
— Annie Boettner, class of 2016 

2021 Dr. M. Deane White Writing Contest

In memory of our longtime and beloved department chair, the Dr. M. Deane White Writing Contest seeks to encourage creative expression and reward writing excellence on the part of the students at San Diego Christian College.

The Department of English is happy to announce the winners of this year’s contest.

Poetry

1st—Sonder—Jewel McDonough
2nd— Till Death Do Us Pawned—Courtney Cranston
3rd—What God Sees—Breana Brooks

Fiction

1st—The Old and the New—Parker Kiefer
2nd—One Wild Ride—Parker Kiefer
3rd—Simulator—Jewel McDonough

Nonfiction

1st—The Impact of a Choice—Jewel McDonough
2nd—The American Dream in Death of a Salesman—Jessica Schoen
3rd—The Piano—Parker Kiefer

Some of the winning submissions are linked here.

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