What to Expect
Life in the English Department
Feel at Home
As an English major, you have limitless opportunities to pursue your interests, cultivate your skills and knowledge, and make lifelong friends while studying in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado.
Our students become actively involved in what they find meaningful. From getting outdoors and seeing the world to joining social clubs and using your voice for change on campus, you can discover what you love and go after it.
Throughout your time here at CSU, you will have the chance to learn from your peers and faculty, make a difference in your community, experience personal growth, and build your resume. Plus, you'll have a lot of fun along the way.
Learn more about the ways you can get involved and make the most of your college experience, below.
Hear from Current Students & Recent Graduates
Hannah Rowton
Major: English
Concentration: English Education
Sanyukta Rath
Major: English - Creative Writing
Minor: Legal Studies
Pete Wilson
Majors: English & Philosophy
Concentration: Literature
Education Abroad
There are many opportunities to study abroad while earning your English degree, including three summer programs led by department faculty
WHAT: This summer CSU faculty-led program takes students to Livingstone, Zambia to assist Zambians in educational settings (schools, after school programs, adult literacy programs, physical education programs), community health areas (clinics, home-based care, health education programs), gender equality programs, and sustainable building. Coursework focuses on ethics, motivations, and sustainability of development work.
WHEN: May 13 - June 1, 2024 (Program participants will depart Denver on a group flight on May 11.)
- NOTE: Pre-Course prepatory meetings will take place during the spring term on the CSU Campus and/or online.
WHERE: Described by many as "the Real Africa", Zambia is a country of wide open spaces rich in wildlife, with magnificent forests, wild rivers and wetlands - studded with lakes and impressive waterfalls. Livingstone is historically an English speaking community. Livingstone is also the gateway to Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe to the South. Zambia's National Parks, such as the Kafue, have a staggering amount of wildlife and unparalleled game viewing opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to work on community driven projects and enjoy the natural beauty of all that Zambia has to offer.
PROGRAM LEADER: Ashley Davies, Senior Instructor, Department of English, and Jennifer Reinke, Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University.
LEARN MORE / APPLY
Semester-Long Options & Funding
CSU in Todos Santos, Mexico
Studying at CSU Todos Santos is unlike any other study abroad experience. The outdoor ecosystems become your classroom, the community members your teachers. Courses are taught as part of existing CSU curriculum, creating a rare international experience that allows students to stay on track for graduation. You can join a semester, summer, or winter break program.
Semester at Sea
Semester at Sea is a multiple country study abroad program open to students of all majors emphasizing comparative academic examination, hands-on field experiences, and meaningful engagement in the global community.
Students live, take coursework, and travel aboard the MV World Odyssey ship as a part of a unique shipboard community comprised of students, faculty, staff, lifelong learners, and ship crew for 100+ days, exploring at least 10 countries and 4 continents.
Education Abroad Scholarships
Office of International Programs Scholarships
The Office of International Programs (OIP) offers several additional need-based and merit-based scholarship opportunities. Awards range from $250 to $2,500.
Clubs and Organizations
Inklings: The English Social Club
Meet and hang out with your English Department peers and get to know others across the Fort Collins English community. Our rotating schedule of activities will give you a chance to share your ideas and your work with a group that can relate.
When: Tuesdays @ 7pm in Eddy 100
Community Literacy Center
The primary mission of the Community Literacy Center is to create and facilitate literacy opportunities that invite community members—particularly people experiencing confinement or in recovery—to engage in innovative and supportive writing spaces and to value the writing and art that emerges through conversation and circulation.
We share the Community Literacy Journal’s definition of community literacy as “the domain for literacy that exists outside of mainstream educational and work institutions.” We aim to make space for diverse stories and to listen actively as a way to promote community action and social change.
Dead Poets Society
Calling all poets! Join your classmates and share your love for all things poetry at a meeting with the Dead Poets Society. This student-run club hosts weekly discussions centered on a particular poetic theme. In addition, two workshops are offered per semester for students to comment and discuss their own writing with their peers.
When: Mondays @ 7pm in Eddy 100
Rekindle the Classics
Rekindle your love of classic literature with the CSU Department of English and Poudre Libraries Rekindle the Classics. Join graduate students and faculty in lively and informative discussions of literature favorites.
Greyrock Review
The Greyrock Review is an undergraduate literary journal created and published by a group of undergraduate students during a year-long internship. The content of The Greyrock Review comes from submissions from students of all majors who seek to show off their talents and become published writers and artists.
The goal is to support and promote the literary arts, while learning the intricacies of printing, promoting and publishing a high-quality literary journal.
Scholarships
Funding Opportunites
You can find up-to-date English scholarship information on the College of Liberal Arts Scholarship Page. The English department offers a variety of scholarships to qualified English majors, and the College of Liberal Arts and the University offer other opportunities as well. You can also apply for scholarships awarded by the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Office, so long as you meet the criteria.
The CSU Scholarship Application (CSUSA) is available from October 1 until March 1 at 11 p.m. (MST). Apply at colostate.academicworks.com or access the application through RAMWeb under “Financial Aid.”
Complete the General Application. Be sure to review and complete any Recommended Opportunities for which you wish to apply.
After you fill out the CSUSA, we strongly encourage you to fill out the College of Liberal Arts Scholarship Application to be considered for even more department-specific scholarships.
To be considered for need-based scholarships you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) By March 1. Learn about this process through the Office of Financial Aid’s website.
How Do I Apply?
All the information you need for the scholarship application process is outlined by the College of Liberal Arts.