an image of a student thinking  

English & Foreign Languages

The Department of English and Foreign Languages at Fort Valley State University is meeting change head on as we prepare students for various careers by providing them with skills and degrees we describe as their passport to success.
--Dr. Joyce Jenkins, Head of English and Foreign Languages

The Department of English and Foreign Languages offers a number of majors and minors to meet your intellectual and vocational needs. We offer a traditional Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English. Students pursuing this B.A. degree track in English may choose from either the literature track or the technical and professional writing track. Most courses for the writing track are available online. Students in these tracks would be able to pursue a number of exciting future possibilities ranging from graduate school, to teaching, to law or medical school, the publishing field, journalism, or professional writing. An English degree can also be your ticket into nearly any aspect of the rapidly growing field of either traditional or electronic communication. Additionally, graduates are prepared to teach in public schools, and for careers in government, business, and industry.

The Department also offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in secondary education with a major in French. This degree would prepare a student to either teach, go on to graduate school, or enter into any career where being a poly-linguist is essential.

Minors in Spanish and English are also available. A minor in Rhetoric is currently in the works. A minor is an important tool for an undergraduate student as it serves to broaden your body of working knowledge as you enter the work force and it can also sharpen your focus of study if you are preparing for graduate school. For instance, a Business major who minors in English makes themselves more marketable simply because, assuming they received good grades in their classes, it shows a potential employer that this individual has trained to become a better communicator. It can also sharpen one’s focus in that if you are a history major who wishes to spend their research time studying the ancient Greeks; then being an English minor might give you that chance to bone up on one’s understanding of Homer and Hesiod.

In conjunction with other programs, the department also offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Creative Arts, Spanish, International Studies, African World Studies and Environmental Science.

The department also provides “Core courses,” these are required courses which are taken by students in all other academic units. Courses in writing, literature, philosophy, French, Spanish, and Japanese assist students in meeting their general education outcomes as required by the University and the University System of Georgia. The English and Foreign Languages curricula are designed to provide the communication, critical thinking, cultural, creative, service and philosophical components of traditional liberal arts.

Courses offered by the department are designated as ENGL, FREN, JAPN, SPAN, SEDL, GRMN, or PHIL.

Individual degree requirements are outlined in the FVSU catalog which is available online. Or, contact us and we will be happy to send you more information. Click the links below for PDF versions of the individual degree requirements for the Majors and Minors offered by the Department.

  • The Department of English & Foreign Languages

    • prepares students for graduate study in English or French and other allied fields such as law;
    • prepares students to teach French in the secondary schools; and
    • offers general education courses designed to guide the student toward receiving and transmitting ideas accurately and effectively, interpreting and appreciating literary expression, and understanding the nature of language and its importance in intellectual growth

    Specifically, the department offers these degrees:

    • Bachelor of Arts in English (with major
      options of a literature track and professional writing track; the writing track is also fully online)
    • Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Spanish Concentration
    • Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a major in French
    • Minors in Spanish and English are also available
  • Entrance to the first course in English, ENGL 1101, Composition, is determined by achievement of an acceptable score on a placement test. To proceed from one Core Curriculum class in English to the next, a student must earn a grade of "C" or better in each class. To be admitted to courses on the 3000 and 4000 levels, the English major must meet the following criteria:

    1. Have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher
    2. Have completed all course work required to remedy deficiencies noted as a result of the Sophomore Assessment Project, ENGL 2153. Majors must earn a “C” or better in all English courses.
    3. Majors are required to present a research or project proposal which will be critiqued by faculty the semester or session prior to taking the senior capstone course (ENGL 4183 or 4193).
    4. English majors should take ENGL 1001, English Orientation, in addition to FVSU 0100, Orientation to the University.
    5. At least one internship or practicum is required.
    6. Additionally, majors are expected to participate in one or more of the following departmental student organizations:
      • Creative Writing Club
      • Foreign Language Club
      • English Club,
      • Alpha Mu Gamma (foreign language honor society)
      • Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society

      All Fort Valley State University students are welcome to participate in these organizations.

    Degree Outlines

    Below please find PDFs of the English Major Balance Sheets, which include course outlines and more details about the majors.

    The Technical and Professional Writing program is available as a fully online program. For more information, go to online.fvsu.edu or call: (478) 825-6338.

  • If you have any additional questions or would like more information, feel free to contact us using the information below:

    Dr. Berlethia J. Pitts
    Department Head
    ASTP of English and Academic Advisor
    Department of English and Foreign Languages
    (478) 825-6392
    (478) 825-6110
    E-mail: pittsb@fvsu.edu

    Felecia Sharpe
    Administrative Assistant
    248 HMB
    478.825.6392
    sharpef@fvsu.edu

    Dorothy Hardman
    Director, W.I.N. Lab
    124 HMB
    478.825.6682
    hardmand@fvsu.edu

    Dr. B. Keith Murphy
    Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Location:
    105 CTM
    478.825.6454/6472
    murphyk@fvsu.edu

