Resources and Opportunities
Whether you’re an English Language and Literature major or just taking a class in our department, you are welcomed and supported here. Our faculty will prepare you for a wide variety of careers while guiding you to develop your writing skills and talents that will benefit you in many aspects of life. Take part in our vibrant community through our four student clubs and organizations, comprising an unmatched opportunity to meet peers with fellow interests and values. We also offer 16 scholarships exclusive to English students at SFSU.
Scholarships
To apply for our scholarships, please visit the SFSU Academic Works website - sfsu.academicworks.com
- Amy Love Memorial Scholarship
- Provides an award up to $500 in memory of Amy Love, longtime educator and student/community advocate, to freshman and sophomore students in any major. Applicants must show that they have contributed to the public good through community service learning (CSL) classes or other work/activism in their communities.
- Debra Plousha Moore Scholarship
- Provides an award of up to $1,000 to a graduate or undergraduate student in any degree or certificate program in the Department of English at SFSU.
- Jim Brogran - Jack Post Scholarship
- Provides an award of up to $1,500 to a San Francisco State student interested in literature based on queer/gay/lesbian/bisexual/transsexual perspectives.
- ASW Scholarship
- This scholarship provides an award of up to $1,000 to a declared undergraduate English Literature or B.A. Blended Literature student.
- Michael Krasny Award in English Literature Scholarship
- This scholarship provides an award of up to $4,000 to a declared undergraduate English Literature or B.A. Literature Blended student. This scholarship is in honor of our eminent faculty member, Professor Michael Krasny, to an undergraduate student who demonstrates a record of excellence in our English Literature program or B.A. Literature Blended program.. The awardee must have a commitment to serving an ambassadorial role for the English major at department events or participation in other outreach projects for the major.
- Stephen Arkin Distinguished Student Award Endowment in English Language and Literature
- A scholarship in memory of Emeritus Professor Stephen Arkin to undergraduate students who are deeply engaged in literary study and aspire to contribute to the public good, and wish to use their SFSU education to further those goals. Students must be enrolled in one of the four undergraduate major concentrations or English B.A. Blended programs offered by the English Department. Amount of award varies.
- Vicente Narciso Marcelo Scholarship in English
- To award a scholarship of up to $1000 in memory of Vicente Narciso Marcelo to B.A. students enrolled in one of the four undergraduate major concentrations: Professional Writing and Rhetoric, English Education, Linguistics, or Literature; or B.A. English Blended program. The scholarship was established by SFSU alumna, Karim Salgado (Criminal Justice major) in honor of her grandfather, Vicente Narciso Marcelo.
- Cunningham Scholarship in Literature
- Provides scholarship for up to $1000 for a graduate student pursuing the M.A. in English Literatures or M.A. Literature Blended degrees, including American Literature.
- Gail E. Weinstein Fellowship in Community Literacy Education
- The Gail E. Weinstein Fellowship in Community Literacy Education provides an award of up to $1,000 to support students in the M.A. TESOL or M.A. TESOL Blended programs who demonstrate outstanding potential and initiative as a community literacy practitioner and community partner. This fellowship, which reflects the TESOL program’s commitment to community service and learner-centered practice, honors Dr. Gail Weinstein, beloved professor, mentor, and friend to so many at SFSU and the larger world of adult literacy education. This fellowship encourages graduate TESOL students to use their passion and talent to enhance or create successful community partnerships, a primary mission of the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Community Literacy Education (CIRCLE), established by Dr. Weinstein in 2007. CIRCLE aims to strengthen immigrant families and communities, to support practitioners who serve them, and to engage students deeply in the fabric of their communities with experiences that build their professional and leadership skills.
- Gant Family Pathways to M.A. TESOL Award
- Provides scholarship for up to $4000 for a graduate student pursuing the study of M.A. English TESOL. Applicant must be an incoming or current student in the M.A. TESOL or M.A. TESOL Blended programs. Must bring broad cultural competency to the M.A. TESOL program. Must have self-reported financial need. In addition to the monetary award, the recipient will receive mentoring and career guidance toward the completion of the M.A. English TESOL degree.
- R. Joel Dorius Memorial Scholarship
- Provides an award of up to $1,500 to a graduate student in the M.A. in English Literatures or M.A. Literature Blended programs who is interested in the study of Shakespeare and/or Renaissance literature.
- Ellanore and Maurice Bassan Scholarship
- Provides an award of up to $500 to a student in the M.A. in English Literatures or M.A. Literature Blended programs who has demonstrated excellence in literary study.
- Siguenza - Menendez Scholarship
- Provides a scholarship of up to $1000 for a blended B.A.-M.A. TESOL or M.A. TESOL student. The donor, Patricia Siguenza, established this scholarship in honor of her parents. Patricia, her parents, and her siblings immigrated to the United States at an early age. As non-native English speakers, they were deeply supported by teachers who helped them learn English, enabling them to communicate effectively in work, school, and life.
- TESOL Convention Scholarship
- Provides up to four graduate students in the M.A. TESOL, M.A. TESOL Blended or Graduate Certificate in TESOL programs with at least $500 for the purpose of attending the annual TESOL Convention. Awarded in time for travel (late February/early March). Applicants must be enrolled in the M.A. TESOL, M.A. TESOL blended or Graduate Certificate in TESOL programs in award semester.
- TESOL Legacy Fellowship
- Provides award up to $4,000 for a graduate student in the M.A. TESOL or M.A. TESOL Blended programs. To support students in the graduate TESOL program who have demonstrated commitment to and involvement with the M.A. TESOL Program and/or students starting the program in fall semester who show exceptional promise to make important contributions to the field of TESOL based on past or current experience.
What Can You Do With an English Degree?
There are many careers you can pursue with an English degree, from the classic teaching route to non-academic careers such as technical writing, lexicography, research, advertising, non-profit, public relations and more. Here are a couple of additional resources for you to explore the path you want to take.
Publications
You have several outlets to publish your work, collaborate with your peers and receive recognition for your accomplishments.
Learn moreStudent Organizations
Get involved! SFSU has many English-related clubs for you to check out:
English Student Association
The English Student Association, for undergraduate English majors, presents academic and career workshops. Email the English Student Association at eusasfsu@gmail.com.
Graduate Literature Association
The Graduate Literature Association organizes social activities, academic and career workshops and conferences and publishes the Interpretations journal. All students pursuing an M.A in English Literature at SFSU are automatically members. Email Professor Sarita Cannon at sncannon@sfsu.edu.
M.A. TESOL Student Association
The M.A. TESOL Student Association is the student organization for the Master of Arts program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It includes a program pairing new graduate students with senior “buddies,” social events and lectures, panel discussions and workshops.
Project SHINE
Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders) pairs students in the TESOL program with instructors at City College of San Francisco to serve as coaches in ESL and citizenship classes for adults. Please email Project SHINE’s coordinators at projectshine@gmail.com.
From Our Community
“Every day when I'm teaching, something comes back from one of those classes. It’s like, ‘Where did that come from? San Francisco State.’ It’s just in the air at San Francisco State.”
FAQs
Get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from SFSU English students.
Change your major online. Go to your Student Center through your Gateway. On the front page of your Student Center > click the drop-down menu > choose “Change Major.” This can also be used to add minors or change concentrations (such as from Literature to Linguistics, etc.).
For more questions, please email the English Department at engdept@sfsu.edu.
Fill out the independent study petition. Have your adviser and/or your instructor sign and return it, along with a copy of your unofficial SFSU transcript to Humanities 484. You will be emailed a permit number.
Check the syllabus given to you by your instructor on the first day of class. You may also visit the People page for specific information.
Syllabi from classes taught by our faculty are available by request. Please email the English Department at engdept@sfsu.edu.
Sometimes instructors cancel classes for conferences or hold class in a different location without informing the English office. A teacher will almost always post a note on the door if the class is being held elsewhere and will also have told the class, at the very least, the week before.
Humanities 480
We strongly urge you to speak to your instructor first about your concern. If this does not resolve the matter, then speak with the program coordinator, which you can find on our Advising page.
Email engdept@sfsu.edu for an add code
All you need to do to get library access as a grad student working on your thesis is send an email to circmail@sfsu.edu Briefly explain your status as working on your thesis but not registered for classes, and you need library access, and they will get you set up.
To teach Composition, call the Writing Program director at (415) 338-2660, visit them in Humanities 483 or email engdept@sfsu.edu.
To teach ESL/Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS), please call the CMS coordinator at (415) 338-2660, visit them in Humanities 482 or email engdept@sfsu.edu.
To teach Literature, send a curriculum vita and cover letter to the Department of English. To teach literature courses, you usually need a Ph.D.
Please email the English Department for more information at engdept@sfsu.edu.
Contact Chris Conroy (chconroy@sfsu.edu) for undergraduate courses and Cynthia Losinsky (cynthial@sfsu.edu) for graduate courses.
Yes, the department lobby and HUM 400A are open to all students. Graduate students can use the Graduate Reading Room (HUM 405) to study and meet with colleagues. Any English staff can unlock these rooms for you.
Yes, we have a dedicated transfer page on Canvas. If you need access to this page, please contact engdept@sfsu.edu.
For general petitions, please contact Chris Conroy (chconroy@sfsu.edu). For 899 petitions, please contact Cynthia Losinksy (cynthial@sfsu.edu).