English
Students in HPU’s English program explore the power of narrative in creative writing workshops, in literature and media courses, and through editing and publishing experiences.
Stories shape how we see the world and allow us to see through another’s eyes. They are a way to envision our future and reflect on our past. In an increasingly automated and AI-driven world, human imagination and empathy cannot be replicated. We study stories because they are needed to sustain us.
Creative Writing & Literary Arts
CREATIVE WRITING
courses include
- WORKSHOPS in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and scriptwriting;
- EDITING & PUBLISHING courses that produce three different literary and academic publications; and
- WRITING TUTORING pedagogy and practice courses.
LITERARY ARTS
courses explore
- classic stories and the latest media,
- popular genres, like fairy tales and detective fiction,
- different mediums, like film and video games, and
- literature from around the world.
Courses approach literature as a significant part of culture that shapes our world.
Careers in English
Anything you want. The English major teaches core skills and content:
- Skills in critical thinking, reading, and writing are always in demand, preparing students for a variety of career paths and enabling students to adapt to new opportunities.
- Content in literature, media, and creative writing prepares students for careers in creating and teaching literature and media.
- Understanding how stories work depends on human-centric skills that position students to work in AI-supported fields.
All English majors are partnered with a faculty mentor in their second year who helps them choose courses for their career path and make connections in the community.
Recent graduates have found careers as
Professors (English, religion, Korean literature) and teachers (JET program, Teach America, high schools in the US and abroad); lawyers; spokespersons for government agencies, non-profits, and corporations; film festival programmer and film marketer; arts administrator; game designer; small business owners; librarian; publicist; editors; creative and technical writers; journalists; and administrators at major corporations.
Famous English Majors Include
Actors: Harrison Ford, Katharine Hepburn, Emma Watson
Comedians: Chevy Chase, Conan O’Brien, Joan Rivers
Director: James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese
Musicians: John Legend, Paul Simon, Sting
Politicians: Carol Browner, Mitt Romney, Pete Wilson
Supreme Court Justices: Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens, Clarence Thomas
CEOs: Michael Eisner, Judy McGrath, Anne Mulcahy
Scientists: Rollo May, Sally Ride, Harold Varmus
And of course, writers and editors in every industry, including Dr. Seuss
Did you know that employers seek job candidates who are skilled in complex thinking, creativity, and communication?
A recent survey of industry leaders found that the most-sought after skills in the age of artificial intelligence are the same skills emphasized in humanities degrees: complex-problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and a variety of communication skills. The aspects that make us unique as humans are the very skills that can’t be automated. [1]
English majors are in demand and have some of the lowest unemployed and underemployed rates of all majors. [2]
Did you know that the median salary for English majors is comparable to majors in biology, environmental science, and psychology?
The median starting salaries for these majors, and several others, are all in the mid-50,000 range. But more importantly, English majors have higher gains in salary than many other majors, meaning that twenty years after completing their BA degree, many English majors out earn STEM majors. [3]
Did you know that a BA in English can prepare you for law or medical school?
English majors earn some of the highest scores on the GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and GRE. The major’s emphasis on critical thinking and writing is great preparation for graduate study in a variety of fields. [4]
[0] http://humanitiesworks.org
[2] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/english-majors-rejoice-employers-want-you-more-than-business-majors/
[3] https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/valueofcollegemajors/
[4] https://dailynous.com/value-of-philosophy/charts-and-graphs/
ABOUT THE ENGLISH PROGRAM
In addition to a BA in English, students can minor in
- Editing & Publishing
- English
- Film & Media Studies
- Writing
English students study texts in a variety of media and forms and in varied historical and cultural contexts. The BA in English degree provides students with written and oral communication skills, helps develop their creativity, and hones their persuasive and critical thinking abilities. The program provides students opportunities for experiential learning as tutors, editors, writers, and researchers. The writing, research, and critical thinking skills students acquire from the major and its minors are essential to high-level work in virtually every business or institution.
The goals of the English program are
(1) to develop students’ critical thinking, reading, and writing skills;
(2) to foster students’ engagement with social and ethical issues raised in the texts they study; and
(3) to cultivate students’ aesthetic and intellectual appreciation of texts from diverse genres, historical periods, and cultures, including those of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.
40 credits of upper-division work makes English a great option for transfer students, double majors, minors, and a semester of study abroad