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
Spring Series on Nature and Sustainability: David George Haskell - Thursday, April
9, 2026 - 4:00pm
David George Haskell is a British and American biologist and writer. He is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist in General Nonfiction. In addition to scientific papers, he has written essays, poems, op-ends, and the books The Forest Unseen (Viking Press, Penguin Random House, 2012), The Songs of Trees (Viking Press, Penguin Random House 2017), Thirteen Ways to Smell a Tree (Hachette 2021), and Sounds Wild and Broken (Viking Press, Penguin Random House 2022). In 2026, Viking Press will publish How Flowers Made our World. In 2025, he was appointed Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was professor at The University of the South from 1995 to 2025, serving as Chair of Biology (2004-2009) and Director of Environmental Arts and Humanities (2024-2025), and was named William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies in 2021. In 2020-2021, he was Professor Adjunct in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at The University of Colorado, Boulder.
Please note: this free event will be held in the Student Center Terrace Room.
Oracle Launch Party - Friday, April 24, 2026 - 5:30pm
Oracle Fine Arts Review, the university’s student-run literary magazine, will be hosting a launch event for its 24th edition on April 24 from 5:30-7:00pm in the Student Center Terrace Room. The event will feature the free distribution of the new issue alongside readings from contributors. The current Editor in Chief, graduate student Hannah Rhodes, will also present the Rebecca Davis-Brown Award for Excellence in Poetry and announce the Editor in Chief for next year’s issue. Join us after the event for a reception with food and drink generously provided by the Stokes Center for Creative Writing.
Please note: this free event will be held in the Student Center Terrace Room.
IMC Book Fair - Wednesday, August 26, 2026 - 9:00am to 4:00pm
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 26th. 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.
Assistant or Associate Professor, Rhetoric and Composition
The English Department at the University of South Alabama invites applications for a full-time (9-month), tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of English with a specialization in Rhetoric and Composition, starting August 15, 2026.
Requirements: Ph.D. in English or closely related field with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition. Demonstrable commitment to teaching rhetoric and writing, especially writing in the professions (e.g., digital media, technical writing, editing, grant writing, rhetorics of medicine or science). ABDs will be considered for the Assistant Professor rank, but an earned doctoral degree is required prior to August 15, 2026. Applicants for appointment at the Associate Professor rank will have a strong record of peer-reviewed publications, teaching excellence, and commitment to service.
Desirable: Workplace experience in the production of technical or professional writing. Research or teaching experience involving GenAI, proposals, or professional-writing internships.
To apply, email vita, cover letter, and the contact information for three professional references to Dr. Larry Beason, Chair, Search Committee, c/o Shawn Ash (english@southalabama.edu). Official transcripts and letters of recommendation will only be requested for candidates who are invited for an on-campus interview.
If you have questions about the search, please email Dr. Larry Beason directly at lbeason@southalabama.edu.
Review of applications will begin November 10, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.
The Department, University, and Community
A public research university with more than 14,000 students and 115 academic programs, the University of South Alabama is centrally located within America’s Gulf Coast, a rapidly growing region of rich history, fine arts, recreation, and economic opportunity. The Department of English is one of the largest departments at the University, with faculty covering a range of specialties including African American Studies; American, British and world literatures; creative writing; and rhetoric and composition. We administer the university's first-year composition program and are committed to the teaching of writing at all levels.
Options for undergraduate majors include a concentration in professional writing and editing, with minors in English, creative writing, and professional writing. Our MA program offers courses in literature, rhetoric, professional writing, composition studies, and creative writing, with concentrations in literature and creative writing. The Department of English houses the Stokes Center for Creative Writing, and the department routinely sponsors readings, lectures, forums, and community projects, fostering a vibrant intellectual and creative community at USA.
The University of South Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression), religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis.
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 Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression), religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis.