Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

VOICE Graduate Student Reading: Wednesday, Nov. 12
Deadline to drop a POT B course without a ‘W’: Friday, Nov. 14
Advising Office Open House + ESA Bake Sale: Thursday, Nov. 20
Thanksgiving Break: November 22-November 30
Last Day of Instruction: Wednesday, Dec. 10
Final Exams: Friday, Dec. 10 – Thursday, Dec. 18

Resource of the Week – Registration Tips & Resources

• Consult the Major Requirement Cheat Sheet to find courses offered in the Spring 2026 semester that satisfy certain English and Creative Writing degree requirements. You will need to set up your UI Box account to access the Cheat Sheet if you haven’t already. You can also find major and minor checklists and more on the academic advising webpage.
  
• Make sure you choose the correct section! If you are signing up for a 400-level course there will often be a graduate section and an undergraduate section. You can tell which is which by looking at the section code (the undergraduate section will usually have a U in it as opposed to a G). In English courses the undergraduate section will be 3 credit hours, the graduate section 4 credit hours. All of this is MUCH easier to see in Course Explorer. 
  
• When registering or creating a plan, always make sure you look at section restrictions! Some courses may have special restrictions on individual sections that may restrict you from registering. The easiest way to view course restrictions, prerequisites, and more is on Course Explorer.
  
• One of the quickest and easiest ways to register for courses in by registering from a plan you create in the Plan Ahead feature. This will allow you to register for all of your planned courses at once in mere seconds instead of having to look them up one by one.
  
• Is a course section you would like to take currently full? You can “favorite” a course section on Course Explorer and opt in to receive email updates once a seat opens up.

For more tips for registering, makes sure you visit the academic advising webpage.

VOICE: Graduate Student Reading

Join us for a reading of creative work my MFA students from the Department of English. This month’s reading will feature: Tyler Moore, Callan Latham, and David Foley

When: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7:00pm
Where: Gallery Art Bar | 119 W Main St, Urbana, IL 61801

Rare Book & Manuscript Library Talks

The Wake of HMS Challenger: How a Legendary Victorian Voyage Tells the Story of Our Oceans’ Decline with Gillen D’Arcy Wood — Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025, 3:00 – 5:00 pm in the RBML

The RBML is thrilled to host Gillen D’Arcy Wood, who will speak about his new book, The Wake of HMS Challenger: How a Legendary Victorian Voyage Tells the Story of Our Oceans’ Decline. In December 1872, HMS Challenger embarked on the first round-the-world oceanographic expedition, and for the next four years, Challenger’s naturalists explored the oceans, encountering never-before-seen marvels of marine life. They identified major ocean currents and defining features of the seafloor; they measured worldwide sea temperatures and chemistry, creating baseline data for all ocean research since. And, most spectacularly of all, they collected nearly five thousand sea creatures and plants new to science. They had no way of knowing that the incredible undersea aquarium they were documenting was on the verge of catastrophic change. Wood looks afresh at this legendary scientific odyssey and shows why, 150 years later, its legacy looms larger than ever. His book offers a stunning before-and-after picture of our global oceans — a reminder of what we have lost since the Victorian age and an urgent call to preserve what remains of the diverse life and wild beauty of our planet’s final frontier. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. 

Finding the Female Voice in the Ancient World with Dr. Emily Hauser — ‎Monday, Nov 17, 2025, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Spurlock Museum

In this talk, award-winning classicist and Times bestselling author Dr. Emily Hauser explores the many different ways in which we can start to uncover the women of the ancient world. Dealing with the silences of the archive – the voices and identities written out of history – requires new and innovative tools, and in this talk she surveys the many different approaches she has taken across her fiction and non-fiction writing to recover women: from deep analysis of Greek texts to popular contemporary myth retellings to innovative takes on history that mix fact and fiction to uncover new ways of knowing. Join her on an adventure across time and the tools of history to re-discover the women of the ancient world. Copies of Hauser’s recent books Penelope’s Bones: A New History of Homer’s World through the Women Written Out of It and How Women Became Poets: A Gender History of Greek Literature will be available onsite for purchase and signing. This event is free and open to the public.

What You Will Theatre Company Presents: The Tragedy of King Lear

LAS Wellness Check-In

Education Justice Project For-Credit Internship

This internship course allows undergraduate and graduate students at Illinois to gain critical perspectives on the criminal legal system, especially in Illinois, while providing EJP valuable assistance. Each intern will be connected to a specific EJP focus area–including prison education, prison reentry, deportation, policy, prison-to-gown pathway, media and communications, and director’s office. You’ll gain hands-on workplace experience within a non-profit-like environment, engage with formerly incarcerated individuals, and be invited to participate regularly in active reflection about what you’re learning and experiencing. 

Students must apply to enroll in this internship course and are welcome to repeat it in future semesters.

Apply by November 15, 2025!

Seeds Communications Paid Internship Opportunity

Check out this fantastic opportunity if you are a student interested in scientific communication! Apply by November 28, 2025 at 4:49pm.

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities.

Role Purpose:
•Build communications initiatives & tactical content for the Global and NA US Seeds business.
•Learn communications fundamentals and best practices.
•Learn technology to support communications execution.
•Training is provided in-house, and guidance is provided by management
•Develop skills and experience to further your career.

Accountabilities:
•Assist in execution of communications initiatives as assigned.
•Support the digital marketing effort for North America Communications, including e-newsletters, social media and event support.
•Assist with asset management, content audit and content creation.
•Learn digital technologies to support the execution and measurement of communications plan.
•Develop and execute social content calendar for Seeds leaders.
•Support summer events as needed.
•Develop basic knowledge of the Seeds business.

Boren Scholarship Info Session

Spring Courses to Consider

Earn a Certificate in Intercultural Competence!

The Certificate in Intercultural Competence offers undergraduate students the chance to show future employers and potential graduate programs that they have the global and intercultural skills needed to succeed in and out of the classroom. Courses on the approved list for the Certificate include an introduction to the concept of intercultural competence, as well as elective courses that cover a wide variety of topics, from the study of ancient traditions to contemporary culture, the study of myths and fairy tales to modern literature, and more. Although the certificate will not appear on a student’s transcript, students completing the certificate should include this credential on a resume or application for advanced study.

What is intercultural competence?
Intercultural competence refers to the ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, interact, and collaborate with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, while navigating and appreciating cultural differences.

Why pursue a Certificate in Intercultural Competence? 
This certificate serves as a vital asset to students across diverse majors, addressing the universal need for individuals equipped with intercultural skills in our globalized society. Research shows that employers and graduate programs are actively looking for graduates with these skills.

• In a recent publication of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, “global/multi-cultural fluency” was listed in the top 10 “career readiness competencies” (2020). 
• Similarly, the Association of American Colleges and Universities ranks the “ability to work well in teams—especially with people different from yourself” as the number one key attribute employers look for in college graduates. 
• In 2008, the Council of Europe declared intercultural education as a strategic area for the safeguard and promotion of democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law (“Living as Equals in Dignity”). 

Who can earn the certificate?
The certificate is designed for undergraduate students from a broad range of majors across colleges, acknowledging that intercultural competence is a valuable asset in every field. Any undergraduate student can pursue the certificate, providing flexibility for those who wish to enhance their intercultural competence regardless of their major. While there is no major restriction, students pursuing majors with strong ties to community and global engagement may find the certificate particularly relevant to their goals.

If you are interested in learning more about the certificate, or are ready to register, please visit our website: https://slcl.illinois.edu/graduate/intercultural-competence

Check Out These Minors!

