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Time to Light a Fire? Come Read and Write with Us!

You’ll study the works of great writers from around the English-speaking world and become a more confident and capable writer yourself. You’ll learn to read critically, write gracefully, convey your ideas more effectively, and listen to others more deeply and thoughtfully. The English major will develop your most essential intellectual and interpersonal skills. It is excellent preparation for a career in law, politics, business, communications, education, publishing, journalism, library science and information management, public relations, and corporate and nonprofit management.

More Ways to Learn, On Campus and Beyond

Practical experience is built into the English curriculum. Our internships draw on Chicago’s vast cultural, communications and corporate resources. You can combine academic study with compassionate service to people in need, or complete your own, hands-on research or creative projects in close collaboration with faculty (and often with university funding). And if you want to take your education global, you can choose from study-abroad programs on four continents. Local adventures also are very popular with our students, for those times when you just want to explore how your neighbors live and think.

If you’re interested in developing an original research or creative project, you can apply for special funding from the university. You’ll enjoy faculty guidance and support throughout the process and even get a chance to present your work at a campus expo in April. It’s all part of URSCI—the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Investigations Program—a distinctly Dominican initiative. URSCI also funds student travel to academic and professional conferences across the United States.

Amazing Opportunities

Many English majors take advantage of our outstanding study abroad programs in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. We’ve had several students complete the program at the University of Oxford. You also can travel to Spain and Morocco if you’re interested in studying the literature and life of the al-Andalus.

In small classes, you’ll work side by side with talented faculty. Dr. Daniel Anderson has published a book on the culture of sports in the Harlem Renaissance. Dr. Maggie Andersen has written extensively about Chicago theater and serves as literary manager of the Gift Theater in Chicago. Dr. Gema Ortega has published articles on a variety of texts, including Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye. The department is committed to engaging diverse perspectives in writing and to exploring ways in which literature serves the ends of social justice.

Our annual Tabet Lecture brings rising stars and nationally regarded poets to campus, such as Luis Urrea, Julia Alvarez, Stuart Dybek, Eve Ewing, Naomi Shihab Nye, Pádraig Ó Tuama, and current Poet Laureate Ada Limón.

What Gives English Majors a Competitive Edge? 

Their close readings of text and their ability to craft compelling narratives.