Undergraduate Programs

Welcome! The English Department curriculum offers a wide variety of courses in American, British, and Anglophone literatures from around the globe; film; literary theory; and creative writing. English courses approach diverse texts and traditions in their aesthetic, historical, political, or cultural contexts and through a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, among them critical race theory, gender studies, and the environmental humanities. Our creative writing curriculum includes workshops in different genres at beginning to advanced levels; a robust program of public readings by visiting authors as well as faculty and students enhances the experience of creative writers at Tufts. All English classes are learning communities that inspire students to think at once critically and creatively by exercising their talents as probing readers and writers of strong arguments and compelling stories or poems.

The English major is designed to be flexible while prompting students to explore the spectrum of materials and media covered in our courses. Majors choose their program of study in consultation with their advisor; we encourage majors to be adventurous by considering English language literatures, film, and oral traditions both familiar and unfamiliar; by investigating recent theoretical approaches in literary studies; by being open to developing new interests or cultivating new skills even while deepening those they bring with them from previous coursework. Its flexibility makes English an especially good major in a double major program. The English minor is also flexible, allowing students to tailor their program of study according to their own interests and goals.

Understanding how imaginative literature works in its multiple media forms and styles is central to a liberal arts education and an invaluable resource for any academic, professional, or personal pursuit, particularly in a world that increasingly demands that we not only read but read through the representations we encounter every day. English majors are well prepared for many careers that put a premium on effective communication, persuasive writing, keen interpretive skills, or insightful linguistic and cultural analysis. While many English majors plan to become teachers or writers, graduates also find that literary study is excellent preparation for advanced training in law or medicine, or for jobs in corporate, nonprofit, and public policy environments, including fields such as diplomacy, filmmaking, journalism, public relations, and publishing.

Distribution Requirements

• Any English course numbered 20 and above may be used to fulfill a Humanities distribution requirement.
• English 5, 6, 10, 13, 14, 16 and 17 (but not 7 or 11) may be used to fulfill an Arts distribution requirement.
• Since "no more than 3 courses, of any number of credits, may be from the same department or program," students cannot fulfill these two requirements solely with English department courses.

Review the Department's Learning Objectives