All undergraduate English advising begins in the College of Humanities Student Services Center/EOP office, in JR 240, (818) 677-4767, where students may seek guidance regarding their major requirements or current or future class schedules.

Advising appointments are mandatory for declaring or changing a major and, one year in advance of the anticipated date of completion, filing for graduation. Additional advising is available in the English department, and students may be directed there from the EOP office. For general questions concerning the major or other issues pertaining to English careers or future studies, please see the associate chair and/or consult the current list of appropriate option advisors. Graduate advising takes place in the department, and all graduate students should consult with the graduate advisor, Danielle Spratt, as soon as possible upon matriculation.

English studies provide a good academic foundation for radio and television broadcasting, editing, writing, politics, film and library work, journalism, advertising, public information, public relations and technical writing. Studies show that English as a pre-professional major is valuable preparation for future careers in law, medicine, business, and local and federal service. English majors choosing the Subject Matter Option receive a state certificate in subject matter competency, necessary preparation for teaching careers at the secondary school level, middle and high school. Many students who obtain the M.A. in English find teaching positions at community colleges or proceed to doctoral programs, which might lead to teaching careers at the university level.

The English Intern Program

The Department of English provides an internship program for students who are interested in entering the professional writing field. The year-long program consists of a writing and professional development course (ENGL 407) and an off-campus internship (ENGL 494/IP), which provide both the training and experience students need to make the transition into the workplace. For more information, contact Internship Coordinator Kent Baxter.

International Studies

The Department of English supports the concept of international education and encourages students to investigate opportunities for overseas study. Certain courses taken at CSU International Program Study Centers in foreign countries are equivalent to courses in the Department of English and may be used to fulfill some of the requirements for Degree Options offered by the department and/or certain General Education requirements. For more information, students should consult the International Programs Bulletin, which is available in the International and Exchange Student Center, the English department’s associate chair or the campus International Programs advisor.

Prizes in English

The department offers a number of prizes for students who have excelled in their academic work. For further information about these awards, please visit the English department’s main office.

The Academy of American Poets Prize

A first prize of $100 and two honorable mention awards given by the Academy of American Poets for the best poem(s) submitted. Application forms are available from the creative writing advisor.

The Rachel Sherwood Poetry Prize

An annual prize awarded by The Northridge Review to the author of the poem judged to be the best published in the magazine during the calendar year. The recipient, who must be a registered student for at least one semester during the year in which the poem is published, will be awarded $150.

The Northridge Review Fiction Award

An annual prize awarded by The Northridge Review to the author of the short story judged to be the best published in the magazine during the calendar year. The recipient, who must be a registered student for at least one semester during the year in which the story is published, will be awarded $100.

The Oliver W. Evans Writing Prize

A prize of $400 awarded in the Fall semester for the best piece of prose, critical or creative, submitted in an upper division English course.

The Eva Latif Writing Prize in Children’s Literature

A prize of $400 awarded in the Fall semester for the best piece of writing, critical or creative, by a student on the subject of children’s literature.

The Henry Van Slooten Scholarship in English

A prize of $500 will be given to a student in ENGL 258, 259, 275 or 355, who has written an essay (open topic) that best demonstrates a passion for the English language. Essays are faculty-nominated.

The Lesley Johnstone Memorial Award

A prize of $500 given to an undergraduate CSUN student who is the author of the best written work on some aspect of the natural world or environment. Eligible work, whether scholarly or creative, must have been written in an English class or for a class-related conference or publication.

The Philip E. Love English 205 Scholarship

A prize of $500 will be given each year to the student whose achievements in the study of business communication are considered by the faculty as the most distinguished. This award honors the work and business contributions of Philip E. Love, a local businessman.

The Mahlon Gaumer Award

An award of $500 given in the Spring semester to a graduate student for the best critical essay on English literature, with an emphasis on the use of language, submitted during the academic year.

The Robert apRoberts Honors Essay Prize

An annual award of $250 given in the Spring semester to the English Honors student whose paper completed in the Honors Revision Seminar (ENGL 497A) is judged to be the best submitted during that academic year.

The Harry Finestone Memorial Award

An award of $750 given in the Spring semester to the graduate student with the most distinguished essay completed in the department’s capstone graduate seminar, ENGL 698D. Submissions are faculty-nominated.

The Richard Lid and Helen Lodge Scholarship

An award of $500 given in alternating years to a graduate student enrolled in English or in Secondary English Education to help pay fees for graduate work.

The Peterson Morley Award

An award of $1,000 given each Fall semester to an undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled as an English major at CSUN who plans to enter the teaching profession at any level.

The William L. Wilson Award

An award of up to $1,600 given in the Fall semester to an undergraduate major in English who plans to teach at the secondary level and who demonstrates the qualities of maturity, patience, purpose, generosity and compassion associated with the successful classroom teacher.

The Linda Nichols Joseph English Merit Scholarship

In memory of Linda Nichols Joseph, an English major who graduated from CSUN cum laude in 1981, up to four prizes of $2,000 will be awarded each year to undergraduate English majors who have demonstrated excellence in their studies.

The Mitchell Marcus Prize in English

A prize of $3,500 awarded each Spring semester to a graduate student who is best distinguished by excellence in his or her studies. Applications of currently enrolled classified graduate students are reviewed by a committee of faculty.

The Thomas Matthew Magness Graduate Memorial Fund

Awards funds up to $500 to Department of English graduate students to present at a domestic, off-campus, professional conference.