About the School of English and Interdisciplinary Studies

Jason McEntee

Our distinguished faculty in English teach a wide range of diverse and engaging classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, ranging from American and British literature, literary theory, linguistics, creative writing, professional and technical writing, women's and gender studies and film studies—to name just a few.

The Interdisciplinary Studies major presents students with a comprehensive way of thinking and problem-solving that requires applying skills and knowledge gained from diverse fields of study. In this program, students combine elements of traditional academic programs in business, the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences in order to fulfill unique career and educational aspirations.

In addition to offering the Bachelor of Arts degree in English and the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies, our school also offers minors in English, Film Studies, Professional Writing, and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. We also offer the Master of Arts degree in English and the Master of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Many of our graduate students also hold teaching assistantships.

Our school also facilitates the university’s Writing Center, which is housed in the Hilton M. Briggs Library. Focusing on helping people become better writers, the center’s staff provides individualized tutoring sessions to the entire ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ community.

The English Club provides our majors with a wide variety of activities and opportunities for volunteer work. Most recently, we have held a Frankenstein film festival, volunteered to read children’s books to local elementary schools, and participated in the Hobo Day parade.

I am a proud two-time graduate of ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ, and I am always happy to visit with prospective students and parents. Should you wish to do so, or if you need additional information about our programs, please contact the school directly by telephone at 605-688-5191 or by email.

GO BIG, GO BLUE, GO JACKS!

Jason McEntee, Director and Professor
BA, English Education, ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ, ‘94
MA, English, ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ, ‘98
Ph.D., English (American literature and film studies), U. of Kentucky, ‘04

Mission Statements

Undergraduate

  • The undergraduate English program prepares students to become innovative professionals and global citizens by teaching them to read closely and critically, write creatively and persuasively and explore the beauty and value of diverse literatures and cultures.

Graduate

  • The English M.A program prepares students for professional careers or further graduate study by developing their capacity to analyze texts, conduct research, apply theory and write creatively and critically.
Outcomes and Assessment
Undergraduate Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the English B.A. program, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze texts closely and critically, using key literary terms and concepts to interpret how the specific elements of a text contribute to its larger meanings (Textual Analysis; BOR Cross-Curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Integrative Learning).
  2. Identify significant texts, authors, periods, movements, genres, theories and modes from literary history, recognizing how literary texts both reflect and shape historical contexts, aesthetic values and cultural ideals (Literary History; BOR Cross-Curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Integrative Learning).
  3. Apply key theoretical ideas, concepts and methodologies to the reading and writing of texts (Theory; BOR Cross-Curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Integrative Learning).
  4. Write argumentative, creative and reflective texts that demonstrate focus, content, structure, evidence, style and grammar appropriate to their rhetorical contexts (BOR Cross-Curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Integrative Learning).
  5. Conduct scholarly research that incorporates the use of library resources and discipline-specific databases; the evaluation and integration of secondary sources; and the documentation of primary and secondary sources using MLA style (Research; BOR Cross-Curricular Skills: Information Literacy; Inquiry and Analysis).
  6. Explain how literature both reflects and enriches the diversity of human experience through its exploration of the ways in which race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, ability and class shape identity and influence perception (Diversity; BOR Cross-Curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Inquiry and Analysis; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity).
Graduate Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the English M.A. program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an advanced ability to analyze and interpret literary and cultural texts (Textual Analysis).
  2. Examine significant texts, authors, periods, movements, genres, theories and modes from literary history, interpreting the relationship between texts and their historical, aesthetic, cultural and ideological contexts (Literary History).
  3. Compose sophisticated argumentative, creative and reflective texts that demonstrate focus, content, structure, evidence, style and grammar appropriate to their rhetorical contexts (Writing).
  4. Demonstrate an advanced ability to apply theoretical concepts to the writing and analysis of texts (Theory).
  5. Produce original research that advances knowledge within the discipline; generate questions for scholarly inquiry; identify its methodological and theoretical foundations; employ library resources and discipline-specific databases; evaluate and integrate secondary criticism; and document sources using MLA style (Research).
  6. Explain how literature both reflects and enriches the diversity of human experience through its exploration of the ways in which race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, ability and class shape identity and influence perception (Diversity).
  7. Deliver instruction that demonstrates a growing mastery of course content (cultural analysis, rhetoric, grammar and research) and increasing skill in helping students of varying abilities improve their cultural awareness, critical acumen, reading comprehension and writing competence (Teaching; graduate teaching assistants only).