Thanks to the range of the department’s course offerings, students often broaden the focus of their studies to include film and video, popular culture, mythology and folklore, as well as foreign-language literatures in English translation. All students are encouraged to become critical readers, learning to employ — both inside and outside the English classroom — the skills of close reading, historical contextualization, and theoretical reflection. As critical writers, in turn, they learn how to formulate compelling questions and to craft original essays that effectively intervene both in academic and cultural conversations. Some students develop as creative writers through workshops that emphasize the writing of poetry, prose fiction, autobiography, and plays. Others will take the opportunity to practice the craft of journalism and work on the student newspaper.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge to:

• Think, read, speak, and above all write critically and creatively
• Be able to read in detail and in cultural context
• Understand critical methods and theoretical concepts
• Gain an understanding of periods and genres
• Develop ability to articulate an idea lucidly and persuasively in writing
• Develop skills for doing research and deploying evidence appropriately
• Appreciate aesthetic experience