The major in English offers both firm foundations and flexibility; it is an appropriate choice for any student who cares deeply about literature, language, and writing and who would like to pursue these subjects in the college environment.

The core of the major provides a full knowledge of literary history and critical approaches: six courses in the historical periods of British and American literature follow two courses in reading and writing about literary texts. All students also take an upper-level course in Shakespeare. Beyond this core, English majors choose five elective courses from among the department's offerings, shaping their programs according to their interests and career plans. Some students take advanced courses in literary topics, while others focus on professional or creative writing.

The goals of the major are central to the ideals of a liberal education. In a world of increasingly fragmented knowledge, the English major provides students with wide learning and a vantage point from which to organize their disparate experiences of the world. Students in the major learn to read works of literature in their historical and cultural contexts; they question and examine the values expressed in literature; they become familiar with research methods and the structure of language; they develop their powers of textual analysis and their critical vocabulary; and they work towards a written style that is clear, accurate, and graceful. For further information, see the following:

English Majors in LA&S
English Majors in the School of Education

For additional information call or write the Department of English, DePaul University, 802 W. Belden, Chicago, IL 60614, (773) 325-7485.