About

At the heart of Mississippi State University’s English Department are literary scholars, linguists, poets, novelists and short story writers with international reputations. You’ll see our writers mentioned in The New York Times, our linguists presenting cutting- edge research on language acquisition at conferences around the world, and our literary scholars publishing at some of the premier journals and presses in the field.

The English department offers a traditional Bachelor’s degree in English, as well as a minor in English that helps students in other majors develop valuable writing, research, and critical thinking skills. We offer workshop and craft classes in creative writing, and each year bring to campus visiting writers who not only read and discuss their work, but also visit workshops and meet informally with students. Our linguistics classes can contribute to careers such as language teaching, publishing, and speech therapy. We also offer a certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Unlike many large research universities, however, our faculty are committed to teaching small classes for students at all levels, from first-year writing students, through literature surveys and introductory creative writing classes, all the way up to graduate seminars. Most English classes are limited to 30 students, and many writing- intensive classes are even smaller. As a result, the English department has developed a culture of mentorship in which students work closely with faculty beyond the classroom in research and service activities.

The best way to stay up-to-date on events and activities in the department is by checking the English Department website and following us on Facebook or Twitter. There you’ll find news about faculty and student accomplishments, announcement about on-campus events, and reminders about upcoming deadlines.

For questions about our undergraduate programs, please contact Professor Ginger Pizer, our Undergraduate Coordinator.

For questions about our graduate program, please contact Professor Shalyn Claggett, our Graduate Coordinator.

For questions about our composition program, please contact Emily Stinson, our Director of Composition.

If you are having trouble enrolling in an individual class due to pre-requisite requirements or because the class is full, contact Lisa McReynolds, our department’s Administrative Assistant.

For all other questions, contact Professor Lara Dodds, the Department Head.