English, B.A.

The College of Arts and Sciences  offers an undergraduate major in English to students who seek to develop expertise in English Studies, including the critical analysis of literature, theoretical reflection on language and rhetoric, and advanced practice in writing. English majors take coursework in literary studies, composition and rhetoric, language studies, and creative writing, learning how texts are created, received, and interpreted. Students train in close reading and literary interpretation; they apply critical and rhetorical approaches in their study of language and texts; and they learn to situate a wide range of cultural texts within the social, political, and historical contexts in which they are written and read.

The skills cultivated in the English BA-close reading, critical analysis, research, and written communication-prepare English majors for the practical and intellectual challenges of a broad range of professional careers. In addition, the BA in English with a concentration in English Teacher Education prepares students to meet the specific needs and challenges of teaching English in the secondary classroom.

Our graduates have gone on to careers in secondary education, publishing, marketing, advertising, program management, higher education, business, and media. They have also pursued graduate studies in English, Library Science, and Law. The wide range of literary and cultural texts that English majors study helps them develop a deep appreciation for the diversity of human experience and equips them to be thoughtful, creative, active members of their communities at the local, national, and global levels.

Program Expected Student Outcomes

Upon completion of a BA in English, students will be able to:

• Create texts in various genres and situations while demonstrating understanding of rhetorical concepts.
• Employ critical reading methodologies to understand, interpret, analyze, and respond to texts in their formal, contextual, and rhetorical complexity. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of key disciplinary theories and concepts by applying them to a variety of texts and situations. 
• Develop productive research questions and methods, and then locate, evaluate, organize, and integrate sources appropriate to the writing situation and task.