Be a Part of iSuceed!

iSucceed is an academic accountability group with The Jeffries Center Advising g& Mentoring Program. It is for scholars to work together to build community, support one another’s academic development and understand how and why to engage in academic spaces. Students in iSucceed gain a strong network of peer and staff support each week, helping them stay motivated, connected, and focused on their goals.

iSuceed Meeting Details:
When: Every Monday from 3:300-5:30pm
Where: BNAACC Multipurpose Room

Announcement from LAS Honors Office

This email is announcing official changes to the LAS College Latin Honors graduation distinction. Previously students needed to meet the GPA requirement AND one of four additional requirements. The additional requirements have officially been removed. Students graduating as early as this fall will only need to meet the GPA requirement to graduate with College Latin Honors distinction.

The GPA requirements are found here, reviewed and updated every August: https://las.illinois.edu/academics/distinctions

Don’t Forget About These Opportunities and Resources!

Submit Your Work for Publication

ILSURJ stands as a beacon of the diverse and dynamic undergraduate research landscape on our campus. Our mission is to bridge connections between undergraduate and graduate students, faculty from various disciplines, and the wider public. Through our annual publications, available in versatile electronic formats, we strive to spotlight the exceptional research achievements of our talented undergraduate community. Our peer-edited, faculty-reviewed, open-access approach sets the stage for sharing these endeavors and advancing the journey toward professional research. Our collaborations with prestigious University of Illinois partners like the University Library, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and our esteemed Faculty Advisory Board further solidify our commitment to excellence. It’s important to emphasize that contributing to ILSURJ does not preclude you from submitting your work to other journals – we encourage multidimensional research engagement. 

Deadline for submission is Nov. 30. Submit your work for consideration here. 

MUSE: An Undergraduate Humanities+ Conference

The Illinois Wesleyan Center for the Humanities invites students at other institutions to join us for MUSE: An Undergraduate Humanities+ Conference.

We cordially invite undergraduates to present on topics in the humanities at our day-long conference here at Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, February 7, 2026. We share our definition of the humanities with the National Endowment for the Humanities, but we also welcome presentations on creative writing, theater history, art history, music history, and the history of science. In addition to sessions of student presentations throughout the day, the conference will feature a keynote address from Professor Steve Mentz and panels of professionals addressing topics of interest to students in the humanities.

Each session will contain three presentations. Each presenter will have twenty minutes to speak, and there will be fifteen minutes for a combined Q&A at the end of each session.

To participate in the conference, please submit an abstract to humanities@iwu.edu by 11:59 pm on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Abstracts should be approximately 150-200 words long. An abstract for a scholarly presentation should make clear the critical conversation the paper engages and summarize the paper’s thesis and main points. An abstract for a presentation of creative writing should describe the work mainly in terms of its genre and aesthetics / stylistic features. (There should be very little plot summary.)

Along with your abstract, please include your name, email address, phone number, current address, year in school, working title for your presentation, and any audio/visual needs you may have. You will be notified of your abstract’s final status by Wednesday, December 10, 2025. You will then be asked to confirm your attendance, and we will send along further details.

For more information, please email questions to humanities@iwu.edu. We look forward to learning about your ideas and creative work.

Copy Writer Internship Opportunity with Nintendo

As a Nintendo of America Intern, you will actively contribute to meaningful projects, and gain valuable hands-on work experience with a leading company in the entertainment industry. During the program from June through August, your work experience will be enhanced with mentoring, networking opportunities and exposure to industry leaders from across the company! Whether you are in a technical or non-technical role, you will be a part of a team committed to putting smiles on faces of millions around the world. 

For more information about this internship opportunity and to apply, CLICK HERE.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2025 

How to Enroll in an English Honors Seminar

If you would like to sign up for an English honors course in the spring, please email Nancy at nrahn@illinois.edu (include your full name and UIN) and tell her which seminar you hope to take this spring, including the title/topic and the CRN.  You’ll find descriptions of the courses and the CRN in Course Explorer.  Please allow one week to get a response. Once Nancy has given you permission to take the course, you must still go into the registration system and add it to your schedule.  Nancy cannot actually enroll you in the class; she is simply giving you the override that will allow you to enroll yourself! 

