BA/BS in English Language and Literature, General

The English department wants every student to write and speak effectively and to read with skill, care and enjoyment. Its offerings cover literary history, influential authors, competing theoretical approaches, shifts in the language and newer areas of inquiry that continue to emerge. Students who wish to write creatively can also do so, with opportunities to pursue their own poetry, fiction or other projects alongside analytical coursework. Majors are expected to finish with a well-rounded grasp of the literary tradition and of the methods used to interpret it. The habits built here, including close reading, argument and revision, carry well beyond the classroom. Graduates move into publishing, teaching, law, media, nonprofit work and graduate study, and many keep writing throughout their lives. The program suits readers who enjoy language and want to sharpen their own voice.