The Department of English offers a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature with concentrations in language or literature. Courses in literature and language analyze global intellectual and cultural traditions, ideals and values in order to enhance self-understanding and empathy for others; explain how societies are defined in relation to culture, nationality, race, ethnicity and gender; and analyze and explain implied and expressed cultural values and attitudes in works of literature, as well as explain the development of human institutions, ideas and social structures. Literature and linguistics courses are also related to the social sciences, elucidating ideas in the following areas: sociology, psychology, history, language theory, political science and cultural studies.

The Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature program provides students with a broad knowledge of the ways in which literature explores the human experience and how language conveys meaning, preparing students for careers in such diverse fields as publishing, teaching and professional writing, as well as in the public sector and corporate world, and for graduate study. In addition, the major program in English provides relevant preparation for students interested in the future study of law and education.

The goals of the Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature are to:

• Provide knowledge of the linguistic structure of English and its literary use
• Enable students to understand English within its historical, theoretical and cultural context
• Provide students with insights into the complexity of human thought, emotion and interaction
• Teach students the research tools, critical processes and analytical skills necessary for advanced study in diverse fields