For more details about the honors program check our English department website: https://english.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/honors-research/honors-research. 

If you would like to take two seminars at the same time, then you may, but you must receive approval for the first before you can request a second.  If you are approaching graduation and need a particular seminar in order to complete the honors program, please get your request in right away!  Permission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Be an Exploratory Studies Ambassador!

Exploratory Studies is excited to announce that our Ambassador Program application is now open!

The EXP Ambassador Program is a volunteer opportunity for current and former Exploratory Studies students to get involved as student leaders on campus. Ambassadors assist with events, workshops, EXP 101 classes, and outreach efforts- using their own exploration experiences to help guide other students through the process of finding their path at Illinois.

Application Form: EXP Ambassador Application
Program Information: EXP Ambassador Program Website

Applications are open until November 17.

Admissions Open for the TRIO McNair Scholars Program

The Jeffries Center is pleased to announce we are now accepting student applications for the TRIO McNair Scholars Program! This program supports first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students in preparing for graduate studies. For more information, please email triomcnair@illinois.edu. Apply now!

Library Research Consultations

Scholarship Opportunity

The LAS Get Experience Scholarship is designed to support students with financial need in hands-on learning experiences that enhance and complement their academic coursework (such as unpaid and underpaid internships). Click the link above to find out more.

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. 

Montage – Call for Submissions!

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

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!

Boost Your Speaking Skills

We offer a friendly, low-stakes space for students from any major or discipline to practice and work on oral communication with a peer-consultant, including using visual aids such as powerpoint and research posters. Our main location is in the Armory, with satellite hours in the Main Library, Grainger Library, ACES/Funk Library, and the LAS Hub. We also offer synchronous online appointments. 

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!

WRC Fall Hours

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Deadline to add a POT B course to schedule: Friday, Oct. 24
ESA Spooky Poetry Night: Wednesday, Oct. 29
Priority registration begins: Monday, Nov. 3
Advising Office Open House + ESA Bake Sale: Thursday, Nov. 6
Deadline to drop a POT B course without a ‘W’: Friday, Nov. 14
Advising Office Open House + ESA Bake Sale: Thursday, Nov. 20
Thanksgiving Break: November 22-November 30

Resource of the Week

Schedule Generator is a tool that will allow you to build the optimal class schedule based on course preferences and setting aside time for breaks during the week.  Create the optimal schedule and send it to Plan Ahead in Class Registration where you will be able to complete registration when your time ticket opens. 

ESA Presents: Spooky Poetry Night

What You Will Theatre Company Presents: The Tragedy of King Lear

Advising Open House + ESA Bake Sale!

ESA will be opening up their ESA room (attached to advising office) to sell some sweet treats during the remaining Advising Office Open Houses this semester. Stop by to learn more about ESA and buy a baked good or two! As always, the advising office will also provide coffee, tea, and literary-themed puzzles and games. Come spend a cozy morning or afternoon with us this fall!

Could AI Make a Zine? Interdisciplinary Roundtable and Zine Workshop

Wednesday, October 29, 1-2:30pm
Main Library, Room 220, and on Zoom

Zines, self-published booklets, have long been considered a subversive medium. Composed of image, text, and collage, zines challenge long held assumptions of expression, authorship, and communication. As zines enter the digital age, they offer us a vocabulary to examine another transgressive tool: Artificial Intelligence. The juncture of zines and AI asks us to reconsider how we define both mediums and it inspires us to further scrutinize our relationships to community, creativity, and the material world.

This hybrid event includes an interdisciplinary roundtable discussion featuring experts in information sciences, computer science, art, and media. Following the discussion, participants will have the opportunity to make zines using traditional and digital materials. 

Please register using this link: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/933293053. Those wishing to join online will be sent the zoom link the day of the event.

This event is hosted by the University Library and features Dr. Ryan Cordell, Dr. Karrie Karahalios, and Dr. Phillip Kalantzis Cope.

