Why Study English at Judson College?

This is certainly the case for the English program at Judson. In each major class, biblical truth informs and transforms the study of literature, writing, literary theory, communication, and critical thinking. A combination of literary analysis and research writing encourages students to reflect on the central issues of the human condition from a Christian perspective while exposing them to the breadth of English studies.

Deanna Rogers, assistant professor of English at Judson, noted that “the skills that are taught — the critical thinking, the analysis, learning how to break down pieces of literature into their smaller parts and then write critically about the larger meaning — all of that lends itself really well to a lot of different things in life.”

An English degree, Rogers maintained, prepares students for any career. “It’s the ultimate major for a student here,” she said. “If your desire is to go into ministry, to spread the gospel, to go into missions or counseling or anything like that, it’s incredibly important to be a good, clear communicator. All of your English classes will help prepare you for that.”

Lynn Sommerville, a student in her junior year, explained her own reasoning for pursing an English degree at Judson College.

“For me, personally, I really wanted to improve as a writer. I’d been self-publishing for a few years, and I had so many ideas and so much passion to orient people toward Christ, but the skill level wasn’t quite matching up,” she said. “So that’s why I chose an English major, to help me improve as a storyteller and as a communicator. Being able to communicate story in a way that’s effective and that stirs people’s affections for Christ is really, really powerful and is a vital part of the Great Commission.”

Being able to communicate story in a way that’s effective and that stirs people’s affections for Christ is really, really powerful and is a vital part of the Great Commission.

“I chose Judson College because I really wanted the Christian ministry minor,” Sommerville expressed. Each undergraduate degree at Judson includes not only a focused major but also a built-in minor in Christian studies, equipping students to handle the word of God faithfully. “Being able to take both Bible and English literature classes has been a huge blessing for me spiritually, and it’s also had a big impact on my writing.”

This past fall semester, Sommerville and Rogers had their first class together, a genre study of southern literature. The class and its topic, one of Rogers’ literary passions, turned out to have a strong impression on them both. Rogers enjoyed watching her students develop an appreciation and respect for authors that she deeply admired. For Sommerville, the class influenced her own understanding of culture and writing in a way she hadn’t anticipated.

“It really changed the course of my writing and opened up to me a whole new world of literature,” she explained. “I really loved that.”

It really changed the course of my writing and opened up to me a whole new world of literature.

“We’re in the south; we’re in the culture that these authors were writing about, and it just leads to a lot of conversation,” Sommerville added. “We saw how the Bible has impacted the literature of this region, and it’s super interesting. I know a lot of us felt inspired to want to write southern literature after that, and we appreciated it a lot more.”

Considering her own education at a large state school, Rogers has a deep appreciation for the faculty-student relationships that Judson offers.

“I can honestly say that the level of faculty interaction and support that the students get here is incredible,” she expressed. One specific element that makes Judson unique, Rogers explained, is the smaller class size and the resulting student to professor ratio. “As you get into those upper-level major classes, they’re pretty small and tight, seven to ten people sometimes. That allows you to have robust discussion in the class and get a lot of attention from the faculty.”

This faculty-student relationship plays a primary role in the academic journeys of Judson students, from the moment they step onto campus their freshman year until they walk across stage on graduation day. At Judson College, every classroom is a Great Commission classroom; the faculty have a deep passion for equipping students as experts in their fields and ambassadors of Christ, wherever he calls them.

Judson’s English alumni currently serve in a variety of different capacities across the country, seeking the kingdom and the cause of Christ in their stories and their writing, in their teaching of the next generation, in their creation and communication, and in their pursuit of truth.

To learn more about the English program at Judson College and how you can be equipped to give your life for the cause of Christ in every aspect of society, visit judsoncollege.com/degrees.