English Major
Explore classic and contemporary literature and find your creative voice.
A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.
Franz Kafka
What Will I Learn?
In the English B.A/B.S., you will get inspired by writers from all walks of life, past and present. You will learn to read deeply and develop insights in the human condition. You will learn to communicate effectively and persuasively. You will tap your imagination and develop your voice.
You’ll also gain confidence in writing and editing. Intern with North Star, the department’s student-run literary magazine, as well as other venues. Help produce Saranac Review — a nationally recognized literary journal — through our course, “Editing and Publishing.”
What is Unique About Our Program?
Flexibility & Options
Customize your degree based on your interests. Choose from three concentrations:
- Literature — Discover the world of literature beyond the high school classroom. You will read
diverse texts, past and present, and learn about different perspectives and cultures.
Through reading, you will gain insight and foster personal growth. The communication
skills you learn will help you develop as a critic and a writer.
- Creative Writing — Find your creative voice and learn how to make your imagination come to life on the
page. In workshops, you will learn different genres: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction,
and screenwriting. Learn about editing and publishing by working on Saranac Review, an international literary journal, and North Star, a student literary journal.
- English Language Arts — Develop a strong foundation for creative English teaching in middle and high school. This concentration curates courses in literature, writing, multimedia and pedagogy that will help make you a great teacher.
Enhance your educational experience by adding another major, a minor or certificate. The professional writing certificate provides you with skills for the business end of writing, such as grant writing and copyediting. Explore global cinema and topics such as film adaptation with our film studies minor.
We also offer an English minor.
What Are My Career Opportunities?
The reading and writing skills you’ll learn in English prepare you for a number of careers in education, publishing, law, entertainment, marketing, business and public relations. You’ll also be ready for graduate school in English and other fields.
The English major’s versatility prepares you for a broad range of jobs, including:
- Creative writer
- Editor
- Literary agent
- Professor
- Librarian
- Speechwriter
- Technical writer
- Grant writer
- Copy editor
- Copywriter
- Podcaster
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Nonprofit roles
- Advocate
- Lobbyist
- Therapist
- High school English teacher
- Middle school English teacher
- Writing center administrator