The Bachelor of Arts degree in English provides students with a broad acquaintance with British, American, and world literature written in English, along with its cultural and historical contexts. Through its focus on the interpretation, analysis, and production of literary and other texts, the English Department teaches students how those texts shape and are shaped by the world around them. In so doing, students acquire the critical skills they need to analyze and participate in these interactions and contribute to the shaping of their worlds. The faculty’s teaching and research in literature, creative writing, and composition/rhetoric combine to foster excellence in critical reading, creative thinking, and effective writing.

The concentration in professional writing and editing is designed for students who wish to major in English and to study literature while also acquiring specific job skills in professional writing and editing. The concentration prepares students for careers in freelance professional and technical writing and provides essential training for positions in business or government that emphasize written communication.