Department of English
In the Department of English, we teach students how to think critically and creatively, and we conduct research to advance knowledge about culture, language, and the written word. Our graduate and undergraduate curricula emphasize deep research skills and unbounded creativity, preparing students for successful careers in academia, business, law, and other professions, as well as nonprofit work, teaching, writing, publishing, and the arts. Courses refine students’ oral and written communication skills, teaching them to be precise, clear, and inventive stylists.
The study of literature and language is at the core of each undergraduate major, providing a common, foundational knowledge about the cultural contexts in which texts and linguistic artifacts are produced, interpreted, and circulated. Individual undergraduate majors (English, creative writing, technical and scientfic communication, and professional and technical writing) provide specialized approaches to textual and linguistic critique and invention. Students graduate with enhanced capacities to understand both their cultures and the experiences of others, through varied experiences of collaboration and textual border-crossing that are inherent in our curriculum.
Classes in the English department are small. Students spend quality time with our award-winning faculty and have opportunities for individual and team-based research experiences. The department supports a number of internships. We invite visiting writers and scholars to speak every semester, and each spring students share their work at an undergraduate research conference and a student-run literary festival. Our undergraduate students publish in various Virginia Tech magazines, and graduate creative writing students serve as editors for two national journals.
Graduate programs in the Department of English include a general M.A. in English, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Writing.
News and Stories Spotlight
-
Article Item
Tributes to Nikki Giovanni , articleRead tributes from students, alumni, and all who were inspired by Giovanni's work and advocacy. A viewing will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg beginning at 5 p.m.
-
Article Item
Bridging English and technology , articleWhat happens when a liberal arts student takes on the challenge of communicating the complexities of the tech world? Through an internship with Network Infrastructure and Services, Kate Stanko discovered the power of technical writing to bridge the gap between complicated technology and everyday users.
-
Article Item
Insights from the intersection of research and English , articleHailey Richards, an English and political science major, is a research assistant on a team examining transcripts and analyzing the experiences of patients who have received blood from people vaccinated from COVID-19.
-
Article Item
In memoriam: Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet, activist, and Virginia Tech legend , articleMany Hokies can attest to the power of Giovanni’s words - both spoken and written. She is known around the world for her poetry, essays, and written work that delve into social issues, such as race and gender, and call for action.
-
Article Item
Student's internship hones skills and offers opportunity to give back to her community , articleAmong triple English major Anja Hemesath's internships is a bridge experience with Richmond magazine that allowed her the opportunities to write stories that matter to her hometown.
-
Article Item
How one Hokie turned a liberal arts education into a mega sports media career , articleMatt Arden '99 is helping Fanatics Collectibles set its creative content initiative into motion as its first executive producer.
English Experience (Learn, Discover, Explore)
Create With Us
Auditions
Create With Us
Faculty Books
-
Article Item
