"You're not just a number in the English department," English major Chelsey Smith says. English classes are usually small, seminar-style, and comfortable. Besides studying the "greats" like Chaucer and Shakespeare, English students can take "topics" courses like Fairy Tale Literature, interdisciplinary courses like The American West, and creative courses like screen-writing and fiction. English faculty have received top honors for their teaching:

• Terry Nienhuis is a fellow at the Coulter Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching, where he edits Faculty Forum and Notes & Quotes.
• James Addison directs the Mountain Area Writing Project and teaches creative writing techniques to primary and secondary instructors.
• Mary Warner directs English Education.
• Mimi Fenton recently won the Arts and Sciences Teaching Award. Many English faculty regularly receive nominations for top teaching awards.