Department of English

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Welcome to the English Department

The Department of English at Sam Houston State University offers courses to help students think critically, explore creativity, conduct effective research, and communicate effectively. A major in English gives you skills to use in the workplace, and it can help you enjoy literature and language throughout your life.

We offer courses in five areas.

  • Literature courses help students understand how written texts convey important ideas, influence culture, and engage readers.
  • Creative writing courses help students to harness their imaginations, express their ideas, and find their artistic voices.
  • Linguistics courses show students how language works and how it develops over time in specific places and cultures.
  • Rhetoric and composition courses examine principles and strategies for effective communication with specific audiences.
  • Technical communication courses examine applications for writing and research in a variety of workplace settings.

Our students learn from faculty who publish actively in their fields and receive awards for their work. Guest speakers and events like the annual National Book Award Festival help students broaden their horizons. Internships give students insight into potential career paths. Our students frequently present their work at the SHSU Undergraduate Research Symposium and other venues.

English department graduates find many fulfilling paths. These are a few recent options that graduates have pursued.

  • Teaching English in secondary schools
  • Writing and editing documentation in various industries
  • Pursuing graduate degrees in English
  • Starting small businesses in writing and editing

  • Dr. Halmari, Excellence in Scholarly & Creative Accomplishments Award; Dr. Strubberg, David Payne Award for Academic Community Engagement; Dr. Tayebi, Excellence in Teaching Award
    English 2023 Excellence Award Winners
    Three english faculty members were presented with Excellence Awards from Sam Houston State University on August 22, 2023. Pictured: left, Dr. Helena Halmari, Excellence in Scholarly & Creative Accomplishments; middle, Dr. Brandon Strubberg, David Payne Award for Academic Community Engagement; right, Dr. Kandi Tayebi, Excellence in Teaching Award.
  • Two students smiling and tinkering with legos; Two students smiling and using IRIS computer lab; Student in IRIS lab working with printer; Welcome to World Usability Day with SHSU Tech Comm poster
    November 2022, SHSU Tech Comm held an event for World Usability Day. Over 40 students attended to learn more about usability, including two recent usability tests conducted at SHSU. Professor Brandon Strubberg discussed his recent eye-tracking study on heads-up displays, and SHSU Honors student Kiara Williams presented her honors thesis work on sound and the reading experience. Students enjoyed snacks and refreshments and then engaged in micro-usability tests in the Iris Technical-Communication Suite with faculty. Thanks to everyone for making this event a success!
  • Dr. Strubberg - Lt. Croft GIS HPD
    Dr. Strubberg’s Intro to Technical Writing - ENG 3330 in collaboration with Lt. Croft of the GIS unit at HPD work on the unit’s operations and marketing materials for presentations, brochures, and flyers. Featured in Today@Sam’s article here: https://www.shsu.edu/today@sam/T@S/article/2020/policepartnership
  • MFA in Creative Writing, Editing, and Publishing Thesis Exhibition 2023; 4/4/2023; Featuring Megan McKinley (Left), Adam Norris (Middle), and William Whitmire (Right)
    On 4/4/2023 the Master of Fine Arts Program hosted their MFA in Creative Writing, Editing, and Publishing Thesis Exhibition 2023 featuring Megan McKinley (Left), Adam Norris (Middle), and William Whitmire (Right).
  • Collage Top right: Brittany Johnson, Deanna Briones. Middle left: Jerin Milam, Deanna Briones. Middle Right: Dr Halmari speaking. Bottom left: Attendee asking questions. Bottom right: Attendee presenting.
    On March 30 through April 1, the Department of English & College of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted the North American Society for the Study of Romanticism Conference in Huntsville, Texas.
  • President White visits Iris Technical Communication Suite
    Left Picture: President White, Dr. Blackburne, and Dr. Strubberg discussing prior and present research projects. Right Picture: President White engaging with Marnie Hageman, an English Master's student, about her position as the Managing Editor of The Measure: A Journal of Undergraduate Research.
  • Two students smiling and holding programs at conference.
    NASSR Conference
    English Department students Ruby Rodriguez (left) and Madisyn Beilowitz (right) working as Conference Ushers at the 2023 North American Society for the Study of Romanticism (NASSR) Conference. Picture by: NKA Photography