Build a Versatile Degree from Your Love of Language

You know that studying English is more than just memorizing Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Baldwin. You love to dissect film adaptations of Austen and Tolkien. You have more books than shelf space, and wherever you go, books go with you.

In other words, you’re ready to major in English at Belhaven University. It’s where you encounter influential works of literature, interpret them within their own contexts, and evaluate them in light of biblical truth.

At Belhaven, we acknowledge that language has meaning. It’s your new and inspiring haven. Let’s get started.

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Why You'll Love Studying English at Belhaven

Interdisciplinary Learning

Your coursework interweaves literature with biblical truth, history, philosophy, the arts, classical education, and more.

Amazing Mentors

Your professors are experienced and engaging teachers who share your passions.

Wide-Ranging Careers

Majoring in English earns you one of the most versatile degrees sought after by employers.

Christian Worldview

You are challenged to think critically and analytically about who God is — and who you are — as we equip you to fulfill your calling to glorify God and be a blessing to the world.

13:1 Students to Faculty

Our instructors know and care about you.

Specialized Instruction

Obtain the critical analysis and research-writing skills that employers seek.

Belhaven Advantage

Talk to your advisor about Belhaven’s free tuition promise when you declare a double major

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Why Trust Belhaven With Your Future?

Our quality is recognized by SACSCOC, which grants our institutional accreditation and authority to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral-level degrees. Plus, we’re consistently recognized by organizations like U.S. News & World Report for our academic excellence, commitment to community service, expert faculty, and overall value.

Importance of Accreditation

What Can You Do With an English Degree?

English is among the most versatile degrees you can have to ensure employability in many fields in the years ahead. Your skills show potential employers that you have the impeccable writing abilities and critical thinking expertise necessary for nearly any position.

  • Writing and editing
  • Teaching at elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels
  • Journalism and publishing
  • Technical writing
  • Grant writing
  • Business communications and public relations
  • Graduate studies, law school or seminary

A Degree in English Will Teach You...

  • Mastery of verbal expression and writing skills across the curriculum and throughout your post-collegiate career.
  • Specialized skills in critical and research writing; knowledge of major authors, literary history, specific genres, critical approaches, and ideological content.
  • Understanding how the content of what we read is related to and evaluated against biblical truth and values.

What Are Belhaven Grads Doing Now?

Belhaven has produced renowned authors, editors, teachers, lawyers, counselors, business leaders and public administrators, just to name a few.

Our English graduates are regularly recruited into top graduate programs across the country — with exceptionally high admission rates, prestigious fellowships and assistantships, and full-time job placement.

New! Elizabeth Spencer Writing Awards

Four new scholarships will be awarded to English and Creative Writing students in honor of renowned writer and alum Elizabeth Spencer ’41. The awards — with categories in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and scholarly essay — encourage students in creative writing and scholarly engagement with Spencer’s influential and award-winning literary works.

Choose Your Calling

The Traditional Degree Path

The Bachelor of Arts in English program at Belhaven includes specialized instruction in critical and research writing. You will take deep dives into influential works, including ancient texts, centuries of fiction, and contemporary essays.

Your degree will reflect a thorough understanding of literary history, specific genres, critical approaches, and ideological content.

Everything you learn and create is viewed through the lens of a biblical worldview — in an environment that looks to scripture for standards of truth and worth.

Specialized Communications for Demanding Fields

The Applied English major combines the liberal arts with a business education. While the program remains true to the objectives and values of Belhaven’s traditional B.A. in English program, this major specifically prepares you for a successful career as a writer or communicator in fields like publishing, law, education, government, community advocacy, the non-profit sector, corporate communications, finance, and the arts.

Your resume and portfolio will show your articulate and insightful writing skills for emerging media, and the analytic and problem-solving experience to navigate our ever-evolving cultural and technological changes.

Choose Your Calling

The Traditional Degree Path

The Bachelor of Arts in English program at Belhaven includes specialized instruction in critical and research writing. You will take deep dives into influential works, including ancient texts, centuries of fiction, and contemporary essays.

Your degree will reflect a thorough understanding of literary history, specific genres, critical approaches, and ideological content.

Everything you learn and create is viewed through the lens of a biblical worldview — in an environment that looks to scripture for standards of truth and worth.

Specialized Communications for Demanding Fields

The Applied English major combines the liberal arts with a business education. While the program remains true to the objectives and values of Belhaven’s traditional B.A. in English program, this major specifically prepares you for a successful career as a writer or communicator in fields like publishing, law, education, government, community advocacy, the non-profit sector, corporate communications, finance, and the arts.

Your resume and portfolio will show your articulate and insightful writing skills for emerging media, and the analytic and problem-solving experience to navigate our ever-evolving cultural and technological changes.

What You'll Study

Make the Most of Your English Major

English majors and minors at Belhaven University have been recruited for internships in publishing (including newspaper journalism and writing and editing for magazines), theatre, managerial training programs, office management programs, writing and editing, and ESL (English as a Second Language) work for profit and non-profit organizations.

The Brogue is Belhaven’s literary magazine devoted to creative and critical writing. It’s published online once a year under the sponsorship of the Creative Writing Department. Send in your short stories, your vignettes, your poetry, your essays. We want to read it all!

This student organization brings together Belhaven students who share love for literature and language. It’s all about enrichment outside the classroom; fostering fellowship among students; exploring career opportunities; and improving our prospects for serving Christ in the world.

Belhaven is home to the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta international honor society for English majors. Together with chapters across the country, this group

  • Confers distinction for high achievement in English language and literature; promotes interest in literature on the Belhaven campus;
  • Fosters the discipline of English in all its aspects, including creative writing and critical writing
  • Seeks to clarify the implications of biblical truth for its discipline.

Contact Us

Office of Admission

Phone: 601-968-5940

Mailing Address:
1500 Peachtree Street, Box 153
Jackson, MS 39202

For campus visit:
Jimmy Hood Welcome Center
855 Riverside Drive
Jackson, MS 39202

Fax: 601-300-2932

admission@belhaven.edu

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Verse of the Year

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Philippians 2:13