Bachelor of Arts in English – Literature and Writing
Turn Your Passion into a Career
In the Literature and Writing program, you will be part of a community of thinkers and writers that is dedicated to addressing key literary, social, and cultural issues through a literary lens. Together, we express our passion for reading and writing while engaging in dynamic conversations about the past, the present, and the future of the world.
While cultivating your talents as a writer and thinker, you will develop valuable professional skills. According a recent Pew Trust survey, the most prized skills in the future workplace will be creativity, collaboration, curiosity, emotional intelligence, and advanced communication—the kinds of skills you will cultivate as an Literature and Writing major at St. Thomas.
Our graduates have excellent placement rates in the fields of communication, editing, publishing, marketing, and business. Their success reflects broader trends in the labor market. In fact, graduates with bachelor's degrees in English earn salaries comparable to a number of other majors, including business management and public policy (US Census, 2018 American Community Survey).
A Cutting-Edge Curriculum
Course Requirements
Our program begins with an introduction to English studies and culminates in a capstone seminar that explores an engaging theme in our discipline. Recent topics have included Gothic Literature and the Literature of Social Transformation. The capstone course also includes speakers and activities designed to prepare you for a fulfilling career. Other courses in the major include British and American literature; professional editing; writing for video games; Victorian detective fiction; Native American literature; literature from a Christian perspective; and author-focused classes on James Baldwin, Mary Shelley, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Four-Year Plan
Your four-year plan will vary because we want you to pursue your passions. We recommend connecting with a faculty member so you can start planning early on in your undergraduate career.
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Combined Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English
- Minor in English
Outside the Classroom
English students can apply for membership in Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, and its affiliated campus Literary Club. Students in the Literary Club go on theater outings and offer readings and other fun activities during the academic year.
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
Our program begins with an introduction to English studies and culminates in a capstone seminar that explores an engaging theme in our discipline. Recent topics have included Gothic Literature and the Literature of Social Transformation. The capstone course also includes speakers and activities designed to prepare you for a fulfilling career. Other courses in the major include British and American literature; professional editing; writing for video games; Victorian detective fiction; Native American literature; literature from a Christian perspective; and author-focused classes on James Baldwin, Mary Shelley, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Your four-year plan will vary because we want you to pursue your passions. We recommend connecting with a faculty member so you can start planning early on in your undergraduate career.
Degrees Awarded
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Combined Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English
- Minor in English
Outside the Classroom
Outside the Classroom
English students can apply for membership in Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, and its affiliated campus Literary Club. Students in the Literary Club go on theater outings and offer readings and other fun activities during the academic year.
English Minor
Practical Experience. Real Results.
Not only do our faculty have years of experience and knowledge, but our students and alumni are applying what they learn in practical ways every day.
Dr. Todd Lawrence
Mollie Laidly ‘17
Henry Koller ‘19
Career Paths
We give you the tools and knowledge you need to work in a variety of different industries after graduation.
- Law
- Editing
- Writing
- Teaching
- Marketing
- Non-profit administration
A Wide Range of Interests
Dr. Emily James
Dr. James teaches about 19th and 20th century British and Irish writers. Her interest in modernism extends across the arts.
Dr. Amy Muse
Dr. Muse sees theater as a space for experiencing wonder and intimacy. She teaches Shakespeare and performance for social change.
Dr. Kanishka Chowdhury
Dr. Chowdhury teaches postcolonial literature, and currently researches literary representations of victims of human rights injustices.
It's More Than Reading and Writing
English students have access to a bounty of opportunities, including on-campus events with renowned authors and study abroad courses all over the world.
See Another Side of the World
From single-country study abroad experiences in England, Scotland and Ireland to trips that visit a variety of European countries including the Netherlands, France, Greece and Italy, you have a number of ways to explore literature and culture.
We Bring the Experts to You
Viet Thanh Nguyen, the winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, came to St. Thomas to meet students and read from his novel The Sympathizer in 2017.
Ready for the Next Chapter
Whether you choose to go to law school or pursue an advanced English degree, we provide you with the tools to be successful at the next level. Our graduates are now studying at places like Yale, Fordham, Purdue and the University of Minnesota.
Your Teachers and Mentors
Talk about being a multi-talented. English faculty are recognized scholars and dedicated teachers who provide you with the individualized attention you need to reach your academic and career goals.
Prepared for What's Next
Recent alumni work in editing, writing, marketing, teaching, research and non-profit administration. Their advanced writing and critical analysis skills made them highly sought after in creative and language-based professions as well.
Find Joy – and a Career
A Literature and Writing major conveys to employers that you have advanced communication skills. It also signals that you are a creative thinker who knows how to solve problems with empathy and intercultural awareness.
During your time at St. Thomas, you will have opportunities to gain practical experience through internships, collaborative research, and editing our literary arts magazine, Summit Avenue Review. The Twin Cities is a major publishing hub, so you will have many opportunities to get involved in the local literary scene.
Combined BA + MA
Our department offers an accelerated program for English majors, the only program of its kind in the region. Talented undergraduates can complete both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in just five years instead of the traditional six.
Take the Next Step
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.