Why Major in English?

Students major in English for a variety of reasons. They

• Love literature and want to learn to read it more attentively and analytically
• Want to write more clearly, creatively, or persuasively
• Want to sharpen their critical thinking
• Are interested in issues of cultural representation
• Want to use critical theories to read diverse texts
• Feel drawn to studying imaginative literature, rhetoric, or creative writing for how they lead us to a fuller, more ethical life
• Want to learn how to better process information, to write and research, and to publish their work for professional audiences
• Recognize that, with its emphasis on critical thinking, reading, and writing, an English degree serves as excellent preparation for graduate school in business, law, or medicine
• Plan to teach English at the secondary-school or university level