Writing majors either work in an internship in writing or they undertake an individual writing project of substance. Teaching majors have their internship doing school teaching. All varieties of majors have a seminar experience in which they work on interrelated research projects relevant to either professional or advanced academic work. Student Publications exist independent of the English Department, though their editors and staff work with advisors who do just that, advise the students who develop the publications. Academic credit can be granted for approved work done for student publications.
All programs require work in certain courses with optional classes.
The Concentration in Literature and the Writing Major both gives students opportunity to elect courses outside of the department. Beyond the introductory and survey levels, individual students can follow their interests within the constrains of our curriculum and schedule. An increasing interest in the department is the study of linguistics and the English language. Recently several students have developed an independent major in linguistics, combining their work at Geneva with summer linguistics study at other institutions with whom we have developed working relationships. The presence of international students in our classes and tutorials affords special opportunities in this area of linguistics and helps support our TESL minor.