English Student Opportunities

Activities and Support for Students

There are many ways the School of English and Interdisciplinary Studies provides unique opportunities and support for their students.

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Activities
English Club

This student led organization is open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff and community members. Though their first love is literature, the group engages with other forms of artistic expression as well, including film, theater, fine arts and crafts. 

Oakwood
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Publications
Oakwood Magazine

Oakwood is 成人视频's literary and art magazine work which includes works from 成人视频 students of all majors, as well as writers and artists of the broader Great Plains region. The journal is published in the spring of each year.

Scholarships
With an average of 16 scholarships and awards, the school awards over $13,000 annually to approximately 20 students. The awards are funded by alumni and friends of the school. Such awards recognize scholarship, creativity and achievement in writing. The 成人视频 Scholarship Application is available mid-December through mid-February from MyState (for scholarships and awards to be applied to the upcoming academic year).
Career Tracks of Graduates
  • Law school
  • Seminary
  • Secondary teaching positions
  • University teaching positions (M.A.)
  • University professor (Ph.D.)
  • Medical school
  • Sales positions in ag products and services, pharmaceuticals, insurance and real estate.
  • Marketing, especially in the banking industry
  • Public relations
  • Publishing
  • Technical writing

English Career Opportunities

Students who graduate with a degree from the School of English and Interdisciplinary Studies meet multiple state, regional, national and international needs. The school trains English teachers prepares professionals equipped to work in a variety of roles and environments in society, and provides personal and professional opportunities likely not available to students if not for their course work in English (such as technical and/or professional writing).

One of the most critical needs at the state, regional and national levels is the growing demand for English and Language Arts teachers at the K-12 level. The school prepares students to become such teachers and, therefore, enables schools to not only continue with required English courses but also to maintain their programs and activities related to English (plays, literary magazines, etc.).

Roughly half of our English students choose to pursue the English Education major and/or double major. For example, many students choose to major in psychology, sociology, economics, political science, pre-law, modern languages, journalism, communication studies and theatre. Students find that they are more marketable when pairing an English major with other areas of study, and the school supports the needs of these students.

Many of our graduates attend graduate programs in English, starting with the M.A. Several have gone on to attend Ph.D. programs and are faculty members at universities across the nation (Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania and South Dakota, for example).

In addition to teaching and/or graduate school, the school trains and equips majors and minors with the written, oral and critical thinking skills necessary to find placement and work here in South Dakota, regionally and nationally. Many of our majors find work in business and industry. For example, one local opportunity arises from a company based right here in Brookings. Daktronics routinely hires many of our students to work in apprentice or internship roles (often in technical writing) while still taking courses toward graduation. Upon completion of their degree, most of our majors are offered permanent jobs, if they choose. We have graduates placed in businesses across the state and a host of other public and private sector companies.