Students in the English Department achieve a breadth of historical and critical exposure, chiefly but not exclusively in British, American and Irish literature and culture. They will study literary technique, style, form, genre, and the Anglo-American literary tradition. Opportunities may include creative writing workshops taught by novelists or poets of national and international reputation. Classes characteristically are small (15-20 students) and emphasize lecture and discussion. Approaches to critical writing go hand in hand with approaches to critical reading and essay examinations and term papers typically are required.
Extracurricular life originating in the Faculty of English is rich and varied. An undergraduate literary magazine is published annually, and there are close ties to performances in the Faculties of Theatre and Music, as well as to special programs in related disciplines such as art, communication, foreign languages, and history. In addition, undergraduates benefit from a number of guest lecturers, visiting artists, and special conferences brought to campus each year by the English department.
Students who can write clearly and think creatively typically find jobs in a wide range of occupations, many of them located well beyond what is traditionally considered the career path of English or creative writing. Some of the most common jobs are editing/publishing, grant and proposal writing, feature film and television writer and digital copywriter just to name a few.