Advising
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Questions?
If you have registration or major declaration questions, please contact our English Undergraduate Program Coordinator & Advisor: Elle Starr
Phone: 360-650-6846
Email: Elle.Starr@wwu.edu
Advising FAQ
Remember to use your Western email and include your W# if you email staff or faculty. Please review our FAQ to determine your next steps.
How to Declare an English Major
Step 1: Determine which English Major you want to Declare
The English Department offers five English Majors. Learn more about your options on our Majors page.
Step 2: Complete the Major Prerequisites
The prerequisites for declaring an English major are:
1. 60 college credits completed
2. Satisfactory completion of English 202 - Writing About Literature or equivalent course
Step 3: Declare with an Advisor
When you're ready to declare an English major, please contact the English Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Elle Starr.

Undergraduate Advising: Office Hours
Elle Starr is available for Major declarations on
In person drop-in hours, HU 327:
Tues & Thurs: 10am - 11:30am, 2pm - 3:30pm
*I will not be holding in-person drop-in hours this Tuesday, 5/23.
Zoom advising:
Mon & Wed: by Appointment. Book on Calendly.
Email: Elle.Starr@wwu.edu
Faculty Advisors
For questions specific to your major, please reach out to a faculty advisor:
Literature majors may also email Ning.Yu@wwu.edu.
Creative writers, last names A-K, may email Kathryn.Trueblood@wwu.edu.
Creative writers, last names L-Z, may email Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi at Arakikh@wwu.edu.
All teaching endorsement students may contact Steve VanderStaay (vandesl@wwu.edu).
Please be sure to use your Western email account and to include your W# in all Western correspondence. Be specific with your questions.
How to Declare an English Minor
Once you determine the English minor you wish to declare, please reach out to the corresponding advisor.
English and Creative Writing:
Please email Elle Starr: Elle.Starr@wwu.edu
Women's Lit Minors:
Please email Ning Yu at Ning.Yu@wwu.edu.
Film Studies Minor:
Please email Greg Youmans at Greg.Youmans@wwu.edu.
Professional Writing, Literacies, and Rhetoric minor:
Please email Donna Qualley at Donna.Qualley@wwu.edu.
Please be sure to use your Western email account and to include your W# in all Western correspondence. Be specific with your questions.
Major Evaluations
How do I get my literature or creative writing major evaluation?
Literature and Creative Writing majors may also contact their major advisors for support with this need, as well as for other questions you may have that are related to your major. Literature majors may email Ning.Yu@wwu.edu. Creative writers, last names A-K, may email Kathryn.Trueblood@wwu.edu. Creative writers, last names L-Z, may email Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi at Arakikh@wwu.edu.
How do I get my teaching endorsement option evaluation?
All teaching endorsement students may contact Steve VanderStaay (vandesl@wwu.edu), the teaching endorsement options advisor.
How do I get my minor evaluation?
English minors and Women's Lit minors may email Ning.Yu@wwu.edu. Creative writers, last names A-K, may email Kathryn.Trueblood@wwu.edu. Creative writers, last names L-Z, may email Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi at Arakikh@wwu.edu.
Film Studies minors, please email Greg.Youmans@wwu.edu.
Professional Writing, Literacies, and Rhetoric minors, please email Donna.Qualley@wwu.edu.
Please be sure to use your Western email account and to include your W# in all Western correspondence. Be specific with your questions.
Resources
Please be sure to review your progress throughout the major or the minor in DegreeWorks. You can find DegreeWorks in Web4U. If the DegreeWorks evaluation does not seem correct or you have questions, please contact an advisor.
Plans of Study for Majors:
- Literature (Catalog Year: 22-23)
- Creative Writing (Catalog Year: 22-23)
- Literature with the Teaching Endorsement Option (Catalog Year: 22-23)
- Creative Writing with the Teaching Endorsement Option (Catalog Year: 22-23)
- English Language Learner (ELL)/Bilingual Endorsement Option (Catalog Year: 22-23)
Informational Links
- Creative Writing: Catalog | English Department Site
- Literature: Catalog | English Department Site
- Teaching Endorsement Options: Catalog (Literature) | Catalog (Creative Writing) | English Department Site
- Advice for Future English Majors with Teaching Endorsement Options
- English minor: Catalog | English Department Site
- Creative Writing minor: Catalog | English Department Site
- Film Studies minor: Catalog | English Department Site
- Professional Writing, Literacies, and Rhetoric minor: Catalog | English Department Site | Handout
Declaration Forms
Please see an advisor before completing any of these forms: