The English major at Earlham explores the power of literature to shape the world, including a specific focus on literature and social justice.
In the program, you’ll encounter a broad diversity of voices, both those that have been canonical for centuries and those that have been silenced throughout much of history. You’ll take classes that focus on specific genres (e.g. poetry, drama, or the novel); theoretical approaches to literature; and themes of peace and justice, including race, gender, sexuality, class, colonialism and environment.
The major includes both past and present writers, from the United States and Great Britain as well as a wide range of other English-speaking countries.
Through our 3+1 Education Program, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and teaching license—all in just nine semesters.
You’ll leave Earlham with two degrees, licensed to teach grades 5-12 in Indiana. (And it’s easy to transfer your license to other states—many of our graduates do!)
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in English, you must take the following courses:
Introductory courses
These courses are appropriate for first-year students. Students can select one (1) of the following courses:
Required courses
Content courses
Choose six of the following upper-level literature courses, with at least one course in each category: peace and justice, theoretical approaches, and genre.
English 350, 351, 353, 358, 373, 378, 379, 380, 382 and 463 may each be taken more than once if the topics are different.
If you desire, you may take the following in place of one of these content courses:
Peace and justice
Theoretical approaches
Genre
To earn minor in English, you must:
Complete one of the following:
Complete ENG 302 Foundations of Literary Study
Complete three content courses. One from each in Peace and Justice, Theoretical Approaches, and Genre.
96% of English majors from recent classes were working or in grad school within six months of graduation.
90% of work seekers who majored in the humanities between 2018-2022 were employed, pursuing graduate school or volunteering within six months of graduation.
Careers
Top jobs for recent graduates were in education and community/social services.
Outcomes
Recent graduates have become Fulbright scholars and teachers or have gone into graduate programs in English, journalism, literature and social work.
Can I do off-campus study
In addition to off-campus study programs and research experiences with faculty in places like London and Tibet, English students have also participated in a variety of internships. Recently, students have interned at the Indiana Review as a submissions intern, at GenNow as a media and writing intern and at Writers House as an editorial intern.