English Department

Discover Your Voice,
Illuminate Your Future

At Valpo, English majors grow into articulate thinkers, writers, and professionals ready to lead in any field. Whether you’re passionate about storytelling, critical analysis, or persuasive communication, our program equips you with adaptable skills that open doors in education, publishing, law, media, and beyond.

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English Programs

Experiential Learning

English Alumni Spotlights

About the Department

Explore the Power of Language and Storytelling

Read. Write. Relate. English students at Valpo develop skills in communication, writing, and critical thinking that are highly sought in a range of professions. Explore our majors, minors, and certifications that will equip you to make your mark.

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Expert Faculty Mentorship

Our faculty are highly regarded in their fields and focus on teaching. You’ll collaborate closely with professors in small classes that offer opportunities for lively discussions, and you’ll grow with one-on-one mentorship from faculty dedicated to helping students grow and discover their unique voice.

On-Campus Publications

English students can contribute their writing to several campus publications, including The Lighter, Valpo’s award-winning student-led literary journal. Many have also served as assistant editors for the Valparaiso Fiction Review, produced by the English department, or gain hands-on experience by writing and editing the department’s biannual alumni newsletter, The Lodestar. Students can also build experience working with Valpo’s student media organizations.

Events and Community

A fascination with the power of words creates a sense of community at Valpo that extends beyond the classroom. The annual Wordfest Writers Series connects students to visiting writers from across the country, with readings, lectures, class discussions, and student workshops. You can also get involved with student organizations or join one of our Books and Coffee events. The department also sponsors student travel to conferences in English studies.

News & Stories

English Highlights

Exploring AI at Valpo | English Professors Light the Path to Future–Ready Skills

After 33 years of teaching writing, Senior Research Professor Kelly Belanger, M.A., Ph.D., has learned to expect one constant: technology will always be changing the field. In her role as […]

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Valparaiso University Students Take First and Third Place in International Game Design Competition

Two Valparaiso University students have won top honors in an international role-playing game (RPG) writing competition. Nolan Brezina took first place with his Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC)-compatible adventure Creeping Dread, […]

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Alumni Spotlight: Nichole Mitchell ’22

Valpo alumna Nichole Mitchell ’22’s love for reading and learning manifests itself in her work as a law student. Mitchell graduated with a bachelor of arts in English with minors […]

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Valparaiso University Students Explore the Tabletop Gaming Industry with Exciting Internships

Two Valparaiso University students and one recent alum have been selected as members of the first cohort of paid summer interns with Goodman Games, an international tabletop roleplaying game company. […]

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Alumni Spotlight: Joe Weaver ’23

Valpo alumnus Joe Weaver ’23 values authentic education, believing in “bringing your whole self” inside and outside the classroom. With a background in physical therapy and architectural drafting, he pursued […]

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english department

Program Offerings

All Programs

Undergraduate

Students sit in an English classroom, smiling and applauding, with art posters visible on the walls behind them.

English Language and Literature

Four women sit around a conference table with laptops and notebooks, looking toward the camera and clapping, in a brightly lit meeting room—celebrating a successful creative writing session.

Creative Writing

Two young women smiling and holding small items, standing under a red neon "GAME ON" sign, celebrate their achievements at the Academic Success Center.

Game Narrative and Design Minor

Two students sit at a table with books, smiling and talking in a bright classroom with world maps on the wall, discussing English Linguistics and their passion for English teaching.

Teaching of English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL) and English Linguistics Minor

Graduate

Teaching of English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL) & English Linguistics Certificate

English Department

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Experiential Learning

Department Resources

Career Resources

Youth Writers and Their Worlds

The Ninth International Society of Literary Juvenilia Conference will be held on campus April 16–18, 2026. This interdisciplinary event examines how young authors imagine, challenge, and shape their worlds through writing and other creative forms, with presentations spanning children’s print culture, visual storytelling, and concepts of childhood.

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