English Major
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About the Major
English at Elon combines enthusiasm and ambition for those who love the written word. An English major fosters a wide range of futures and is the onramp to any profession that values careful reading, effective writing, sharp thinking and artful invention.
Jobs in English
- PR Specialist
- Author
- Editor
- Journalist
- Grant writer
Past Elon English Internships
- Duke University Press
- Sinclair Broadcasting Group
- The Greenville Upcountry History Museum
- Bolt Public Relations
- NBC Nightly News
Related Majors
2009 graduate publishes book on classic video game ‘GoldenEye 007’
In 2022, Alyse Knorr published a book that will undoubtedly spark nostalgia among video game enthusiasts. After two years of research and writing, she completed “GoldenEye 007,” which outlines the full development and history of the iconic video game.
Knorr’s personal connection with the game, which she played as a child during sleepovers, inspired her to explore the story of its creation.
Knorr, an associate professor of English at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and a 2009 graduate of Elon, chose to detail the history of the game, rather than appraise its value and quality. She said she hopes readers will appreciate the influential role “GoldenEye 007” had in the development of first-person shooter games and video game culture.
I am so grateful to Elon for teaching me lessons about writing, journalism, and life that continue to make me a fulfilled human being today.
“The game was at the end of the pre-internet era,” Knorr said. “It was in that generation of the last games that people played together in person before we were only playing games online for a long time.”
Knorr said she faced many challenges in researching and writing the definitive history of the game.
“The biggest challenge is that people had already written about it,” Knorr said. “A lot of my work was a compilation of what was already out there and putting it in a story that made sense. That allowed me to ask the game developers new and interesting questions.”
As a writer and educator, Knorr’s experience at Elon University influenced her approach to writing the book. She was a double major in English — with a creative writing focus — and journalism and became heavily involved in The Pendulum, the university’s student-run newspaper. She credits her college experiences with providing her the skills and knowledge she needed to write professionally.
“I am so grateful to Elon for teaching me lessons about writing, journalism and life that continue to make me a fulfilled human being today,” Knorr said.
In addition to teaching creative writing and literature at Regis, Knorr has been busy publishing her work. After “GoldenEye 007” went to press in 2022, she published her fourth collection of poetry, “Ardor,” in September 2023 and has two more books of poetry forthcoming.
In her career, Knorr has drawn inspiration from her instructors at Elon, who encouraged her to push herself in her writing and investigative journalism.
Drew Perry, an associate professor of English, served as a mentor to Knorr during college and is no stranger to her success.
“I remember Alyse as a voracious and omnivorous reader, as somebody possessed of an enviably fierce work ethic, an always generous critic, and a writer who made the classroom a better, smarter place,” Perry said. “It’s no surprise to me that she’s publishing in all the best places, and all the time — all of us in the writing program knew she would be.”
Did You Know?
- English majors follow their talents and interests by studying one of three concentrations: literature, creative writing or English teacher licensure. An additional self-designed concentration allows students to construct a focused program under the guidance of faculty with expertise in that area.
- Students are encouraged to pursue a double major, either to combine liberal arts and pre-professional training (creative writing/professional writing or literature/professional writing) or to study the interconnectedness of reading and writing (literature/creative writing). Students completing a dual concentration in English prepare a portfolio in each concentration.
- Elon has a national reputation for preparing students for life beyond college. For English majors, that means opportunities to write and publish, teach, conduct research and present findings at conferences, work alongside professors on research projects, and complete internships. English majors write for the literary magazine, study in London and Ireland, consult in the Writing Center, and engage with visiting writers and scholars.