Department of English and Modern Languages
Competitive Degree Programs
The UIS Department of English and Modern Languages offers majors in English on campus and in English online with minors in English and Spanish.
Our department prioritizes a personalized education experience for English and Modern Languages students. We offer small class sizes to encourage one-on-one communication between students and faculty. Currently we offer a Bachelor of Arts in English on-campus and online; a Master of Arts in English with an emphasis in digital publishing or digital pedagogy; a graduate certificate in teaching English; and a minor in English or Spanish. Our program facilitates strong written and verbal communication while emphasizing communication, genre writing, literary analysis, and emergent digital technologies.
Note: The English department is not currently accepting applications for the M.A. in English or the graduate certificate.
Student Involvement Opportunities
The English and Modern Languages Department at UIS offers a number of hands-on community engagement opportunities that extend student learning beyond the classroom.
Students can gain publishing experience through Violet Margin, a student-run journal of fiction, poetry, and visual arts, and can present their own research at STARS: the Student Technology, Arts, and Research Symposium.
The Shelterbelt Reading Series also offers students a unique opportunity to meet nationally-known authors.
English Department Scholarships
Frank and Linda Kopecky Scholarship
Based on merit and demonstrated financial need
Awarded to a full time junior or senior
Renewable until the degree is completed
Alfred and Mildred Roese Memorial Scholarship
GPA of 3.75 or higher
Recipient must display financial need
Preferred female recipient
To apply, please complete the UIS Institutional Scholarship Application
John and Barb Blackburn Scholarship
Awarded to an English or Education major in good academic standing
U of I President Diversity Travel Award
Awarded to graduates and undergraduates students presenting papers, posters, or creative works at conferences. The topic must be related to issues of diversity or identity, such as those involving race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.
Feature Stories:
Dr. Cordell and online student Tammy Hollo discuss online learning
To learn more about our department, our mission, and what we offer our students, visit our About section.