The Bachelor and Master of Arts in English degree programs at the University of South Alabama prepare students for jobs in professional settings including teaching, writing, and business areas. English majors and minors are taught by talented faculty and field experts in creative writing, literature, and professional writing in the College of Arts and Sciences. English undergraduate student Kelsi Fails describes her passion for writing poetry and studying literature at USA.
The English undergraduate program allows students to explore the study of literature and interpretation of novels, stories, poems and essays through critical approaches and writing, build the skills to craft meaningful creative work, and develop skills in professional writing and editing. The English master's program offers students in the creative writing and literature concentrations advanced study and preparation for careers in English as well as further graduate study. Through classes, as well as research opportunities and internships, students build skills in critical reading and writing, research, and instruction that support a range of career fields in business and education.
Upcoming Events
IMC Book Fair - Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 9am to 4pm
Weather permitting, the Independent Music Collective (IMC) will be holding its first book fair of the semester in the Humanities Courtyard at USA from 9am to 4pm on Wednesday, August 27th. Come browse a wide selection of used books (on all topics), music in a variety of formats, and a bunch of random wall art. Donations support the IMC Concert Series!
Please note: weather permitting, this event will be held in the Humanities Courtyard.
Gaylord Brewer - Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 5:00pm
A Professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University, Gaylord Brewer is the author of fifteen books of poetry, fiction, criticism, and cookery, including Country of Ghost (Red Hen, 2015) and The Poet’s Guide to Food, Drink, & Desire (Stephen F. Austin, 2015). His poems have appeared in Best American Poetry and The Bedford Introduction to Literature. His many international residencies include Hawthornden Castle (Scotland) and the Global Arts Village (India), and he has taught in Russia, Kenya, England, and the Czech Republic. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Brewer was awarded a Tennessee Arts Commission Fellowship in 2009.
Please note: this free event will be held in the Student Center Terrace Room with a book signing and reception to follow. PHOTO: Colin Usher.
Margaret Renkl - Wednesday, November 13, 2025 - 5:30pm
Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss has been chosen as University of South Alabama’s Common Read / Common World selection. This collection of essays by Margaret Renkl explores family, identity and our relationship to the natural environment. Her short chapters offer powerful reflections on her upbringing in Alabama, touching on both home and faith and tracing a tender and honest portrait of her complicated parents and of the bittersweet moments that accompany a child’s transition to caregiver. Some of her other titles include The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year and Graceland, At Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache From the American South. Renkl is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, where her essays appear each Monday. A graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Carolina, she lives in Nashville.
Please note: this free event is co-sponsored by USA Common Read / Common World and will be held in the Student Center Balloom with a book signing and reception to follow. PHOTO: William DeShazer.
Two One-Year-Only Instructor Positions
The University of South Alabama's Department of English invites applications for two (2) non- tenure track (9-month, one-year-only) full-time Instructor positions, starting on August 15, 2025. The two Instructors hired will teach primarily freshman composition courses. Departmental, college, university, and/or community service also expected.
Required: An MA in English or closely related field with a minimum of 18 graduate hours in English and evidence of strong commitment to teaching college freshmen and sophomores.
To apply, send by email the following: vita, cover letter, one-page teaching statement, and names of three references to Dr. Patrick Shaw, Search Committee Chair, c/o Ms. Shawn Ash.
Applicants invited for a campus interview will arrange to have official graduate and undergraduate transcripts sent directly by the Registrars of all colleges and universities from which a degree was received to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Patrick Shaw, Department of English, HUMB 240, 5991 USA Dr N, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002. Official electronic transcripts may also be emailed to Dr. Patrick Shaw.
Review of applications will begin May 27, 2025, and continue until the positions are filled.
Part-Time Teaching
The English Department reviews applications on a continuing basis for part-time instructors, mainly to teach composition. Literature surveys and technical writing sections are available occasionally for those who are qualified in those areas.
Minimum Requirement: M.A. in English.
Please send your vita, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references and transcripts via email to Dr. Patrick Shaw.
The University of South Alabama is an EO/AA employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected basis in admission policies and practices, educational programs, activities, or employment practices.
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