English offers an ideal balance between the intellectual and the practical: our students explore intriguing topics in language and literature while developing skills relevant to almost every career field. For this reason English is a great complement to other courses of study, from marketing, to public health, to biochemistry. Our classes are small, discussion-based seminars, and students and faculty get to know each other well. Many of our students get involved with Sigma Tau Delta (the national English honor society) and our own Professional Writing Club, which publishes the online journal Memorandum. The study of English literature challenges students to develop their skills in reading, critical analysis, and written expression and also to develop a deeper appreciation of the aesthetic and historical contexts in which authors wrote.

A bachelor’s degree in English is one of the most versatile degrees you can find; it prepares you for a multitude of careers that involve writing and communication, including careers in teaching, public relations and marketing, editing and publishing, corporate communications, writing for media, and creative work. A major in English is also great preparation for continued graduate and professional training in areas such as medicine, law, psychology, and social work.