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.
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.
Words Alive! Spring 2021 winners
Each semester the English department sponsors a writing contest for students and the winning works are read, usually by the writer, at one of the last Forum gatherings of the term. The spring 2021 winners were Alisha Dorsing, Star Her Many Horses, Kaytlen Keough and Hevi Mamo.
Courses
- Engl009 TOEFL iBT Test Preparation 1 hour
- Engl100 Basic Writing 3 hours
- Engl103 ESL: Grammar 3 hours
- Engl104 ESL: Integrated Language Arts 3 hours
- Engl105 ESL: Advanced Listening/Speaking 3 hours
- Engl112 Studies in Literature 3 hours
- Engl120 Aviation English for Communicative Purposes 2 hours
- Engl125 College Writing I 3 hours
- Engl126 College Writing Lab 1 hour
- Engl135 College Writing II 3 hours
- Engl204 Introduction to Children’s Literature 3 hours
- Engl212 World Literature 3 hours
- Engl215 Introduction to Film 3 hours
- Engl217 Literature of Race, Ethnicity and Gender 3 hours
- Engl220 Creative Writing 3 hours
- Engl225 Advanced Critical Research and Argument 3 hours
English as a Second Language
ESL Requirements
ESL courses listed above
English Department news
Historic Hesston home inspiration for author’s book
