Where can I get help figuring out my major?

The English Undergraduate Advising Center (123 Andrews Hall, 472-3870, http://english.unl.edu/ugrad/advise.html) is designed for current and intending undergraduate English majors and minors. Advisors assist students in developing a major; working out independent projects, internships, and theses; fulfilling IS and ES requirements; transferring credits; helping students keep track of graduation requirements; applying for graduate and professional schools; and generally preparing for life after graduation.

Where can I get help with writing?

The Writing Assistance Center (http://www.unl.edu/writing) assists any UNL student engaged in a writing project by providing hands-on techniques that enable the student writer to say what he or she means.

Will I have opportunities for creative writing and publication?

Laurus is the undergraduate literary magazine published each year through the English Department. Student editors select materials submitted by student writers and supervise the details of publication. Plains Song Review is the undergraduate magazine published by the Center for Great Plains Studies for the College of Arts and Sciences. Prairie Schooner, one of the oldest and most distinguished literary magazines in the world, is edited and published by the English Department and offers editorial reader positions for undergraduate creative writers of exceptional talent. Each spring the English department sponsors a number of literary contests -- with Arts & Sciencesh prizes! -- open to all English majors.

Are there any English clubs or honoraries?

The Undergraduate English Organization is a student-run group which sponsors readings and book discussions and supplies undergraduate representatives to English department committees and to Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honorary society.

What is the English Department like?

English is one of the original divisions of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been offering classes continuously since 1869. Virtually every UNL student takes at least one class in the English Department. There are approximately 450 English majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Teaching staff includes more than 100 graduate student or part-time instructors and approximately 50 full-time professors, all of whom hold PhDs or equivalent credentials and publish books and internationally-recognized journal articles each year.

Can I use Independent Studies and Internships in my major?

Students may create their own classes to read extensively in a particular English field, to do extended research, to undertake a sustained creative project, or to explore experiential education relevant to English studies. All one needs is a good idea and a faculty sponsor.

Do I have the option of writing an Undergraduate Thesis?

English majors in the Honors program are required to write a thesis, while students who have compiled a GPA higher than 3.5 have this option. The thesis gives students opportunities to develop sustained research or creative projects that cap off their undergraduate careers.

Can I get paid for doing research?

UCARE (Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience program) pays undergraduates to work alongside faculty members and participate directly in campus research and creative activities. Many English majors have used UCARE research for their senior theses.

What kind of career can I pursue with an English degree?

After graduation, English majors regularly enter graduate or professional schools or begin careers in writing, editing, journalism, political action, government, or the entertainment industry.