The mission of the Department of English & Modern Languages at UMES is to foster critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills in both content and methods of literary and digital media studies, English education, foreign languages proficiency, academic and professional writing. We believe that improving writing skills, digital media literacy, English and foreign language proficiencies through cutting-edge inclusive pedagogy, research, and community engagement will help to transform the lives of our students at the state, national, and global levels.
VISION
· To provide appropriate student-centered pedagogies that will lead to the success of our students as leaders in education, translation, the communication industry, the arts & entertainment industries, the publishing industry, and creative entrepreneurship.
· To offer self-awareness as citizens of a larger community by encouraging participation in service learning and in diverse and international programming.
· To transform our students through creative application of English and foreign languages to STEM disciplines, media and theater productions, professional writing, and education training.
· To support faculty scholarship and service through the provision of resources for participation in activities of inclusive professional development.
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
The department offers majors in Digital Media Studies, English, and English education as well as minors in English, Foreign Languages, Digital Media Studies, and Spanish. In addition, the department offers courses that are crucial to, and required by, a number of degree programs across the campus by housing the University General Education Program and the University Writing Center.
The department has become a full member of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) due to our Digital Media Studies program. BEA is the premier international academic media organization, driving insights, excellence in media production, and career advancement for educators, students, and professionals. BEA is concerned with electronic media curricula, placing an emphasis on interactions among the purposes, developments, and practices of the industry and imparting this information to future professionals.
We have also become a member of the National Communication Association (NCA) at the beginning of 2024. We are in the process of establishing the Lambda Pi Eta at UMES, the NCA’s prestigious honor society, which encourages the pursuit of excellence in communication studies and fosters a sense of community among students, educators, and professionals dedicated to advancing the discipline.
