Department of English & Interdisciplinary Studies

Jason McEntee, Department Head
Department of English and Interdisciplinary Studies
Pugsley Hall 301, Box 2218
605-688-5191

Faculty

Professors

Jason McEntee

Associate Professors

Paul Baggett, Nicole Flynn, Katherine Malone, Michael Nagy, Sharon Smith, Steven Wingate

Lecturers

Randi Anderson, Darin Halvorsen, Lynn Hublou, Amber Jensen, Jennifer Kluck, Lisa Madsen, April Myrick, Nathan Serfling

Instructors

Gwen Horsley, Katie O’Leary, Stephen Snyder

Emeritus

Bruce Brandt, Kathleen Danker, Kathleen Donovan, David Allen Evans, Mary Alice Haug, Michael Keller, Karen Kildahl, Mary O’Connor, Mary Ryder, John Taylor, Paul Witherington, George West, Charles Woodard

Overview

The English and Interdisciplinary Studies department’s B.A. program prepares students to become innovative professionals and global citizens by teaching them to read closely and critically, write creatively and persuasively, and explore the beauty and value of diverse literatures and cultures.

The Department offers instruction in a wide range of specialty areas, including British and American literature, women’s writing, Native American literature, literary theory, rhetoric, composition, creative writing, professional and technical writing, peace and conflict studies, and film studies.

Programs

Majors

• English (B.A.)  
• English (B.A.) - English Education Specialization  
• English (B.A.) - Writing Specialization  
• Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A./B.S.)  

Minors 

• English Minor   
• Film Studies Minor  (offered jointly with the School of Design  and School of Communication & Journalism )
• Professional Writing Minor   

Graduate Programs*

• English (M.A.)

* Graduate degrees are offered in collaboration with the Graduate School. For details, see the Graduate Catalog.

Facilities & Services

The Department of English and Interdisciplinary Studies is housed in historic Pugsley Hall (as of Spring 2014). The department supports local, regional, and state communities through speaking and teaching engagements, service learning, and events such as the annual Consider the Century Conference, the Great Plains Writers’ Conference, and the Oakwood Writers Retreat. In addition, the English and Interdisciplinary Studies department coordinates the Jerome Norgren Poetry Contest and the Paul Witherington Creative Writing Contest for South Dakota middle-school and high-school students and directs the SDSU Writing Center, which offers writing support to SDSU undergraduate and graduate students.

Student Support & Engagement Opportunities

The English and Interdisciplinary Studies department publishes Oakwood, an annual literary magazine created and developed by English students; sponsors English Club, the university’s only undergraduate literary association; and awards a number of scholarships to its majors thanks to the generosity of its alumni and friends.