{"id":2900,"date":"2023-04-25T13:29:44","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T17:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/ugrad\/?page_id=2900"},"modified":"2025-07-14T13:37:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T17:37:18","slug":"english-interdisciplinary-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/ugrad\/sas\/programs\/english-interdisciplinary-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"English & Interdisciplinary Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00c7i\u011fdem \u00dcsekes, Ph.D., Department Chair<\/em><\/strong>
\nusekesc@wcsu.edu<\/a>
\nWhite Hall 325C, Midtown campus
\n(203) 837-3294
\n(203) 837-8905 (fax)<\/p>\n

Carol O’Conno<\/strong>r<\/strong>, Department Secretary<\/strong><\/em>
\noconnorc@wcsu.edu<\/a>
\nWarner Hall 304, Midtown campus
\n(203) 837-8470
\n(203) 837-8905 (fax)<\/p>\n

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Faculty<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n
\u00c7. \u00dcsekes, Chair<\/td>\nH. Levy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D.L. Stephenson<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adjunct Faculty<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n
J. Carignan<\/td>\nH. El Khalfi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
J. Klyczek<\/td>\nM. Lerz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
J. Moore<\/td>\nD. Troetti<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overview<\/u><\/p>\n

English courses prepare students for success in a wide variety of careers. In literature, authors examine the challenges of human existence, and readers participate by discussing and writing about what makes texts and their ideas important and pertinent to new generations. We consider the English degree to be the \u201cdegree for life\u201d because English courses develop three skills needed in any field: the ability to read analytically, the ability to think critically, and the ability to write clearly. These skills are developed by close readings of literary texts and by exploring their personal and historical contexts. The English degree prepares students to enter fields where knowledge of texts, critical thinking, and written and oral communication are vital.<\/p>\n

Humanistic studies courses are interdisciplinary courses that emphasize, encourage, and support creative and critical thinking in addressing the complex questions, problems, and challenges of an interconnected world. Every Humanistic studies course focuses on topics, subjects, and real-world problems that are inherently interdisciplinary. These courses explore subjects, topics, and real-world problems from the perspective of at least three integrated disciplines, drawing from the arts, the humanities, the sciences, the social sciences, and professional studies. Students are expected to not only gain knowledge and skills from a variety of integrated disciplines, but they are also expected to learn to think from cross-disciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary perspectives, which are all germane to interdisciplinarity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mission<\/u><\/p>\n

The Department of English and Interdisciplinary Studies seeks to promote the university\u2019s mission by providing students with a high-quality education in English language and literature and in the theories, methods, and real-world applications of interdisciplinary studies. We are committed to developing students\u2019 powers of critical thinking, analysis, reading, and writing. We believe students who complete any of the department\u2019s programs will be prepared to compete vigorously in the global marketplace and to pursue a variety of career paths or to seek further education.<\/p>\n

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Objectives<\/u><\/p>\n

To accomplish this mission, the Department of English and Interdisciplinary Studies:<\/p>\n