The undergraduate English major (consisting of five options: Literature, Creative Writing, Subject Matter, FYI and JYI, and Honors) is designed for students who desire to concentrate in a specific field under the broader category of English. Students are required to choose one of these options at the time they declare their English major. For further information concerning the choice of options or related career opportunities for those with a B.A. in English, see an English department advisor. The Creative Writing option provides students with the opportunity to develop narrative, verse or playwriting skills, while building a solid background of study in British and American literature. The English department at CSUN is a community of teachers, scholars, writers and support staff whose primary mission is to promote learning in literature, creative writing, composition and linguistics and to help students acquire knowledge, develop skills and realize their own intellectual and creative goals. In pursuit of our mission, the department also is committed to promoting faculty development in areas such as research, scholarly and creative work, publication and other professional activities for the advancement of knowledge and pedagogy.