English

Dr. Ashley Christensen teaches World Literature

Dr. Ashley Christensen teaches World Literature.

Program of Study click to expand

English

What is English?

The Hesston College English program offers a series of writing, literature and language courses to prepare students to complete a four-year degree for a variety of academic and career paths.

Success Factors

English students often thrive when they can explore new ways of seeing the world, think for themselves and have opportunities to voice their opinions. As avid readers and writers, English majors develop into skilled communicators, careful researchers and thoughtful contributors in many different fields.

Career Possibilities

Creative writing: books, poetry, plays, screenplays, scripts; Journalism and publishing: writing, reporting, freelance writing and editing, copy-editing, copy writing, advertising, technical writing, science and medical writing; Education: classroom teaching, English education, academic administration, student affairs, English as a Second Language (ESL), academic advising, writing program administration; Library Information Science; Museum studies; Pre-law; Religious studies and ministry; Business: management, sales and marketing, advertising and new media, publicity, human resources, insurance claims and underwriting; Public relations: account coordination and management, media relations.

Majoring in English

Hesston College Writing Assistants program
This unique opportunity gives students hands-on experience in a writing center environment.
Develop exceptional critical thinking skills
In spring 2015, Hesston College’s top sophomores outperformed seniors at four-year colleges across the country in objective tests of higher-order thinking skills (75th percentile scores compared to 75th percentile of seniors on CLA+ assessment).
Develop excellent writing skills
Graduating Hesston College sophomores were more likely to receive a 4 or higher in “Writing Effectiveness” than graduating college seniors (51% of Hesston College sophomores compared to 47% of graduating seniors across the country on the Spring 2015 CLA+ assessment).
Broaden your horizons
Hesston College English courses invite students to explore our diverse world and to discover their own experiences in a new way.
Get hands-on writing experience
Writing and publication opportunities are available with the Hesston College Horizon, the student newspaper, and The Journal of Writing and Art (JWA), both housed in the Communications department.
Cultivate leadership skills
The English program prepares students for leadership roles in places of employment, and for other fields such as law, library science and business.
Plan of study

English curriculum

The English curriculm prepares students with the writing, reading and thinking skills necessary for the academy and the workplace. Academic advisors work one-on-one with students to ensure requirements are met for a seamless transition to continuing education and professional careers.

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About the Department

The English Department’s mission is to teach students close reading, critical thinking, and research and writing skills that enable them to be more compassionate and responsible human beings. With careful attention to how life experience, cultural conventions, and historical contexts contribute to meaning-making, faculty and students together develop a working knowledge of textuality-the dynamic processes of producing and interpreting texts-as a cultural practice that shapes life experience and world view.

Writing and publication opportunities are available with The Hesston College Horizon, our student newspaper, and The Journal of Writing and Art (JWA), both publications housed in the Hesston College Communication Arts department.

English as a Second Language

ESL Requirements
ESL courses listed above

English Department news

Historic Hesston home inspiration for author’s book

Historic Hesston home inspiration for author’s book

Hesston College ESL instructor and fiction author André Swartley (Newton, Kan.) presents to the campus community about writing in an Oct. 2 pre-release celebration of his fourth book, The Wretched Afterlife of Odetta Koop, set to be released Oct. 31. Swartley, along with his wife, Kate, owns the independent publishing company Workplay Publishing, which has […]
Kansas Poet Laureate to present on “home”

Kansas Poet Laureate to present on “home”

Hesston College will host Wyatt Townley, Kansas Poet Laureate, on campus Friday, March 20. Townley will read her poetry at an 11 a.m. forum and lead a 3 p.m. workshop for select Hesston College students. Her presentation and workshop center around the theme “home.” Forum will focus on Townley’s work and the work of other […]

English faculty to participate in Mennonite Writing Conference

Hesston College, along with Fresno (Calif.) Pacific University, will co-sponsor the seventh in a series of Mennonite writing conferences in the United States and Canada at Fresno Pacific University March 12 to 15. The conference focus on the theme of Movement, Transformation and Place and will include readings, scholarly paper presentations, panels, writing workshops, performances, […]

Instructor presents at Japanese conference

André Swartley, English as a Second Language program director at Hesston College, presented at the After JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) conference in Chiba, Japan, Feb. 9 and 10. JET is a one-and-a-half-year teaching fellowship through the Japanese government where native speakers of other languages, especially English, teach in Japanese public schools. The After JET […]