English Major

Read, discuss and discover great literary works of the past and present.

The English Major at Houghton will give you the opportunity analyze and interpret a variety of genres from different eras. Engage with both the great works of the past and the new voices of the contemporary world within a Christ-centered community. You will refine your skills in analytical thinking, writing and research, learning to shape and support an effective argument that will be useful in any career field. Thoughtful readers and strong writers are needed in all fields, including business, education, media, law, and ministry.

Degree Snapshot

Undergraduate - Bachelor's

Degree Types: BA

Program Credits: 124

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What will I learn?

Students laying on the lawn reading a book together.

Through Houghton’s English Major, you will:

Develop the critical skills of analysis and interpretation of language
Reflect on language’s role in history, culture, and faith within a Christ-centered community of peers and faculty
Engage with authors who share in the human experience of brokenness and redemption while being challenged to understand others with empathy and compassion
Collaborate with your peers on developing your writing and sharpening your thinking
Receive regular, one-on-one feedback from your professors to refine and develop your writing

Why study English at Houghton?

Engage in a tight-knit campus community

Receive one-on-one, regular feedback from faculty who know you by name. With small class sizes, you'll enjoy collaborating with your peers to give and receive feedback on your writing. You will also have the opportunity to work for on-campus organizations such as The Houghton Star (student newspaper), The Lantern (student literary journal), or working as a trained consultant in the Writing Center.

Discover versatile course options

Research the literary greats such as the Brontë sisters and William Shakespeare alongside contemporary voices like Amanda Gorman and Naomi Shihab Nye. Learn how to shape and support an effective analytical argument while engaging with the controversies and challenges in today’s literature. Prepare for vocations in teaching or other professions where thoughtful readers and strong writers are vital.

Explore off-campus writing opportunities

Exercise your analytical skills and write for conferences and theatres such as:

Calvin Festival of Faith & Writing
National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Penn York Undergrad Research Conference
Lyric Theatre at Houghton University
Shake on the Lake in Perry, NY
Stratford Festival (Shakespeare) in Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Courses & Degree Requirements

Popular Courses

ENGL 335 Major Author

Explore and study an author in-depth. In this course you will engage in a comprehensive reading of their primary works and influences. Authors studied may include Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, John Milton, and William Shakespeare.

ENGL 313 Romanticism in Literature and Culture

This course looks at Romanticism as a European phenomenon. You will explore the impact of Romantic ideas and literary trends on British writers working between 1780 and 1848.

ENGL 338 Development of the Novel

Discover how the novel came to be, from its origins in the 18th century through the multiplot literary realism of the 19th century. This courses examines both narrative form and cultural, historical, and economic context.