Urbana-Champaign Books to Prisoner’s BOOK SALE

The book sale offers great deals (paperbacks for $1 and hardbacks for $2) and raises critical funding to continue providing free books to incarcerated individuals in Illinois. It will take place at the Independent Media Center on November 1 from 9 am-5pm.

Student Internship Available

Survey Data Analysis and Report Writing
Part-time Internship (10-15 hours per week) $15 per hour

Review duties and qualifications and apply here. Do it as soon as possible if you’re interested; the application window will remain open until they hire but they will begin reviewing applications as early as next week.

Job Description:
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Student Intern to assist with analyzing and crafting summaries from survey data. This position requires a student who can effectively distill and communicate insights derived from qualitative and quantitative data. The ideal candidate has strong written communication skills, has an ability to synthesize information for a quick and accurate understanding of survey topics, and is comfortable working in an office environment. This is a fully on-site position.

NB We were asked to promote this opportunity to students in our department so they are definitely interested in humanities types for this position!

Copy Writer Internship Opportunity with Nintendo

As a Nintendo of America Intern, you will actively contribute to meaningful projects, and gain valuable hands-on work experience with a leading company in the entertainment industry. During the program from June through August, your work experience will be enhanced with mentoring, networking opportunities and exposure to industry leaders from across the company! Whether you are in a technical or non-technical role, you will be a part of a team committed to putting smiles on faces of millions around the world. 

For more information about this internship opportunity and to apply, CLICK HERE.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2025 

Women’s Resources Center Book Club

Friday, October 31   |   4:00pm
Women’s resources Center 
616 E. Green St Suite 213

Join the staff of the Women’s Resources Center as we discuss Hungerstone by Kat Dunn. During our conversation, we will discuss select chapters and themes from the text that explore relationships, the legacy of the romantic horror genre, and homoeroticism. 

Can’t read the whole book before we meet? No problem! Join us anyway! Limited copies of the book are available on a first come, first serve basis by request. 

Register: go.illinois.edu/Hungerstone

How to Enroll in an English Honors Seminar

If you would like to sign up for an English honors course in the spring, please email Nancy at nrahn@illinois.edu (include your full name and UIN) and tell her which seminar you hope to take this spring, including the title/topic and the CRN.  You’ll find descriptions of the courses and the CRN in Course Explorer.  Please allow one week to get a response. Once Nancy has given you permission to take the course, you must still go into the registration system and add it to your schedule.  Nancy cannot actually enroll you in the class; she is simply giving you the override that will allow you to enroll yourself! 

For more details about the honors program check our English department website: https://english.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/honors-research/honors-research. 

If you would like to take two seminars at the same time, then you may, but you must receive approval for the first before you can request a second.  If you are approaching graduation and need a particular seminar in order to complete the honors program, please get your request in right away!  Permission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Be an Exploratory Studies Ambassador!

Exploratory Studies is excited to announce that our Ambassador Program application is now open!

The EXP Ambassador Program is a volunteer opportunity for current and former Exploratory Studies students to get involved as student leaders on campus. Ambassadors assist with events, workshops, EXP 101 classes, and outreach efforts- using their own exploration experiences to help guide other students through the process of finding their path at Illinois.

Application Form: EXP Ambassador Application
Program Information: EXP Ambassador Program Website

Applications are open until November 17.

Apply for the 2026 LeaderShape® Institute™

The LeaderShape® Institute™ is a nationally recognized four-day, three-night leadership retreat for Illinois undergraduate students of all majors. This immersive experience will take place January 12-15, 2026, at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, IL. Students selected to participate will attend for free thanks to the generous financial support of campus sponsors.

The Institute™ offers participants the opportunity to identify and explore their personal values as they work towards creating a more caring, just, and equitable society. Students will engage in activities of self-discovery, reflection, and feedback in a community of peers, with a focus on leading with integrity.

