English Major and Minor

Immerse yourself in Victorian novels or contemporary poetry. Craft your own short stories or a longform investigative journalism piece. Wherever your passions lie, you can turn your love of reading and writing into analytical and communication skills that will serve you well in any career path. As an English major or minor, you’ll learn to read critically, write clearly, and think creatively.

Two students discussing a book with one another

Why Study English at Albion?

We’re deeply committed to both sharpening your skills and broadening your perspectives. We will introduce you to a diversity of voices and human experiences. You’ll be able to tailor your education to study what interests you most. And you’ll be able to take what you’ve learned and apply it, at internships, campus publications and even study-away opportunities.

What Will You Learn as an English Major?

You'll develop the most essential skills required to live and thrive in any society—reading, writing and thinking.

You’ll take courses in a wide range of literature in English, creative writing, and journalism. You’ll study major works and you’ll also examine the impacts of gender, race and ethnicity, and class on the creation and reception of those works.

You’ll examine pieces of writing—essays, poems, stories—to figure out what makes them successful, then you’ll apply that knowledge to your own work.

You’ll become comfortable being challenged and making an argument. You will learn to think your way through complex problems shaped and solved by language. And you’ll understand the power of language and you’ll know how to harness it to make an impact in your own life, in your community or in the world.

Major Courses Minor Courses

Emphases & Certification

In addition to our English literature major, you can pursue an emphasis in Creative Writing or Professional Writing. You can also obtain an Education Certification along with your English major or minor.

Creative Writing Emphasis

As an English major with a Creative Writing emphasis, you’ll take intermediate and advanced workshop courses in poetry or fiction, where you and your classmates will share and critique each other’s work, mentored by instructors who are award winning authors. You’ll also have the opportunity to study screenwriting, journalism, multimedia production, creative nonfiction and more.

Courses

Professional Writing Emphasis

As an English major with a Professional Writing emphasis, you’ll take our most advanced writing courses. You’ll also choose from courses that build career-ready skills in journalism, public relations, multimedia production and more.

Courses

Teacher Certification

Interested in teaching? Pair your English major (or minor) with an Education Concentration to be eligible for your Michigan Department of Education teaching certificate.

Education concentration and teaching certification

Program Highlights

Internships

Two Albion College students working around a table.

Gain real experience and explore potential careers through off-campus internships. In the past several years, our English majors have interned with CNN, Rolling Stone magazine and NBC News.

Off-Campus Study

Spend a summer or a semester learning in a different part of the country or the world. The English Department helps place students in off-campus programs in Great Britain, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Scholarships and Awards

Student conversing with a faculty member in a classroom setting.

We recognize achievement and potential. We offer more than a dozen specific scholarships and awards just for English majors.

Honors Thesis

Three Albion students conversing outside of a campus building.

Consider taking on a challenge and exploring a topic you’re passionate about by writing an Honors thesis during your senior year. The rigorous process is excellent preparation for graduate studies, and you’ll earn departmental honors as well.

Careers & Outcomes

A major or minor in English prepares students for a wide range of careers including journalism, editing and writing, public relations, and elementary and secondary teaching. Our students also go on to post-graduate studies in language and literature, law, linguistics, library science and higher education administration. In recent years, English has become a popular double major or minor for students interested in medicine and business.