English prepares graduates to be literate, perceptive, and competent readers and writers who are informed about their literary heritage and who are responsive to our culture and its needs. Accordingly, the department emphasizes training and practice in reading, analyzing, synthesizing, and writing.

English at UD

Our program recognizes the diversity of English majors by making few rigid course requirements and by having students meet with their advisers to plan individual programs of study. English majors usually figure prominently on the staffs of campus publications, especially the student newspaper (The Flyer News) and the student literary magazine (Orpheus).

Students majoring in English and education students with English as a teaching field are encouraged to participate in the University of Dayton English Association, a student organization sponsored by the department. Membership in the national English honorary, Sigma Tau Delta, is also open to qualified juniors and seniors.

All degree students at the University must demonstrate proficiency in Standard Written English (Edited American English) by successfully completing one or more of the first-year composition courses taught in the Department of English. Students accepted into the University Honors Program are enrolled in English 198H and complete the requirement with that course. University Scholars and other students with high test scores and good high school records are enrolled in English 114 and complete the requirement with that course. Most other students are enrolled in English 101, a course they must complete satisfactorily before advancing to English 102. They complete their requirements with the sequence of both English 101 and 102.