The English program explores how literature and writing shape our understanding of ourselves, our histories and our cultures and provides a springboard to many diverse and rewarding careers.
Your Experience
Our English Department inspires students to engage with big ideas in literature and to express themselves in writing with eloquence and style. By studying great works of prose and poetry from the medieval period to the present, students deepen their understanding of diverse cultures, histories and sociopolitical perspectives. In our intensive writing courses, students hone their skills with language and find their unique voices as poets, fiction writers, essayists and critics. English majors practice strong writing, active reading, careful research, and creative thinking, all of which are crucial skills for success in 21st-century careers.
As an English major, you’ll work closely with a faculty adviser to craft a curriculum that focuses on your literary interests and career goals. Our flexible 36-credit major is ideal for adding a double major or minor in complementary disciplines, such as law and society, psychology, drama, biology, film, journalism, game design or public relations. If you have an interest in creative writing, you can choose to pursue an optional concentration in that area and tailor your course selections to pursue your vision. Students who plan to pursue a degree in secondary education must follow the secondary education curriculum, which is designed to meet state requirements for discipline-specific knowledge of literature. The English program culminates in a capstone course, where you’ll produce an original project that illustrates the depth of your knowledge and creativity.
The English major is both active and engaging. Our Visiting Writers Series brings professional authors and poets to campus for public readings and discussions, and our Student Writers Series spotlights the exceptional work of Quinnipiac’s most creative undergraduates. Montage, our student-run literary journal, provides opportunities for hands-on editing and publishing experience, and many of our majors contribute to The Quinnipiac Chronicle and other student-run publications. A select number of students who display strong talent and passion for literary study are invited to join the English Honors Society.
