With 47 full-time faculty members, the Department of English offers programs of interest to a wide variety of students at all levels of the curriculum.

More than 425 undergraduates are English majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with more than 115 undergraduate majors in the School of Education. They take courses in literature, language, and writing from more than 40 upper-division courses offered each quarter. More than 300 graduate students choose from nearly 60 graduate courses offered each year in the M.A. in English and the M.A. in Writing programs. Other students pursue one of three minors, in Literature, Professional Writing, or Creative Writing, or meet Liberal Studies requirements by taking courses offered by faculty in the English Department.

The department's curriculum unites historical and theoretical perspectives in literary study with the practical ability to communicate effectively in writing. It encourages critical and creative thought and an awareness of multiple points of view. As a course of study firmly rooted in the liberal arts and dealing in a fundamental way with the human spirit, these programs in English invite students to examine and build on their personal and civic values.