The program in English is committed to establishing a habit of lifelong learning that emphasizes the relationship of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Undergraduate English and Writing majors will be able to:
Reflect critically on issues of textual representation in a diverse set of texts from literary classics to contemporary film, from the Anglo-Saxon canon to postcolonial and feminist expansions of that canon.
Reflect on habits of reading and writing and be able to identify their strengths and limitations in particular contexts.
Use a wide range of styles and approaches in their writing.
Understand the interrelated nature of writing, reading, thinking, and creating.
Read a text with close attention to its many facets.
Understand past, present, and potential approaches to English studies and its relationship to other academic disciplines.
Be aware of a variety of aesthetic, political, material, and social contexts for and approaches to English studies.
Our courses involve students in a range of activities, including discussions (in class and on-line), collaborative projects, conferences, presentations, and service learning. Our graduates pursue professional careers in such fields as advertising, publishing, education, management, computers, public relations, and public service, or pursue post-baccalaureate study in graduate or professional schools, including law, medicine, and business.