Department of English & Communication

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Mission Statement:

The mission of the Department of English and Modern Languages is to support the general mission of the College of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences and South Carolina State University by systematically providing quality instruction to diverse students in an effort to assist them in developing high levels of intellectual, professional, and personal growth. The aim is to prepare knowledgeable, technologically literate, life-long learners for careers, and/or advanced study. Ultimately, we endeavor to prepare people to be competent citizens and leaders in our complex and diverse global society.

The specific mission of the department is to teach five groups of South Carolina State University students to write clearly and effectively and to read, appreciate, and respond thoughtfully to literature. These groups are undergraduates fulfilling the requirements of the general education curriculum, undergraduate Communications majors, undergraduate English and English Education majors, undergraduate Modern Languages (Spanish) majors, and graduate students working toward the M.Ed. or the M.A.T. degree.

GOALS:

  1. To provide instruction in reading and writing skills, the humanities, linguistics, and literature for general education courses;
  2. To prepare English majors to teach and to pursue graduate training in English and other professions;
  3. To prepare Spanish majors to pursue graduate training in Spanish or to work in a field that requires fluency in the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures; and
  4. To prepare Communications graduates for work in the fields of Journalism and Broadcasting.

Student Learning Outcomes (Departmental):

  1. Through the general education courses within the English program, students develop their abilities to read analytically, to speak and to write skillfully, and to respond logically and creatively to a variety of literary forms.
  2. Through the sequence of advanced literature courses, students refine their communication skills and develop their understanding of the literary works of various world cultures, subcultures, and minority groups that form the fabric of this global community.
  3. Through the advanced writing courses, students engage their critical, creative and technical skills as writers to develop proficiency and aesthetic fulfillment.
  4. Through electives and options in the program, students pursue their personal interests and skills in order to develop their potential as life-long learners.
  5. Through a sequence of Hispanic literature and culture courses, students will refine their communication skills in Spanish and develop their understanding of the literary works of various Hispanic cultures.
  6. Through the Communications courses, students will develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to analyze the matrixes of mass media process and produce informational, educational, entertaining, and persuasive materials and content by using print, broadcast and digital media technologies.
  7. Through mass communication instruction, research and services, students prepare themselves as socially conscious, empowered visionaries and catalysts to link the SC State community to the world community of scholars, professionals and leaders.

Students who attain the B.A. in English will achieve the following:

    1. Follow a specific curriculum and meet appropriate performance assessments for pre-service English Language Arts teachers.
    2. Through modeling, advisement, instruction, field experiences, assessment of performance, and involvement in professional organizations, candidates adopt and strengthen professional attitudes needed by English Language Arts teachers.
    3. Demonstrate knowledge of, and skills in the use of, the English language.
    4. Demonstrate knowledge of the practices of oral, visual, and written literacy.
    5. Demonstrate their knowledge of reading processes.
    6. Demonstrate knowledge of different composing processes.
    7. Demonstrate knowledge of, and uses for, an extensive range of literature.
    8. Demonstrate knowledge of the range and influence of print and non-print media and technology in contemporary culture.
    9. Demonstrate knowledge of research theory and findings in English language arts.
    10. Acquire and demonstrate the dispositions and skills needed to integrate knowledge of English language arts, students, and teaching.

Students who attain the B.S. in English Education will achieve the following:

  1. Follow a specific curriculum and meet appropriate performance assessments for pre-service English Language Arts teachers.
  2. Through modeling, advisement, instruction, field experiences, assessment of performance, and involvement in professional organizations, candidates adopt and strengthen professional attitudes needed by English Language Arts teachers.
  3. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of, and skills in the use of, the English language.
  4. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of the practices of oral, visual, and written literacy.
  5. Candidates demonstrate their knowledge of reading processes.
  6. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of different composing processes.
  7. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of, and uses for, an extensive range of literature.
  8. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of the range and influence of print and non-print media and technology in contemporary culture.
  9. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of research theory and findings in English language arts.
  10. Candidates acquire and demonstrate the dispositions and skills needed to integrate knowledge of English language arts, students, and teaching.

Students who attain the B.A. in Communications will achieve the following:

  1. Upon completion of the Communications program, students will have clear understanding about the value and role of mass media and journalism education in market economy, participatory democracy, and in the governance of a modern state and society;
  2. Through communications courses, students will be aware of the mass media history, people’s right to know, and the struggles of the minorities and the media in the United States;
  3. Upon completing the program, students will have the ability to think critically and independently and communicate both in writing and orally, correctly and clearly, meeting the media deadlines;
  4. Through Communications courses, students will have competencies in using audio, video, the Internet, and digital technologies to research facts and sources, articulate, frame, write, produce and present news and other media stories;
  5. Upon completion of the program, students will have the ability to recognize and practice the news values, neutrality, libelous elements, the First Amendment Laws, and other media related rules and ethics used by the journalists and communication professionals.

The Department of English and Modern Languages offers the Bachelor of Arts degrees in Professional English and Modern Languages. The Bachelor of Science degree is offered for students who major in the teaching of English. Each degree program stresses the effective development of expressive skills, both oral and written.

Undergraduate Programs

Professional English
Modern Languages
Teaching of English
Communications

Chairperson

Dr. Janice Hawes

For more information, contact:

Department of English & Modern Languages
300 College Street, NE
Post Office Box 7486
Orangeburg, SC 29117
Phone: 803-536-8808
Fax: 803-533-3804
Email: jhawes@scsu.edu