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Dr. Mary Angela Schwer, Chair
309 Jaynes Hall / (304) 367-4717
FAX: (304) 367-4896
Angela.Schwer@fairmontstate.edu

Faculty

BAKER, J. ROBERT (1994)
Director, Honors Program
Professor/Senior Level: English
Graduate Faculty

BIRCANN-BARKEY, INGRID (2014)
Assistant Professor of Spanish

GEORGE, LELAND M. (1984)
Professor of English

HIPPOLYTE, ERIN (2006)
Professor of French

HOKOM, MATTHEW L. (2001)
Professor of English

LONG, DONNA J. (1999)
Professor of English
Graduate Faculty

MATTHEWS, JAMES (2002)
Professor of English
Graduate Faculty

MYERS, NATHAN (2015)
Assistant Professor of English

NESTOR, DEBORAH (1997)
Professor of English

RUDE, SARA (2017)
Assistant Professor of English

SANFORD, RHONDA LEMKE (1999)
Professor of English
Graduate Faculty

SAVAGE, ELIZABETH A. (2001)
Professor of English

SCHWER, MARY ANGELA (1997)
Professor of English

Introduction

As an academic division of Fairmont State, the Department of Language and Literature embraces a process of continuous improvement in teaching and learning. To that end, students majoring in programs administered by the Department are required to participate in ongoing assessment activities that may include, but are not limited to, standardized testing at different levels, electronic portfolio evaluation, and both oral and written performance reviews.

English

A baccalaureate degree in English answers to contemporary demands for flexible reading, writing, and analytical skills in private, social, and public realms, including career opportunities and graduate and professional studies. Three tracks, in Literature, Writing (both Creative Writing and Writing in the Workplace) and Education, give students a wide variety of options. Students who intend to pursue a career as a licensed teacher in West Virginia major in English Education (B.A. Education). Students with English degrees in the Writing Track are sought across a range of employment fields, from journalism, education, publishing, and public affairs to marketing, sales, entertainment, and human resources, to name but a few. Currently and historically, a B.A. in English in the Literature Track has been recommended for students considering pursuit of a law degree, and as a necessary prerequisite for graduate study in English at the master ‘s level. Literary study, critical writing, and creative writing develop deep cultural and historical knowledge necessary to complex thinking and lucid communication, as well as versatile interpretive skills essential to navigating the multimodal and intercultural communications of today’s world.

The sophisticated literacy required for living and working successfully in an information-saturated world develops throughout the levels of the English Program in our composition, literature, and specialized writing courses. In addition to the Bachelor of Arts in English and a teaching specialization in English Education, several minors are also available in business and technical writing, literature, and teaching English as a second language. As part of the University’s General Studies requirements, the English Program provides instruction in English language and literature. Advanced standing may be available for ENGL 1101  and for world language (Spanish or French). Students in any major may select from a variety of courses to enhance their writing skills and knowledge of English.

Spanish

The United States is now home to over 41 million native speakers of Spanish plus 11 million English-Spanish bilingual speakers, making this country the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world only second to Mexico with 121 speakers (www.cervantes.es). There is now a widespread need for professionals who can show Spanish proficiency in professions such as criminal justice, national security, social work, business and banking and nursing, as well as in education– where the need for Spanish teachers for K-12 grades is also increasing.

The Spanish program at Fairmont State is designed to address the linguistic and cultural proficiency needs of our students by gradually developing speaking, comprehension, reading and writing skills while gaining an understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures both outside and inside of the United States. The Spanish program adheres to the Standards of Foreign Language Learning established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

Students are strongly encouraged to integrate Spanish into their chosen careers as double majors, or as minors. In addition, both Elementary and Secondary Education students can choose to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a teaching specialization in Spanish for grades pre k-adult, or may add this specialization to another teaching field. The program offers a variety of courses aimed at helping students reach their career goals, including Spanish for the Medical Professions, Spanish for Criminal Justice and Spanish for the World Economy (Business).

Spanish majors are strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, preferably but not necessarily in their junior year. Students have the option of traveling to a Spanish-speaking country and doing research on an approved topic, for which they will receive 3-6 credit hours (SPAN 4402 ). Students in approved internships (SPAN 3300 ) will receive 3-6 upper-division credit hours, depending upon the type and duration of the internship.

All students who have taken Spanish in high school should take a placement test to determine at what level they should begin. Students who test out of beginning courses may receive credit for these courses by asking their instructor to complete Credit by Exam paperwork, and paying a fee.

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