GENERAL INFORMATION AND ONGOING ACTIVITIES

GENERAL INFORMATION AND ONGOING ACTIVITIES

DEGREES: The Department of English and Modern Languages offers undergraduate degrees in English, Spanish and French. Teacher certification programs are offered in all three of these fields and in English as a Second Language. The department offers coursework in German and Philosophy. Within the English major, students may concentrate in creative writing, technical writing, or a combination of these two areas.

MAIN OFFICE: The Department of English and Modern Languages main office is in the Maes Building, Room 04. Departmental Chair Dr. Joe Nordgren may be reached at 880-8558.

ADVISING: Dr. Joe Nordgren and Dr. Jim Sanderson are available to advise prospective majors and handle general student inquiries. During the university pre-registration period, departmental advisers are available during regular working hours on a drop-in basis, although it is always best to call ahead and check office hours. Advising is mandatory for all majors.

LANGUAGE LAB: An up-to-date foreign language laboratory is available for foreign language students. For information contact Dr. Bridges or Dr. Rivers.

PULSE MAGAZINE: This student publication showcases the best creative writing of Lamar students. For information call the Pulse office at 7780 or Sam Gwynn at 8575.

EVENTS

*The High School Foreign Language Competition is held annually. This event welcomes high school students of French, Spanish, and German to compete in demonstrating their foreign language abilities. For further information, contact Instructor Norma Zarzosa (8593).

*Lamar University Writers' Contest is held annually. This event is for high school seniors who have demonstrated superior writing aptitude. For further information, contact Dr. Joe Nordgren (8558).

*Poetry Events. Under the sponsorship of the family of Mrs. Eleanor Pearlstein Weinbaum and the auspices of the Texas Reading Circuit, the department regularly brings poets and writers of national reputation to the Lamar campus for readings.

*Majors' Reception. Each fall, the department hosts a reception with refreshments for our majors on the eighth floor of the John Gray Library.

AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIPS

Rowe Critical Paper Award This $100 award is given annually for the best research paper of critical paper written during a calendar year by an undergraduate student.

Robert B. Rourke Outstanding Graduate Student Award This annual award of $250 is given to the most outstanding graduate student.

Creative Writing Awards in connection with Pulse The Eleanor Poetry Award, the Barnes Poetry Award, the deSchweinitz Poetry Award, the Pulse Fiction Award, the Pulse Essay Award and the Rowe Poetry Award are all given in connection with submissions to and publication in Pulse, the Lamar University student publication for poetry and short fiction.

HONOR SOCIETIES AND CLUBS

Sigma Tau Delta is the national honor society for English majors. Each fall, selected majors are invited to join this service organization. Information about Gamma Nu Chapter is available from Dr. Joe Nordgren (8558).

Pi Delta Phi (French National Honor Society) information is available from Dr. Ken Rivers (8595).

Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish National Honor Society) information is available from Dr. Christine Bridges (8600).

Le Cercle Français (French Circle) is a Lamar-community organization for those interested in French culture and language. Sponsored by Professor Ken Rivers (8595), this organization, open to all interested people, often gathers to see French films and enjoy French wine and conversation.

Circulo Hispaño (Spanish Circle) is a Lamar-community organization that is open to all interested people. Circulo Hispaño promotes a cultural contact among the students with Spanish speaking people of our community . For information about gatherings, call Professor Norma Zarzosa at 8593.

The German League is a Lamar-based group of those interested in German language and culture. Open to all. For information, call Dr. Pam Saur at 8574.