  • Beaty, Carmen
    237 HMB
    478.825.6648
    beatyc@fvsu.edu

    Beaty, Stephen
    237 HMB
    478.825.6648

    Bumpus, James
    143 HMB
    478.825.6973
    jbumpusm@aol.com

    Demenchonok, Edward
    131 HMB
    478.825.6689
    demenche@fvsu.edu

    Dubriel, Victoria
    132 HMB
    478.825.6678
    dubrielv@fvsu.edu

    Gafford-Williams, Tia
    012 HMB
    6209
    williamst@fvsu.edu

    Dorothy Hardman
    124 HMB
    478.825.6682
    hardmand@fvsu.edu

    Harnesberger, Jill
    141 HMB
    478.825.6691
    harnesbergerj@fvsu.edu

    Jackson, Christopher
    248 HMB
    478.825.6392
    jacksonc@fvsu.edu

    Keita, Mamadou
    238 HMB
    478.825.6294
    mkeita@bellsouth.net

    Larkin, Jerrilyn
    238 HMB
    478.825.6294
    larkinj@fvsu.edu

    Matthews, Christina
    149 HMB
    478.825.6674
    matthewsc01@fvsu.edu

    Mauzerall, Jorgette
    227 HMB
    478.825.6684

    Miletti, Louis
    237 HMB
    478.825.6648
    milettil@fvsu.edu

    Milliman, Craig
    150 HMB
    478.825.6677
    craigart14@hotmail.com
    millimanc@fvsu.edu

    Moore-Williamson, Sherry L.
    012 HMB
    478.825.6209
    williamson@fvsu.edu

    Morton, Eric
    153 HMB
    478.825.6686
    mortone@fvsu.edu

    Muir, Clive
    151 HMB
    478.825.6681
    muirc@fvsu.edu

    Oshier, Erica
    013 HMB
    478.825.6680
    oshiere@fvsu.edu

    Pitts, Berlitha
    232 HMB
    478.825.6653
    pittsb@fvsu.edu

    Rodgers, Michael
    153 HMB
    478.825.6686

    Simmons, Washella T.
    147 HMB
    478.825.1771
    simmonsw@fvsu.edu

    Samples, Caroline
    013 HMB
    478.825.6680
    lewisc@fvsu.edu

    Soliz, Christine
    014 HMB
    478.827.3125
    solizc@fvsu.edu

    Strange, Annis
    118 Peabody
    strangea01@fvsu.edu

    Taylor-Mwenze, Erikalynn
    149 HMB
    478.825.6674
    focused_el@yahoo.com

    Villegas, Raymond
    143 HMB
    478.825.6973
    rrveng@gmail.com

    Waldrep, Douglas
    140 HMB
    478.825.6685
    waldrepd@fvsu.edu

    Walker, Jeraldine
    152 HMB
    478.825.6690
    walkerj@fvsu.edu

    Wang, Zhigang
    225 HMB
    478.825.6692
    wangz@fvsu.edu

    Williams, Ella
    012 HMB
    478.827.3125
    williamse012@fvsu.edu

  • In addition to the standard courses offered by most English and Foreign Language Departments; we have a few on the schedule which should thrill majors and may just be of great interest as electives to students from other majors. Among those to watch for:

    • ENGL 2073 On Line Communication – From the history of the ‘net to how to build your own web suites, bots and more. This course is designed to teach you how to be the best net-communicator you can be.
    • ENGL 2163 Studies in Literature – In this course, the topic varies ranging from Comic Books to The Image of The African American in Literature. Depending upon the topic, this can be a course of wide-ranging appeal.
    • ENGL 4033 (or 4043 or 4053) Studies in African-American Literature – Three different courses, ranging from an introduction in 4033, to prose in 4043 and drama and poetry in 4053, these courses give you the opportunity to explore the development, social insights, cultural values, and importance of this genre of literature. Take the time to learn about your heritage.
    • ENGL 3600 Symbology – This course is designed to teach you how to begin to be able to decipher the world of symbols which exist all around you. From the symbols huge corporations use to try to change our behavior, to the symbols that significant other uses to try to subtly change our behavior, we live in a sea of symbols. This course will look at what symbols are, their history, how they are used against us, how to decipher them, and how to use them in many different vocations.

    Many of our courses are offered online. From our core courses to much of the Technical Writing B.A. degree, if you desire, you can take these courses from the comfort of your own living room (assuming that you have a computer in you living room, of course). For more information, contact Ms. Sharpe at 825-6392.

  • In addition to a dynamic curriculum which includes the opportunity to study overseas, practice, and internships, our students have the opportunity to round out their academic lives through participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

    • The English Club
    • The Creative Writing Club
    • The Language Club
    • Alpha Mu Gamma (foreign language honor society)
    • The Creative Writing Club
    • Student publications such as “The Englishear”

  • Located in room 124 of the Bond Building, the WIN lab provides tutors, computers, network support, software, and hands-on assistance all designed to assist Fort Valley State University students with the development of their critical communication skills. The WIN lab offers peer-tutoring for composition, literature, and language classes. The lab is also open to assist the entire student body with composition and communication needs.

 
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, GA 31030 • 478-825-6211
 
Search FVSU   •   Map   •   Accreditation • EEO/AA • Title IX   •   Ethics Hotline   •   Privacy Statement   •   OIRPE