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
Jennifer Croft - Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 5:00pm
Associate Professor of English at the University of Tulsa, Jennifer Croft won a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship for her novel The Extinction of Irena Rey, the 2020 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing for her illustrated memoir Homesick and the 2018 International Booker Prize for her translation from Polish of Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk's Flights. She is also the translator of Federico Falco's A Perfect Cemetery, Romina Paula's August, Pedro Mairal's The Woman from Uruguay, and Olga Tokarczuk's The Books of Jacob (a finalist for the Kirkus Prize). In 2023, she received an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature.
Please note: this free event will be held in the Student Center Terrace Room with
a book signing and reception to follow. PHOTO: Kelly Kurt Brown.
Assistant Professor of Creative Writing
The University of South Alabama English Department invites applications for a full-time (9-month), tenure-track Assistant Professor of English, specializing in creative writing, starting August 15, 2025. Requirements: Ph.D. (preferred) or M.F.A. in Creative Writing, with expertise in teaching creative writing and a strong record of publication in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, screen/playwriting, and/or some combination of the above. Additionally, we seek candidates whose research, teaching, and service work have prepared them to provide effective instruction and advising to a diverse population of graduate and undergraduate students.
To apply, send by email the following: vita, cover letter, and names of three references to Dr. Becky McLaughlin, Chair, Search Committee, c/o Shawn Ash (english@southalabama.edu).
Position
The successful candidate will teach primarily creative writing courses in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and/or screen/playwriting, with occasional courses in composition, and actively publish in appropriate fields. The candidate will also be expected to participate in the English department and the work of the creative writing program by assisting with Oracle magazine, the Stokes Center for Creative Writing, thesis committees, and other university-related service work.
The Department, University, and Community
The English Department at the University of South Alabama has long been identified with outstanding creative writing faculty members and alumni. Past or present faculty members have received many honors, including an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship, the National Book Award, the Harper Lee Award, and the Alabama Poet Laureateship. Numerous former students have published novels, poetry collections, and works of creative nonfiction. The department is exceptionally collegial, highly productive in research and creative work, and committed to quality undergraduate and graduate education.
The University of South Alabama is a public research university with more than 14,000 students. The historic Mobile Bay area is home to many successful creative writers and boasts a lively arts scene in which the USA creative writing faculty members have long figured prominently.
The Stokes Center for Creative Writing
The Stokes Center enhances the English Department’s offerings in creative writing by sponsoring readings, lectures, forums, workshops, community projects, and other events that are free and open to the public. It also supports creative writing students through scholarships and awards in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The Stokes Center is committed to fostering a vibrant writers’ community in southern Alabama that showcases local and national authors and provides a meeting place for writers from around the world.
Visiting Writers Series
The University of South Alabama has hosted many distinguished authors and scholars over the years, including Margaret Atwood, Charles Bernstein, Percival Everett, Roxanne Gay, Yuri Herrera, Major Jackson, Elizabeth Kolbert, Hank Lazar, Marjorie Perloff, Marge Piercy, Danez Smith, W. D. Snodgrass, and Edward O. Wilson. Now part of the Stokes Center, the Visiting Writers Series brings emerging and established authors to campus for readings and craft talks throughout the year. All events are free and open to the public.
Review of applications will begin March 17, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. If you have any questions about the search or the process, please contact Search Chair, Dr. Becky McLaughlin.
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.
South's Common Read Offers Food for Thought
Pence Named Mobile Poet Laureate
'Descendant' Nominated for NAACP Image Award