English & Writing
English & Writing
The future will be written by English majors
College of Arts and Sciences
Location: Crete
Degree Type: Undergraduate
The English and Writing program at Doane is designed to prepare students for a variety of professions. Recent graduates include actors, professional writers, award-winning teachers, online content creators, filmmakers, nurses and nurse practitioners, optometrists, attorneys, social workers, counselors, professors, ministers, librarians, software engineers, data analysts, and more. Our focused and flexible program also blends well with a variety of other majors, thanks in part to our six career-focused certificates that prepare students with real world knowledge and skills. Our newest credential, called Thinking and Writing with AI, allows students to certify as prompt engineers, one of the most lucrative new tech jobs for experts in writing and close reading.
To learn how stories work is to know why stories matter.
Why do stories matter? The answer to this question is where your individual passions meet your professional goals. Our interdisciplinary program will prepare you for careers in medicine, healthcare, law, film and media, writing and publishing, communications, marketing, data analytics, education, and much more. You will develop a blend of life skills and professional credentials, thanks to innovative courses like Narrative Medicine and Environmental Literature and opportunities to showcase your talents with The New Xanadu, the multimedia platform for students in our program.
The English and Writing program opens the door to endless possibilities. We help students craft the stories that matter to you, including the story of who you want to become. Whatever you care about and wherever you want to go, Doane University has the path for you.
Certificates
We partner with programs across campus to offer innovative “micro-degrees” that open doors to a range of careers. These credentials complement your major and distinguish you after graduation with tangible evidence of your interdisciplinary skills.
Thinking and Writing with AI Certificate
The Thinking and Writing with AI Certificate develops high-leverage skills for the lucrative new field of prompt engineering. Courses on rhetorical strategy, narratology, literary research, textual analysis, and more enable students to engage generative AI and Large Language Models (LLM) in ethical ways for content generation, storytelling, information gathering, classroom lesson design, and much more. The result is enhanced creativity and greater efficiency for a rapidly evolving digital landscape across a range of career paths.
Narrative Medicine
The Narrative Medicine Certificate is an ideal credential for any student interested in medical education and patient care. The certificate invites students to explore the intersection of healthcare and the humanities by applying narrative knowledge to the care of the body and the study of identity as an unfolding story. Students will examine the relevance of stories and storytelling in the clinical space and beyond, and in doing so, they will identify and develop essential tools for personal resilience and professional success in virtually every field.
Data Storytelling
The Certificate in Data Storytelling provides essential competence for writers, teachers, and future professionals of all kinds who will be expected to interact with data and increasingly powerful tools of collection and analysis. This credential will introduce the skills necessary for interpreting data and translating these insights for diverse audiences with compelling narratives and effective visualizations.
Sports in Literature and the Liberal Arts
The Sports in Literature and the Liberal Arts Certificate invites students to explore the cultural and literary dimensions of sports. They will delve into the literature of sports, examining how it reflects and shapes societal values, community narratives, and individual identity. They will also construct their own stories that articulate the meaning of athletic competition in their own lives, connecting their experiences with sports to their education and professional aspirations.
Land and Literature
The Land and Literature Certificate will engage students in the sciences or humanities who seek to strengthen their interdisciplinary perspectives. For English majors the certificate offers an area of focus that will appeal to graduate programs in English, publication and marketing positions with environmental nonprofits, and other organizations that value combined humanistic and scientific perspectives. For majors in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Agribusiness, or Biology, the certificate cultivates communication skills, empathy, creative thinking, and ethical reasoning. These habits of mind will enhance a range of graduate and professional pursuits.
Language, Identity, and Sexuality
The Certificate in Language, Identity, and Sexuality is designed to engage students in the interdisciplinary study of gender and queer identity, with the purpose of emphasizing critical thinking skills, empathy, and inclusivity. The curriculum, which includes a basis in literature, historical precedents, and key concepts in the fields of Psychology and Communications, is ideal for students who seek to foster an equitable and intersectional community in whatever profession they may pursue.
Career Paths
What can you do with a degree in English and Writing from Doane University? The answer is virtually anything.
The list of recent graduates from our program tells a compelling story. They include actors, professional writers, nurses and nurse practitioners, optometrists, attorneys, online content creators, filmmakers, social workers, counselors, teachers, professors, ministers, librarians, software engineers, data analysts, and more. Even the General Manager of the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, part of the famous Boston Beer Company, has an English degree from Doane University. If you can imagine it, we can help you realize it.
The narrative knowledge you develop in our program is the interdisciplinary key to entry for a variety of careers. Our interdisciplinary courses build coveted skills that apply directly to the most critical needs of employers in a rapidly evolving economy. Narrative analysis develops critical and creative thinking. It cultivates empathy and ethical reasoning. The creative and analytical writing we do in our program teaches our students how to communicate with diverse audiences and craft compelling arguments.
Courses
Faculty & Staff
Bradley Johnson - Professor
402.826.8235
[email protected]
Professor Bradley Johnson has taught at Doane University since 2001. He holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Duke University as well as MA and PhD degrees in English from the University of Connecticut. He has published articles about the works of William Faulkner, Augusta Jane Evans, Herman Melville, and others. He also co-founded and now co-directs the Integrated Humanities Program at Doane. He and his wife Michelle have raised two sons in Lincoln, Nebraska. Fun facts: Brad’s favorite book is Moby Dick, and he has taught 33 different courses during his time at Doane!
Philip Jude Weitl - Professor
402-826-8264
[email protected]
Professor Philip Jude Weitl is a native of York, Nebraska, and has lived most of his life around the Platte River Valley. The creator and director of TNX, he is the current chair of the English Department and has taught a variety of courses at Doane, including Narrative Medicine, since 2005. He earned his MA in English from Kansas State University and his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska. Fun fact: his first job out of college saw him serve as the speechwriter and deputy press secretary for a former Nebraska governor.
Melanie Ritzenthaler - Assistant Professor
402-826-8310
[email protected]
Professor Melanie Ritzenthaler has taught at Doane University in Nebraska since 2022. She received her MFA and MA in Fiction from McNeese State University and her PhD at Ohio University, where she also received a certificate in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Fun fact: Melanie originally had an interest in going into a different field, graduating with a BA in Psychology from The Ohio State University.
Jeremy Caldwell - Director of The Writing Center
402-826-8262
[email protected]
Jeremy Caldwell serves as Director of the Writing Center for Doane. He earned his MA in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His writing has been published in Comstock Review, Work Literary Magazine, Potomac Review, and Prairie Schooner, among others. He also leads the public reading series Write Out Loud and the annual Sandhills Writing Marathon with students each spring. Fun fact: Jeremy has written a haiku almost every day for the past five years.
Support at Doane
Student success matters that’s why Doane ensures you have the support you need no matter where you are in your educational journey.
Our flexible program and personalized advising make it possible for some students to graduate in three years or less. One approach is our dual-credit pathway that allows students to earn their degree in less time for less money, thanks to the college credits they earned in high school.
We offer several scholarships for students in our program. These awards affirm our literary heritage by supporting a new generation of students who believe in the power of narrative to change the world, one story at a time. Each award is $3000 annually, or $12,000 over four years. The application process is quick and easy.
Work in the Writing Center with Jeremy Caldwell and hone your own writing craft while helping others succeed. It’s a rewarding opportunity to collaborate with peers, gain valuable tutoring experience, and make a meaningful impact on the campus community, all while developing your language and listening skills.
Our flexible program and personalized advising make it possible for some students to graduate in three years or less. One approach is our dual-credit pathway that allows students to earn their degree in less time for less money, thanks to the college credits they earned in high school.
We offer several scholarships for students in our program. These awards affirm our literary heritage by supporting a new generation of students who believe in the power of narrative to change the world, one story at a time. Each award is $3000 annually, or $12,000 over four years. The application process is quick and easy.
Work in the Writing Center with Jeremy Caldwell and hone your own writing craft while helping others succeed. It’s a rewarding opportunity to collaborate with peers, gain valuable tutoring experience, and make a meaningful impact on the campus community, all while developing your language and listening skills.
English and Writing
A degree in English makes students uniquely qualified for professional positions because of the skills developed through analyzing texts, conducting original research, and writing.
Experiences
Our first priority is you, your experience in our program and the quality of your life after you leave. The most important and enduring thing we'll ever do is empower creative and talented people like you to find your voice.
Fireside
Fireside is the perfect place to connect and share meaningful conversations about life. Whether you're a student, faculty member or friend, you'll find a warm, supportive community around the Smith Hall fire pit.
Bookless Book Club
The Bookless Book Club redefines storytelling by going beyond traditional books. We dive into popular films and series, exploring them with the same literary techniques you’d use in class, but in a more fun and engaging way.
Visiting Experts
The Lucille Cobb Lecture series brings experts from diverse fields right to campus. Learn from leading minds and see how different disciplines intersect in fascinating ways.
Travel Courses
Join us for unforgettable international adventures! We’re currently planning a tour of the United Kingdom, with a trip to London and beyond scheduled for May 2025.
Student Research
Our students frequently collaborate with faculty on projects that lead to conference presentations, publications, and even grant proposals for exciting new initiatives like the Integrated Humanities program.
Xanadu
Publish your writing, photography and more in Xanadu, a multimedia reimagining of the art and literary magazine that has been published since 1956 by students in the English and Writing program at Doane University in Nebraska.
Ghosts of Gaylord
Get ready for a spooktacular tradition: our annual Ghosts of Gaylord movie night on Halloween! The ancient Gaylord Hall, with ghostly legends, is the perfect setting for a thrilling evening of classic horror films.
Coffee and Creativity
Imagine a live podcast without cameras and microphones. C&C gathers in Doane’s Lakeside Coffee Shop to explore a variety of topics in education, literature and the arts, health and wellness, and more.
Student Engagement
Students participate in many opportunities to grow their skills and collaborate with peers.
Wounded Healers is an inspiring series that brings students together with alumni and healthcare professionals to explore how literary studies and the liberal arts play a crucial role in medical education and patient care. Discover how your passion for the stories and storytelling can shape a fulfilling career in healthcare.
Write Out Loud celebrates the collaborative spirit of creativity and the excitement of performing poetry and stories. Join fellow poets and writers in a supportive workshop environment where you’ll create together and bring your words to life in front of live audiences.
The Sandhill Writing Marathon is a unique adventure blending food, wildlife, and writing. This day trip across Nebraska takes you to the Cranes Trust Nature & Visitor Center, where you’ll experience the breathtaking annual gathering along the Platte River. It’s the perfect opportunity to be inspired by nature and let your creativity soar.
Marianne Clarke, a 1938 graduate of Doane University, enjoyed a distinguished career in journalism as a writer and editor. In memory of this legacy, the Clarke family established the Marianne Clarke Writing Excellence Awards Fund in 1987 as a tribute to excellence in writing at Doane. Today, the English Department, its faculty and students, are proud to be stewards of this tradition by presenting three annual writing contests that showcase writers and writing at Doane.
Wounded Healers is an inspiring series that brings students together with alumni and healthcare professionals to explore how literary studies and the liberal arts play a crucial role in medical education and patient care. Discover how your passion for the stories and storytelling can shape a fulfilling career in healthcare.
Write Out Loud celebrates the collaborative spirit of creativity and the excitement of performing poetry and stories. Join fellow poets and writers in a supportive workshop environment where you’ll create together and bring your words to life in front of live audiences.
The Sandhill Writing Marathon is a unique adventure blending food, wildlife, and writing. This day trip across Nebraska takes you to the Cranes Trust Nature & Visitor Center, where you’ll experience the breathtaking annual gathering along the Platte River. It’s the perfect opportunity to be inspired by nature and let your creativity soar.
Marianne Clarke, a 1938 graduate of Doane University, enjoyed a distinguished career in journalism as a writer and editor. In memory of this legacy, the Clarke family established the Marianne Clarke Writing Excellence Awards Fund in 1987 as a tribute to excellence in writing at Doane. Today, the English Department, its faculty and students, are proud to be stewards of this tradition by presenting three annual writing contests that showcase writers and writing at Doane.
Did you know?
Doane is the oldest liberal arts university in the state of Nebraska. We were founded back then as a “literary institution of a high order." That tradition continues today with a warm and welcoming literary community that reflects our commitment to each of our students.
English and the Liberal Arts
The Doane Difference
Excellent Advising
One of the most important college experiences is engaging and learning in your classes. At the Doane Learning Center, our students have free access to academic counseling and support to exceed in their studies.
Affordable Education
At Doane University, we reward students for their achievements both in and outside of the classroom. Through scholarships, grants, work-study, and on-campus employment, our students look forward to starting jobs, not payment plans.
Rich Campus Culture
With over 60 student-led clubs and organizations, including a Student Programming Board that sponsors competitions and guest appearances, our campus is a community. From Athletes to Zumba enthusiasts, there is a place for you at Doane University.
