Resources for Students

Student resources in the Department of English include honors, scholarships and awards, and clubs and activities.

Hands-On Learning Experiences

Grub Street

Grub Street is published annually and includes works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and art. The publication is a dual benefit to students, offering a platform for their literary and artistic works and providing the student staff hands-on experience putting together a literary magazine. Students receive course credit for bringing the magazine to publication each year. Register for ENGL 414 (fall) and/or 415 (spring) to be part of Grub Street.

Grantwriting In Valued Environments (G.I.V.E.) is embedded within TU undergraduate and graduate level curriculum, providing participants the opportunity for real world application while receiving course credit.

Grantwriting In Valued Environments Project

English Honors Thesis

For all upper-division English majors in their junior and senior years, the department offers an alternative experience to the capstone course or the internship: the Honors Thesis. Completing a thesis allows a student to deeply study a topic in which she or he has developed an interest through course work or independent exploration. The thesis experience encourages the development of independent learning skills and often allows students to connect with faculty members across the department and university to discuss commonly held research interests. At the conclusion of the thesis semester, students will present their work in a colloquium at which their faculty advisor and additional readers will discuss the merits of the project. The invited public will be allowed to converse on the project as well. The thesis is generally 30-50 pages in length and results from at least one prior semester of instruction and/or independent study in the student’s chosen topic.

Interested students with an overall GPA of 3.25 and a GPA of 3.5 in the English major should contact the Thesis Coordinator, Dr. Jacob Hovind, , in their junior year. Students who are currently working on Honors Thesis projects may find all necessary forms here.

Scholarships and Awards

By a vote of the English faculty, the outstanding graduate in the department receives the Gerry Buettner Award at Commencement. By departmental vote, the Fil Dowling Award goes to the year’s outstanding English Education major. By selection of the joint English/Women’s Studies committee, the Frank W. Guess Award is given to the year’s outstanding portfolio of student writing. By selection of the English department committee, the Margery W. Harriss “Great Starts” Award is presented to the year’s outstanding portfolio of first-year writing (ENGL 102 or ENGL 190). Lambda Iota Tau is the national literary honor society with a chapter in the department, and the English Club is an informal association of majors, minors and professors who meet to exchange ideas about literature.

Student Groups

Discourse Collective

The Discourse Collective is a student-run club that produces a publication of student research-based writing each year, showcasing the best work students are producing in our English courses. Contact Jonathan Vincent, for more information on how to get involved.

TU Urban Farm

The TU Urban Farm is a student-run club that grows fruits and vegetables on campus. Located on a small plot of land behind the Administration Building, the club conducts planting and harvesting activities, and teaches sustainable farming practices such as composting and permaculture. It has been a service-learning site and an outdoor classroom for classes in History, Geography, Environmental Science, and English, where students have written creatively about the farm’s flora and fauna, hosted poetry readings, and drafted grants to support the farm. Benjamin Warner, English Department Lecturer, is the creator and faculty advisor for the Urban Farm Club.

College of Liberal Arts Resources

University Resources

In order to be a successful English Major you will want to take full advantage of Towson University's resources. Some of these are:

General Resources

The English department provides a list of recommended internet resources for English students.