If you’re ready to challenge yourself, connect with peers, and grow as a leader, we encourage you to apply! The Participant Application opens on October 1 and is due by midnight on November 9.

Admissions Open for the TRIO McNair Scholars Program

The Jeffries Center is pleased to announce we are now accepting student applications for the TRIO McNair Scholars Program! This program supports first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students in preparing for graduate studies. For more information, please email triomcnair@illinois.edu. Apply now!

Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement

Tuesday, October 28, 5-6pm, held via Zoom
Students will learn how to compose effective personal statements for graduate school applications, become familiar with common statement prompts, and impactfully story tell in a customized way.  Register in advance at https://go.illinois.edu/GradSchoolPersonalStatement.

An Evening with Ayelet Tsabari

Ayelet Tsabari’s new novel, Songs for the Brokenhearted, has won a slew of awards including the National Jewish Book Award. The novel fills a huge gap in that it traces the story of the history of Yemeni Israelis through a fictional family. The text tackles questions of race, nation, and belonging (or not belonging) and could not be more timely. A 2019 interview with Tsabari was published in Ninth Letter; you can find out more about the novel (and hear a clip from the audio book) here and here.

Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship

Submissions are open for the 2025-2026 Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible from an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards a $2000 scholarship (applied to the student account) to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2025-2026 school year.  

For consideration, students must submit 5 poems via email to jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.

The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”

The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself.

The deadline for application is Thursday, October 30, 2025. If you have any questions, please email jdudek4@illinois.edu.

AWP Intro Journals Project – Collecting Submissions!

Creative Writing Courses Added to the “Cheat Sheet”

Attention creative writing majors! You can now find courses offered each semester that satisfy your Writing & Literature and Difference & Diaspora requirements on the Major Requirements Cheat Sheet we update each semester. We hope that this will prove to be helpful when finding courses to complete these major requirements! The updated cheat sheet for Spring 2026 and live and ready for you to consult.

Don’t Forget These!

Media Ecology PhD Cohort at the University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder English is embarking on a new kind of PhD that is collaborative, experimental, and that affords students a chance to work closely with each other and with faculty. They are introducing a “Media Ecology” lab and team-taught courses where PhD students work with faculty and one another to map, theorize, and develop dissertation specialties via intensive mentoring, reading, and co-writing and -publishing in the lab. They offer competitive funding packages, along with excellent teaching and networking opportunities. Students will work with established academics and professionals in the fields of their interest.

What are “media ecologies”? If “ecology” refers to the relationships between humans and the more-than-human, mediaecology takes its cue from manuscripts, archives, as well as printed and digital environments to consider how text technologies and material infrastructures shape readers and their worlds. Conversely, readers perceive the material world through the lens of media. In addition to asking traditional questions in literary scholarship like “What does the text mean?” we theorize texts as occupying an ecological niche, suggesting that both medial form and its content occupy a symbiotic and competitive relationship with other texts. Like capital itself, text is always in motion and always innovating. The field of cultural production shifts, morphs, combines, and mutates. The university is seeking students interested in both environmental and media studies. They encourage those working in any literary period, with interests anywhere from medieval manuscripts to AI.

If you are interested in this topic and in pursuing a PhD in English, you are encouraged to apply! You can find information about applying here.

Library Research Consultations

Fall 2025 First Gen Series

Scholarship Opportunity

The LAS Get Experience Scholarship is designed to support students with financial need in hands-on learning experiences that enhance and complement their academic coursework (such as unpaid and underpaid internships). Click the link above to find out more.

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. 

Montage – Call for Submissions!

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

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!

Boost Your Speaking Skills

We offer a friendly, low-stakes space for students from any major or discipline to practice and work on oral communication with a peer-consultant, including using visual aids such as powerpoint and research posters. Our main location is in the Armory, with satellite hours in the Main Library, Grainger Library, ACES/Funk Library, and the LAS Hub. We also offer synchronous online appointments. 

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!

WRC Fall Hours