English

Language is God's good gift that reveals how humans interpret and imagine the world. Studying literature is an act of "listening" across time and space to people who differ from us. Writing, in turn, is communication that can speak to the mind and soul. By learning to listen and speak in this way, we create a vibrant community through empathy while learning to love God and love our neighbors.

On this page Overview Graduate Outcomes Programs / Features Faculty Contact

Program Overview

The English department's mission is to teach students to use language well and to appreciate, enjoy, and understand rich works of literature. Additionally, the writing concentration allows students to further explore their passion for writing with attention given not only to creative writing, but also to professional forms of writing. Students learn to engage with nuanced and complex ideas as we discuss literary texts through a Christian lens.

We train our students to honor God as they hone their written communication skills and stretch their God-given creative capacities. Studying writing in all of its forms also respects the image of God in human beings who, having been made like their Creator, are made to create.

student studying in front of a window with carter hall in background

Graduate Outcomes

An English major equips students for a wide variety of vocational callings due to strong communication skills and abilities in analytical thinking. English major graduates enter a range of fields including education, law, journalism, ministry, marketing, editing, counseling, and entrepreneurial endeavors, to name a few.

Job Outcomes for English Majors:

Founder, Widgets & Stone
Director of Education, Advance
Reporter, Chattanooga Times Free Press
President, Pearl Ministries
Editor, World Magazine
Teaching Assistant, University of Dayton
Assistant Editor, CMC Publications
Staff Writer, Curator Magazine
Adjunct Professor, Gordon College
English and Rhetoric Teacher, Covenant Christian Academy
Technical Writer/Editor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Alumni Graduate Schools:

University of Virginia at Arlington
University of Edinburgh
New York University
University of Dayton School of Law
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Western Carolina University

Emma Luke ’23

Leah (Klett) Hutcherson ’13

Mary McCampbell ’94

What I love about Covenant's English majors is their enthusiasm for doing creative work, their eagerness to wrestle faithfully with complex ideas, and their delight in the beauty of the written word. It's such a gift to teach them.

Sarah Huffines

Associate Professor of English

Programs & Features

In the department's wide range of literature courses, students learn how to approach and appreciate literary art forms as products both of the creativity of God in humankind and of human beings’ creative expression of their particular cultures and particular literary techniques.

Writing Concentration
Students who select a writing concentration learn how to generate, organize, and communicate ideas clearly, correctly, and effectively; students also get practice in analyzing and evaluating the ideas of others. Various courses in creative writing offer students a chance to develop their gifts in particular types of writing such as fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. The communication department's courses in playwriting and screenwriting offer additional options.

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The English or writing minor can give students a chance to pursue an interest in literature or writing while allowing them to pursue majors other than English. Students will advance through the study of literary works and creative writing, learn about theoretical frameworks for understanding the practice of writing, and be exposed to the theory and practice of professional writing.

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Students interested in teaching English for grades 6-12 can complete a BA degree with a major in English and then enroll in the one-year Master of Arts in Teaching at Covenant College. It is recommended that the Education Minor be completed.

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The journalism certificate consists of classes from a variety of disciplines including history, sociology, photography, and English providing students with skills needed for reporting and writing but also a strong understanding of journalism’s relationship with society

The certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) explores the fields of education, linguistics, English, and foreign languages to better understand how languages work and how to effectively teach a foreign or second language.

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ENG 240 The Inklings
ENG 245 Journalism
ENG 275 African-American Literature Since 1900
ENG 302 Creative Writing: Poetry
ENG 372 The American Novel

“The Progress of Metaphysical Doubt in the Detective Novel”
“The Female & the Myth: Tolkien’s Story of Eucatastrophe & His Portrayal of Women”
“Reader-Oriented Translation”
“The Carnival at Sea: Understanding the Motives of Moby-Dick’s Humor through Bakhtin’s Theory of Carnival”
“Lincoln in the Bardo, David Foster Wallace, and Sincerity”
“Task of the Translator, Task of the Judge: Expanding Paul Ricoeur’s Philosophy of Translational Faithfulness”

Guided Capstone Requirements

Recent Student Internships

The Chattanooga Times Free Press
Nooga.com
The Asheville Citizen Times
Jasper Reynolds Public Relations
CMC Publications

Extracurricular Activities

The Bagpipe - student newspaper
The Tartan - yearbook
The Thorn - literary magazine
Sigma Tau Delta - national English honorary society open to students who have completed a number of English courses with an above-average GPA
Drama Club
Musical theatre productions
Other special-interest clubs, which may vary from year to year

Many English majors take advantage of opportunities for off-campus study programs. Of particular interest are programs offered in cooperation with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities; these include semester and summer programs at Oxford University as well as the semester programs at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center. For those students interested in journalism, The King's College Journalism Semester offers a chance to study journalism in New York City.

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The Writing Center provides a place where students and tutors can talk about writing. Our goal is to help students take control of their own writing, develop confidence, and write effectively. To that end, we look at writing at any stage of the process - from brainstorming and drafting to final editing.

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Meet the English Faculty

Gwen Macallister Professor of English
Department Chair

Heather Hess Assistant Professor of English

Robert Erle Barham Associate Professor of English

Sarah Huffines Associate Professor of English

William Tate Professor of English
Dean of Arts and Letters

Ready to take the next step?

Thank you for your interest in Covenant! By filling out this form, we'll be able to connect you with the best information regarding your program of interest, as well as your Admissions Counselor.