Courses in Linguistics, particularly the history of the English language, Modern English grammar, and Pidgins and Creoles, are taught regularly. A number of courses in fiction, poetry, and writing for the professions, as well as courses in the teaching of writing, are also regularly offered. The BA degree in English has always been highly regarded. Students planning to do graduate work and college teaching in some aspect of English are well served by our program. Many students, however, find other uses for their degree in English.
Many students enter the teacher education program after completing their BA in English.
They find that English is important in elementary and secondary education. Other students simply find that the discipline of English has prepared them for other endeavors by training them to think and analyze and coherently present their conclusions, skills highly valued in a wide variety of other fields. A thorough training in writing, language and literature is sound preparation for careers ranging from advertising to editing to government service, the legal profession, and business management. There is a wonderfully dynamic aspect to the UH Hilo English Department that I was not fully aware of until I became a graduate student. But what I find the most rewarding now is the wonderful network of professional support that I receive from my former English professors at UH Hilo.