Undergraduate
Why Be an English Major?
Our department offers one of the most popular majors at the university and continues
to attract a growing number of students to our minors in English and in Rhetoric and
Writing Studies. The reasons are not hard to discover: a highly diverse curriculum,
a dedicated faculty, and opportunities for students to learn outside as well as inside
the classroom.
English majors and minors explore many areas of special interest. In addition to the
more traditional historical fields of English and American Literature, students pursue
interests in creative writing, composition pedagogy, gender studies, literature of
the American south, film, ecology, religion & literature, literature & philosophy,
folklore, postcolonial literature, and literature in English by Native American, African
American, Arab American, and Latino/Latina American authors. All of these areas enable
students to develop a deep and flexible understanding of human expression and experience
that will enrich the rest of their lives--both culturally and in practical terms.
Likewise, our English alumni excel whether they enter graduate school or go directly on the job market. Businesses and employers know that in addition to being good communicators, English students are trained to approach problems creatively, critically, and from multiple angles--skills that are highly valued in many professional realms.
Undergraduate Students in the News
E. Marie Gray (B.A. '22) was awarded the Felix Christopher McKean Memorial Award by the Program in Creative Writing and Translation
Seven U of A Students Named U.S. Fulbright Finalists
June 17, 2022
Cate Casey (B.A. '21) was named a 2022-2023 Fulbright Finalist! Casey subsequently completed her Master of Education in teacher education, focusing on secondary education.
Undergraduate Publication News Posted on FB Page
June 27, 2022
Jordan Smith (B.A. '22) published her first solo poetry collection, NoteWorthy, through Bottlecap Press!
Our Undergraduate Community
Our English majors make up an accomplished group of students who excel outside the classroom as well as within it. They pursue competitive internship opportunities, present at conferences, publish both academic and creative writing, and study abroad.
In addition, a network of support and a strong sense of community exist among our undergraduates, created by the efforts of the students as much as the faculty. We have an active chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honors Society, as well as regular departmental events for undergraduates majors and minors.
Finally, we encourage those within the department, across campus, and beyond to check out The Diamond Line, the department's undergraduate literary magazine, overseen by Jane Blunschi, Assistant Director of the Program in Creative Writing & Translation. The magazine is published every fall and spring semester by students enrolled in ENGL 3903: Literary Magazine Production.
Scholarships
English majors are eligible for a wide variety of College and University scholarships. Information about these is available from the Office of Financial Aid, and on the Fulbright College Scholarships webpage.