The Bachelor of Arts in English degree at the University of Tampa offers students the option of pursuing courses for pre-professional (law) preparation, careers in business and service fields, a traditional literature degree in preparation for graduate school, or teacher certification in English education.
Topics of Study
- British literature
- world literature
- American literature
- spiritual autobiography
- comedy
- drama
- post-colonial literature
- literary criticism
- linguistics
Research
Students have the opportunity of working on a one-on-one basis with professors who integrate research and publishing in their courses. During the Scholars’ Symposia, students learn from active scholars about their research. At the annual Student Tapas event, students present and discuss their research with one another. In addition, students have a unique opportunity to meet and interact with acclaimed literary figures during UT’s Lectores public reading series.
Internships
Students have participated in a variety of internships at locations such as:
- What’s UP? — a street paper in Washington, D.C.
- Raymond James
- Maverick Media
- The Tampa Bay Times
- Schifino Lee Advertising in Downtown Tampa
- Fox Television/Channel 13
- Winner Koenig Advertising
- CNN-Atlanta
- Creative Loafing
- American Red Cross
- Florida Blood Services
- Florida Aquarium
- Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
- Ruth Eckerd Hall
- ALS Foundation
- Tampa Bay Business Journal
- University of Tampa Press
- WMNF Community Radio 88.5 — in local and international news
Facilities
The Saunders Writing Center can help students communicate ideas clearly and creatively, with one-on-one peer tutoring to help sharpen writing skills.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
Students have the opportunity of working on a one-on-one basis with professors who integrate research and publishing in their courses. Students also have publishing opportunities with four student publications: The Minaret, the University of Tampa’s student newspaper; Neon, the student literary magazine; The Moroccan, the student yearbook; and Splice Journal, student journal focusing on communication, art and culture. Students can earn credit for working on the newspaper staff and for editorial positions on the other two publications.
The Department of English and Writing sponsors a Writers at the University series in which writers such as Derek Walcott, Margaret Atwood, and Li-Young Lee have visited the campus for public readings and guest appearances in classes. The department also hosts a Scholars' Symposium series to which nationally and internationally recognized scholars are invited to lecture in their particular fields of expertise.
Student Activities and Organizations
- International English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta
- The Minaret (student newspaper)
- Neon (student literary magazine)
- The Moroccan (student yearbook)
- Splice Journal (student journal focusing on communication, art and culture)
- Student Publications
- Saunders Writing Center
- Writers at the University
- Scholar’s Symposia
Career Opportunities
English majors in recent graduating classes have been accepted into a variety of excellent law or graduate programs throughout the nation and abroad, including:
- Emory University
- Indiana University
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- Vanderbilt University
- Iowa State University
- University of South Florida
- University of Florida
Professionally, the success rate is also high. Recent graduates from the English program are now working for:
- The Tampa Bay Times
- The Brandon News
- Hillsborough County Public School system
- Alachua County Schools
- PriceWaterhouse Coopers
- Raymond James
- Continental Airlines
- Tampa Chamber of Commerce
- Diamond Shamrock
- Connie May Fowler ’82, nationally known author, wrote Before Women Had Wings and River of Hidden Dreams
- Amy Hill Hearth ’82, co-authored the New York Times bestseller Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters’ First 100 Years, and more recently, In a World Gone Mad: A Heroic Story of Love, Faith and Survival.
Minor
Minor in English
Recommended for those students majoring in another program but interested in historical and contemporary literary traditions in courses that enhance reading, writing, and interpretive skills