English literature student wearing black sweatpants and a tie-dye shirt lays back on the grass while holding a book up and reading during an outdoor class. English literature student wearing black sweatpants and a tie-dye shirt lays back on the grass while holding a book up and reading during an outdoor class. English literature student wearing black sweatpants and a tie-dye shirt lays back on the grass while holding a book up and reading during an outdoor class.

English
Major

Program Overview

Discover the power of stories. Whether you have a passion for reading or writing — or both — our English program will broaden your worldview and open the door to a world of possibilities.

Program Snapshot

Program Type: Full-Time
Location: On Campus
Program Length: 4
Credit Hours: 24 - 39

Why This Program & What You'll Learn

Literature taps into our deepest emotions and illuminates the human experience. As a student of English, you’ll immerse yourself in language, stories and ideas across disciplines.

Our flexible program allows you to design your own major. You can either follow a general program of English studies or focus on a particular interest, such as nonfiction writing, world literature or applied linguistics.

Whichever path you choose, you’ll work closely with faculty who will mentor you, advise you and collaborate with you on research. Our faculty publish widely in the field and have won honors for their teaching and research. They bring expertise in everything from children’s literature to creative writing to linguistics.

You’ll also have access to an exceptional collection of children’s literature. Our Lucile Clarke Memorial Children’s Library has more than 7,000 old and rare children’s books, and our Instructional Materials Center features a variety of contemporary works and teaching materials.

You can also expand your degree by adding an undergraduate certificate in Creative Writing.

Program Highlights

As a student of English literatures, language and writing, you can:

  • Study with award-winning faculty and published authors.
  • Submit your poetry, fiction or nonfiction work to Central Review, our literary journal.
  • Apply for scholarships designed specifically for students in the English department.
  • Find a community of writers by joining student groups such as the Fiction Collective, the Poets Collective​​, ​Word Hammer or the Writing Circle.
  • Hear from prominent poets and fiction writers who come to campus for readings and classroom visits.

Concentrations

Filter Concentrations by Location:
Focus on the English-language literary tradition with courses in the American novel, Shakespeare, old English, African American literature and more.
Explore sounds, word structure, sentence structure, meaning and language acquisition. If you have an interest in the building blocks of language, this specialization is for you.
This specialization introduces you to the rich catalog of literature for young people, including works of fantasy, poetry and international literature.
Develop your voice as a writer. Whether your passion is for fiction, poetry or nonfiction, this specialization immerses you in the practice of your craft.
Explore the intricacies of technical editing, expository writing, document design and more. A specialization in nonfiction writing develops marketable skills that translate to many professions.
Immerse yourself in stories and cultures from around the globe. By studying topics like folklore, myths and Native American literature, you'll expand your perspective.

Careers & Outcomes

The study of English builds highly marketable skills that make you a competitive job candidate in many sectors beyond writing and editing. Graduates go on to rewarding careers in business, law, education, government, publishing, public relations, healthcare, nonprofit organizations, science and technology, among others.

Career Projected Salary
College Professor/Instructor $84,380
Communications Director $78,854
Technical Writer $80,050
Writer/Author $73,690
Public Relations/Communications Specialist $66,750
English Language and Literature Professor $74,280
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