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Important Dates
Final Exams: Friday, Dec. 12 – Thursday, Dec. 18
First day of instruction for spring semester: Tuesday, Jan. 20
Deadline to add a POT A course for spring: Monday, Jan. 26
Deadline to add a full-semester course for spring – Monday, Feb. 2
Resource of the Week: iCard Perks
Whether you are on campus, back home, or vacationing somewhere, you can check to see where you can get discounts with your iCard! Check out this catalog of places you can receive discounts that is organized by area or type of discount. They include dining, shopping, beauty, recreation, fitness, automotive (and more!) discounts for the Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, and Urbana-Champaign areas.
FREE Group Fitness Classes for Finals
Sweat out your stress during finals week! Try a variety of classes from cycling, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and more! Registration for non-group fitness pass holders opens December 11 at 8am. View the class schedule to learn more: https://campusrec.illinois.edu/fitness/group-fitness/schedule
Finals Week Brain Break
Need a brain break during finals week? Come work on our community puzzle in the advising office in Room 200 of the English Building! You can also help yourself to some coffee or hot cocoa.
The College of LAS Student Academic Affairs Office also has a coloring station in their front desk reception area for students if you need a brain break and feel like hanging out. Their office is located in 2002 Lincoln all at the top of the marble steps.
Expressive Arts: Design a Bookmark with Watercolors Workshop
Secondary Education Minor Application Open
If you are planning to apply to do a Secondary Education minor, and you are expecting to graduate in May 2028, then this is the time to apply! The application window opened December 1 and will remain open until February 1, 2026. All the information, and a link to the application, can be found on this page.
Please note that before you submit the application, you have to complete the “advisor verification form” and then have Maggie or Anna sign off on it.
If you have any questions, or if you aren’t sure whether now is the time for you to apply, email englishadvising@illinois.edu and we’ll be happy to help!
Graduating in May?
If you are expecting to graduate at the end of the spring semester, remember that you must add yourself to the May degree list. You can do this online in Self Service (click on “apply to graduate”) and once you submit your application the records office will do an official degree audit. If you are on track to have all requirements complete by May (taking into account your spring classes), then you will hear nothing from them (in other words, no news is good news), but if they find any shortages they will send you an email. To head off any problems, run your own degree audit and check to see if it says “all requirements complete using in-progress courses” at the top. If you have questions or concerns about your eligibility to graduate, email englishadvising@illinois.edu.
Study Abroad Opportunities for Creative Writing & English Students
For initially getting started on the study abroad process and application, please attend a First Steps Workshop and explore the UIUC My Study Abroad portal.
Summer Fulbrights
- Lancaster University Summer Institute (England) is an immersive three-week programme which allows students to develop an understanding of the formal and technical composition of films and the wider conventions of cinema.
- Queen’s University Belfast Summer Institute (Northern Ireland) will focus on the theme of “Understanding Northern Ireland.” It will provide an introduction to the rich tapestry of historical, cultural, political, and socio-economic factors that combine to make Northern Ireland a unique place.
- University of Bristol Summer Institute (England) will focus on the theme of “Arts, Activism, and Social Justice.” It will explore how literature, music, visual arts, poetry and storytelling, dance, philosophy, and critical social theories have shaped movements for social justice across the globe, with particular attention given to racial justice and the legacies of slavery.
- King’s College London Summer Institute (England) will focus on the theme of “Modern Britain: Institutions, Power, and People.” It will explore how Britain’s institutions, power, and people have shaped a twenty-first century nation state.
- University of St. Andrews Summer Institute (Scotland) will focus on the theme of “Scotland’s History: Kingdom, Nation, People.” It will examine Scotland’s strong and changing sense of its past both as an independent state and as a part of the UK.
The UK Fulbright Commission seeks mature, responsible, open-minded students who demonstrate an academic fit between their chosen institute and their own background. They select students who are involved on and off campus and have the desire to act as ambassadors between U.S. and the UK. Freshmen and sophomores who are U.S. citizens, have a minimum GPA of 3.6, and have had no or very little travel/study experience outside of North America are eligible to apply. The final deadline is February 2, 2026.
LAS Food Pantry
Job Openings in the Illinois History & Lincoln Collections Unit
The Illinois History & Lincoln Collections unit is a special collections and archives unit in the Main Library. They commonly employ English majors and have two openings posted for the spring semester. This is a great opportunity for students interested in history or working in the archives, museums, and special curations field.
- IHLC Student Assistant- General
- IHLC Student Assistant- Central Illinois Jewish Communities Archives (CIJCA) focused
Application review will begin December 11, but they will take applications up until December 17.
TV Writing Fellowship
The Anarchists United Writers Discovery Fellowship is a six-month program providing an immersive introductory experience to the world of the TV ecosystem. Each Fellow will be assigned a seasoned industry mentor who will guide them by way of script development and career advice, and by the end of the program, introduce them to television producers and executives who align with their creative voice. The mentors will support the cohort through each step of the creative and networking process.
The Fellowship also includes informational panels with TV professionals, and the Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in mock general meetings and pitch sessions in preparation for their final industry meetings. By the end, each Fellow will have developed a submission-ready television pilot, been afforded multiple opportunities for networking, and be generally equipped with the essential tools for their success as writers in long form story telling. Each Fellow also receives a $10,000 stipend.
By promoting voices that have been historically underserved, the Fellowship will enrich both the professional lives of the Fellows and the dynamic quality of the entertainment industry.
See website for rules and terms and application link. Deadline is Jan 5, 2026.
Norton Internships
W. W. Norton & Company’s 12-week internship program is designed to introduce motivated college students and recent graduates to publishing and to Norton. Internships provide valuable hands-on experience with the day-to-day business of bookmaking, as well as opportunities to network with employees at the company and with fellow interns who frequently go on to become colleagues in the field.
Interns at W. W. Norton are paid $16.50 per hour, subject to applicable law, and work a maximum of 20 hours weekly. Specific work hours are flexible, but interns are expected to work three or four days per week. All interns must be able to work during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST). W. W. Norton does not complete any paperwork for colleges, universities, or other entities related to for-credit internships or eligibility to work in the US. W. W. Norton & Company is fully independent and employee-owned.
See website for more info.
Paid Summer Opportunity (in NY or Cleveland)
Check out the Arts Intern College Program, a paid summer internship opportunity for college juniors and seniors in the following cities: – Cleveland: $23/hr – NYC: $28/hr This 9-week summer internship runs from June 4 to August 7 and is open to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in any art field, including Art History, Art Administration, Design, Creative Writing, Visual Arts, and more. To qualify, students must meet the following criteria: – Maintain a 3.0 GPA – Be a full-time college student – Submit a portfolio (Writing Samples or Digital Images) – Submit Resume & Cover Letter – Unofficial Transcript – Completed their FAFSA for the 2025-26 academic year with SAI ($0-$10K) – Be legally authorized to work in the U.S. – Reside in Cleveland or New York during the program Strong communication and writing skills, along with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, are essential. Students are encouraged to prepare their materials and submit applications by February 26, 2026, for a chance to gain invaluable experience in a museum or cultural arts organization.
Reminder to Submit to Montage
Montage publishes art and literary work by undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Submissions are now open! For more information and to submit your work, please visit: https://www.montageartsjournal.com/submit
Don’t Forget These Great English Department Courses!
ENGL 221/AFRO 298: Speculative Futures – Black Speculative Futures
Counts as a Difference & Diaspora course and RIGS or Literature & Science topics course
CW 208: Creative Nonfiction Workshop
Counts as a workshop course in the CW major or a department elective in the ENGL major or minor
CW 202: Topics in Creative Writing – Storymaking (NEW SECTION ADDED!)
Counts as a non-workshop course in the CW major (satisfies the “Writing & Literature” requirement) or a department elective in the ENGL major or minor
Open Courses to Consider for Spring 2026
ENGL 265/AIS 265: Intro to American Indian Literature
Gen Ed: U.S. Minority Cultures and Humanities & the Arts
Also satisfies Difference & Diaspora requirement for English and Creative Writing majors
Introduces students to the study of American Indian literature by focusing on texts by contemporary American Indian novelists, poets, and playwrights. Over the course of the semester, students will consider how indigenous aesthetics shape narrative in addition to examining how American Indian authors engage the legacies of colonization and the histories of their tribal communities through their stories.
AIS 101: Intro to American Indian Studies
Gen Ed: U.S. Minority Cultures and Humanities & the Arts
Interdisciplinary introduction surveys the stories, histories, and lands of tribal peoples who became known as “American Indians”.
GSD 202: Let’s Play: Understanding the Role of Play in Life and Art
Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Also a required core course for the Games Studies Minor
Explores the ways that play is integrated into our socio-cultural fabric. Students will develop a broad understanding of play in different contexts: its history, play and nature, play in human development, learning, play spaces, games, art, and in futurist thinking. Chief among the goals for the course is an emphasis on play as a fundamental and enriching force for people of all ages, and something to cultivate in life and in art.
MUS 428: Music Monetization
Students will learn to properly engage artists, agencies, venues, technical personnel, and PR companies in arranging a live music performance. They will learn how to talk to artists and their agents; how to appropriately offer compensation; respect art as work; and understand that the art being done as work has many facets to consider — including hiring sound and lighting engineers, security guards, and door staff; and working with bar management, PR agents, hospitality runners, etc. Summarily, this class is a real industry live performance event.
MUS 446: Songwriting
Develops and refines music composition techniques and self-expression in popular, vernacular, and folk music genres. Students will write, record, and perform original songs for class, provide constructive feedback for their peers, reflect personally on their experiences through journaling, and will engage with readings and recordings relevant to class activities. Students should be comfortable singing and creating/performing on an accompanying instrument (e.g. guitar, piano, self-composed digital backing tracks).
Don’t Forget About These Opportunities and Resources!
How to Connect with LAS Career Services
- Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
- Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
- Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
- Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
- Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
- Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu.
Free Little Library
Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!
Library Research Consultations
Sharing News
As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!
WRC Fall Hours
