Orientation 2022 | English Department

Welcome to Pirate Nation, Class of 2026

We are so excited you chose ECU and ECU English. We are a group of engaged and diverse students and scholars and look forward to you joining us in the Fall. This orientation page will help you learn more about who we are as a department, as well as what you can expect in the Fall. You’ll find videos about our English program, a welcome from our department chair, spotlights on recent graduates from our programs, and some next steps to take before the fall semester begins.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Pirate Nation in August.

Go English!

(To view all our videos with closed-captioning, please go to our YouTube Channel)

Greetings from the Chair of the Department

Welcome, new Pirates, to ECU and to the Department of English! We are thrilled that you will be part of our community of people who love language, writing, and all kinds of texts, from literature to film. In this department, you’ll find award-winning teachers who care about you, your goals, and your success; faculty advisors who will help you to chart your path; and classmates who will challenge and inspire you. We can’t wait for you to explore all that the English major, minors, and certificates have to offer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you might have about studying English at ECU. English can take you where you want to go!

Go English!

Your First Steps as a Pirate

We are eager to meet, study, and learn with you in the Fall. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to prepare yourself for beginning your journey at ECU.

Kayla Jones, B.A. (Spring 2022)
“Changing my major to English, during my sophomore year at ECU, was one of the best decisions I made. Choosing a major that I was actually interested in but also that would assist my prospective career, current, and future endeavors has helped me to grow into a well-rounded individual. The curriculum taught through your college career, helps you to become an amazing student that is prepared for life far after graduation. It has impacted my involvement on campus as well as the community. For that, I am forever grateful. Also, with the help of the faculty in this program, I have always found peace and assurance in the decisions I’ve made whether it be class advising, career advising, or life advice. The English Department is truly amazing.”

Alexis Zarro, B.A. (Fall 2020)
“ECU was not my first-choice school, but if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change a thing. ECU is a fantastic school, all thanks to the wonderful students, the classes, and the supportive teachers. Also, if it wasn’t for ECU, I would never have found my passion for writing, and I would still be rat racing for a career that I don’t even want.”