English
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Major Requirements
Liberal Studies Requirements
Schedule of Classes
Department Site
To inquire about this program:
Admission Office | 312-362-8300
A program of high quality, the English major provides a wide familiarity with literature in English, a firm grasp of historical and critical principles, and skill in using the written word. And with 43 full-time faculty members, the Department of English offers programs of interest to a wide variety of students at all levels of the curriculum.
More than 250 undergraduate students are English majors, taking courses in literature, language, and writing from nearly two dozen upper-level courses offered each quarter. Other students pursue one of three minors in literature, creative writing, and professional writing, or meet Liberal Studies requirements by taking courses offered by the department.
The department's curriculum unites historical and theoretical perspectives in literary study with the practical ability to communicate effectively in writing. It encourages critical and creative thought and an awareness of multiple points of view. And as a course of study firmly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and dealing in a fundamental way with the human spirit, it invites students to examine and to build on personal and civic values.
The department's outstanding faculty enjoy a reputation for distinguished classroom instruction and personal attention to students. Recognized experts in their fields, they have published nearly 30 books since 1990, including three collections of poetry and short fiction and scholarly studies of subjects ranging from medieval devotional literature for women to twentieth-century writing instruction in Canada.
Visiting writers are featured on campus every quarter, and students in the department produce the university's literary/arts journal, Threshold, annually. Membership in Sigma Tau Delta, the national English honor society, is available to approximately twenty new majors each year.
