(Bachelor of Arts)

Courses in English develop students’ understanding of important works of American, English, and world literatures, give them awareness of – and appreciation for – our literary heritage, provide them with historical and theoretical perspectives, and deepen their insight into their own experience. These courses also develop students’ ability to express their ideas orally and in writing and to conduct research. The English program also offers courses in the writing of poetry and fiction, and an emphasis in creative writing.

Students enroll in English classes for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from personal growth and enrichment to preparation for a profession or career. Graduates in English have found employment in teaching, personnel work, public relations, business management, journalism, publishing, and many other fields requiring a strong liberal arts background and communication skills.

Students majoring in English often select minors in Humanistic Studies, Design Arts, or Arts Management, but may choose Human Development, Democracy and Justice Studies, or other appropriate programs. Students majoring in English who wish to teach in the secondary public schools must minor in Education.

Students seeking information on teacher certification should contact the Education Office.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the English major will:

• Critically read and interpret diverse literary texts using literary techniques, contextual information, scholarly research, and/or theoretical lenses.
• Create original works that demonstrate a unique voice, argument, and/or point of view and that reflect familiarity with key themes in the broader fields of literary studies and creative writing.
• Understand complex social and historical contexts that have shaped and continue to shape literature.
• Critique the systems of power and privilege that have shaped literature and our relationship to those systems.

In addition to the above-listed Outcomes for English majors, students in the Creative Writing emphasis in English will:

• Create, draft, and revise works in multiple genres and forms.
• Analyze the techniques and construction of various written expressions.
• Critique works by peers and published authors alike in various classroom settings, including the writing workshop.
• Situate their work within a larger audience of readers and publishing markets.