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B.A. in English (General Information)

Student in ClassroomThe 128-credit B.A. in English offers students the opportunity to concentrate in:

   •  Literature
   •  Creative Writing
   •  Writing and Rhetoric

All English majors gain a breadth of knowledge of English literary traditions, including American and Anglophone literatures around the world. In the Creative Writing concentration, students develop their abilities to express themselves imaginatively in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students concentrating in Writing and Rhetoric hone their skills in writing clearly and persuasively for any audience or purpose. In all three programs, students gain an extensive knowledge of literature, a sense of the scope of English studies, and familiarity with important issues in their fields of concentration. All three programs require the completion of 33 credits in English courses 100 level or above.

For more information, contact the English Department's undergraduate registration advisor, Wayne Berninger, at wayne.berninger@liu.edu.

About the Field of English

English majors are sought after by employers because they demonstrate the ability to think, write and argue persuasively. English majors are skilled readers who know how to analyze texts, and they use these same abilities whether they are in or outside the classroom. In a world where jobs increasingly focus on the management of information, English majors have an advantage because they are strong readers who know how to interpret complex information. Moreover, they are prepared to succeed in careers that require strong writing and communications skills.

The English Minor

The English Department welcomes majors from other departments across the Campus who wish to minor in English as a way to supplement their academic specialties with advanced skills in textual analysis, writing and rhetoric. A minor allows you to pursue interests outside your major field and demonstrates the diversity of your skills to future employers and/or graduate programs. A minor consists of four English courses numbered 100 or above.

Students wishing to minor in English should be aware that English courses are often cross-listed in Honors, Gender Studies, Africana Studies, or Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

Downtown Brooklyn: A Journal of Writing

Creative writers from any of the concentrations have the opportunity to submit their work to the English Department’s literary magazine, Downtown Brooklyn.