While the core of the English Literature major explores the British and American canon, the program also special topics courses based on student interest. These include world literatures in translation and literatures that focus on cultures, genres, periods, and themes representative of non-western as well as western perspectives. Studies occur in an environment marked by strong faculty commitment to student-centered education. Our students also benefit from interdisciplinary courses in Creative Writing, Theater, and/ or Professional Writing, which may also count toward the English major. As a result, students are actively engaged in achieving individual excellence and are involved also in the larger life of formal and informal program activities in and out of class. Social elements of the program include a student mentoring program, a literature society, and a chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International Honor Society. The faculty keeps office doors open, and advisement is a keystone of the department. Students regularly attend national conferences to present their papers. The academic design of the curriculum fosters progressive intellectual development; depth and breadth of knowledge of literature and its many integrated contexts (especially philosophical, psychological, historical, aesthetic, and cross-cultural); and the assembly of critical thinking, analytical writing, argument and defense, research, presentation, and related skills, all of which advantage students for leadership roles, graduate studies, and professional careers not only in teaching, but in many other fields as well. All majors complete a capstone, year-long, senior thesis of publishable quality and present their findings in Senior Colloquium. The Department also hosts a yearly Career Night with returning majors providing tips for future career and internship opportunities and our web page updates students on a variety of paid and unpaid internship opportunities.
