Students are introduced to the major in Literary Studies, sharpen their analytical skills in Literary Criticism, and complete a scholarly Senior Literature Capstone project mentored by two members of the English Literature faculty. They also choose courses from the whole history of English and American literature, in all genres, along with selected courses in Irish, Canadian, Russian, and World literature.
Student Experience
English majors are actively engaged on campus and beyond. A student editorial staff edits and publishes Catfish Creek: A National Undergraduate Literary Journal. Our students present their scholarly and creative writing on campus at the college’s annual Legacy Symposium, and, along with students from other colleges, at the annual Streamlines Undergraduate Language & Literature Conference. Many of our students also publish their writing in The Limestone Review, the college’s annual journal of scholarship and creative writing.
Several courses get students involved in the community in a variety of ways, such as teaching Shakespeare at after-school community centers or partnering with the Dubuque Historical Society in Victorian Studies. Experience-oriented January-term courses provide special opportunities for students to enliven their literary interests. Our students present their scholarly research on campus at the college’s annual Legacy Symposium, and, along with students from other colleges, at the annual Streamlines Undergraduate Language & Literature Conference. Our students also publish their scholarship in The Limestone Review, the college’s annual journal of scholarship and creative writing.
Many Loras English and Creative Writing students also land internships at local newspapers and publishing houses, including McGraw-Hill and Kendall Hunt. Many study abroad in Ireland for a semester in connection with the Irish Studies program, or write for and edit The Lorian (the Loras College newspaper). And many participate in the Loras Players theatre troupe, including their annual performance of student-written one-act plays.
Every student will have an opportunity to have their work published in The Limestone Review. The top submissions are granted a $100 Alpha Award and entered in the Delta Epsilon Sigma national undergraduate writing competition.