Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø

English, B.A.


Our English major will empower you to explore the world and your place within it by teaching you to read, think and write critically, flexibly and creatively. Through engaging deeply with a wide range of texts—including those from voices historically marginalized or underrepresented—you will develop close reading skills, conduct meaningful research and connect diverse cultural perspectives. 

You will learn to communicate your ideas effectively in various contexts and to a wide range of audiences, even those with whom you tend to disagree. Additionally, our program fosters intercultural awareness, encouraging you to reflect on your experiences and those of fellow students, challenge your assumptions and deepen your understanding of cultural diversity and commonality.

In short, we want our majors to develop the powers of empathy and intellectual integrity, allowing you to contribute to the public good in whatever way you choose beyond your college years.

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Take the next step toward completing your Bachelor of Arts in English degree at Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø.

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Take the next step toward completing your Bachelor of Arts in English degree at Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø.

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Learning Outside the Classroom


Educational opportunities provided through the English major extend beyond the classroom. You can attend events of the Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø Visiting Writers Series, which brings internationally recognized novelists, poets and dramatists to the campus each year. 

There are also opportunities for you to submit your creative work for publication in the campus literary magazine, "Cantos," or to be involved in the editorial board. 

Internships on campus or in the community give you the chance to put your skills into action, and the innovative Creative Futures class allows you to explore how you can turn your love of literature into a meaningful career.

Kiera Elliott

I love writing because it takes me out of reality, but it also gives me a voice to challenge and change it.

Kiera Elliott ’24, English

Career Opportunities & Post-Graduate Education


Through the English major, you learn the critical and analytical skills that will help prepare you for a range of graduate programs and rewarding career choices. Professional fields that rely on communication and writing are especially good opportunities: journalism and public relations, business and marketing, the fine arts and education/teaching.

You may consider taking advantage of Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø's Accelerated Master's Degrees program, an innovative curriculum that enables students to complete both the bachelor's degree and master's degree in just five years. You can select a multitude of graduate-level programs offered through Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø such as the Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing or Master of Business Administration.

The Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø Alumni Advantage program allows you to complete your graduate degree at a discount cost. 

Major Requirements

The English major invites students to read deeply, think boldly, and write with clarity and imagination. Through the study of diverse literary and cultural texts from British, American, and global traditions, students explore complex questions about language, identity, history, and their place in the world. In small, discussion-based classes, students work closely with faculty mentors to sharpen their analytical, creative, and research skills. Along the way, they learn to craft persuasive arguments, collaborate thoughtfully, edit with precision, and approach problems with intellectual flexibility. The English major earns aÌýBAÌýdegree.

Honors

Students majoring in English may apply to pursue program honors. To graduate with honors in English, students must successfully complete ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»å .Ìý

News & Events

Book cover of A Fever in the Heartland and Tim Egan author photo

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Tim Egan will visit Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø in March 2027 to deliver the inaugural Huffman Lecture on Social Justice, focused on democracy and civic responsibility.

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Agnes Park Hacawa page and graduation photo

After immigrating from Korea to Hawaii, Agnes Park crossed a continent to attend Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø. She graduated in 1924, and in 2025, her granddaughter traced the journey of one of the first international Bears.

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