Literature & Language
If you’re passionate about the English language, there are many degree options to consider at Bethel University and several opportunities to participate in a variety of student-produced media.
The Department of Literature and Language Studies at Bethel encourages students to explore interests and career opportunities in:
literature
writing
journalism
social media
media production
communication
Spanish
public relations
teaching English
Pick Your Major
Career Possibilities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of media and communication occupations is projected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026. This will result in about 43,200 new jobs as there is a growing demand for media and communications occupations. This is due to the need to create, edit, translate, and disseminate information through a variety of different platforms.*
* BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK, EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS, ON THE INTERNET AT https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/home.htm
Bethel’s bachelor of Communication degree major is a 40-hour requirement that expands rhetorical competence and offers high amounts of hands-on experience. Students have opportunities to explore interpersonal and intercultural communication, written, visual and oral communication, media production, social media and public relations.
Flexible Skill Sets
Communication majors develop a balanced portfolio that enables them to pursue careers in journalism, public relations, broadcasting, media communication and other fields that prioritize communicative excellence.
Bethel’s bachelor of English and Writing degree major is a 36-hour immersion in reading and writing great literature. Highly interactive classes with fellow book lovers and writers; small, seminar-style workshops; and opportunities to engage in the broader literary community through live theater, visiting authors or the Festival of Faith and Writing are hallmarks of this program.
Diverse Opportunities
Recent graduates have careers in marketing, business, teaching, editing, social media, ministry, writing and an array of roles that value creative thinking and clear oral and written communication skills.
English Education is a popular major. In addition to the 36 hours required of all English majors, education majors complete a core of classes preparing them to earn an Indiana State Teachers license. In the past five years, every English Education graduate has had a full-time job teaching English by the Fall following their Spring graduation from Bethel, in secondary and primary education.
Global Careers
Bethel English Education degree graduates teach locally, in the region, and even around the world, from inner city South Bend to rural Topeka (Indiana) to South Korea.
TESOL degree (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a 15-hour minor. TESOL students take a core of courses in applied linguistics, teaching methods, and intercultural communication and language acquisition before completing a semester-long teaching practicum.
Intercultural Experiences
Designed for students desiring to interact with other cultures and teach English as a second language to non-native speakers.
The area of Humanities (30 credit hours) is a flexible, interdisciplinary major in history, philosophy, literature, and languages made up almost entirely of electives, culminating in a capstone senior project. This is a terrific double major. Capstone projects range from externally presented and published research papers on topics in the humanities, to full length memoirs and novellas, to films.
Extensive Options
Humanities major graduates have pursued graduate and seminary studies, medical school, work in marketing and publishing, and teaching overseas.
4-Year Plan
Find out exactly what you can expect in our program. Each major and minor listing has a link to the plan you'll follow to earn your degree.
Majors & Minors: 4-Year Plans
Community Stories
![Amy Baddley '14]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1573493014/bethelcollegeedu/msfka1zrgcotcuizzpz6/AmyBaddley-375x500.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1573493014/bethelcollegeedu/msfka1zrgcotcuizzpz6/AmyBaddley-375x500.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1573493014/bethelcollegeedu/msfka1zrgcotcuizzpz6/AmyBaddley-375x500.jpg","width":781}])
![Elizabeth McLaughlin, Ph.D.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1556311746/bethelcollegeedu/ozpcaqzwebxtyplnnbug/ElizabethMcLaughlin2_380x500.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1556311746/bethelcollegeedu/ozpcaqzwebxtyplnnbug/ElizabethMcLaughlin2_380x500.jpg","width":380}])
![Allison Coffeen '19]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1556311745/bethelcollegeedu/gvkvvayyfcwauftvb5lz/AllisonCoffeen_380x500.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1556311745/bethelcollegeedu/gvkvvayyfcwauftvb5lz/AllisonCoffeen_380x500.jpg","width":380}])
Student Media Center
The Literature and Language Department provides hands-on opportunities through a variety of student media options that reinforce one of our core values: we are story-makers.
The Crossings – Bethel’s literary magazine publishes student creative writing online and releases a print edition every semester. Earn credit writing, editing, managing, and publishing creative writing. Whether you choose to join the staff, any student is welcome to submit creative work to be considered for publication.
The Beacon – Interested in journalism? Bethel’s student newspaper publishes campus news online and in print. Earn credit honing skills in reporting, graphic design, photography, social media, or editing.
Bethel Primetime – Every spring semester, students earn credit while producing a video news show to sharpen their storytelling, video-editing, and presentation skills.
The Flow – A collective of student-created podcasts designed to capture the “flow” of stories at Bethel in the exciting medium of podcasting. Earn credit learning to podcast.
Faculty and Staff
Robby Prenkert
Titles:
Dean of Humanities & Social Science, Associate Professor of English & Humanities
Degrees:
D.Litt.
M.A.
B.A.
M.A.
B.A.
Email:
