English - A.B.

In any given semester, you will find courses covering a wide range of topics. We offer classes focused on particular genres (fantasy, poetry, science fiction), classes based in historical periods (like Modernism or Medievalism), classes focused on particular kinds of writing (creative writing, technical writing, digital storytelling) and more. We also offer classes focused on the way literature interacts with various big ideas and topics, like Literature and Revolution, Literature and the Natural World, Literature and Philosophy, and Literature and Childhood. The majority of our courses are taught in a discussion format with great attention paid to the nuances of language and style. English classes are generally small, so students have the opportunity to get to know their professors.

As an English major, you will hone your skills as a reader, writer and communicator. Every organization and company needs people who can read and write well.  If you have ever gone to a museum’s website, or listened to a podcast, or clicked through an email advertising a sale at your favorite store, there was someone like you on the other end creating these examples of successful communication.  Companies and organizations have stories to tell—to stakeholders, to other businesses, and to the public, and someone majoring or minoring in English has the necessary close reading skills, audience awareness skills, argument crafting skills, research skills, and rhetorical sensitivity to thrive in content producing and editing positions.  Some (though certainly not all) possible career paths include: nonprofit organizations; marketing and public relations; publishing; web content production; and libraries.

View the Requirements for an English Major

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