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
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Three faculty members recognized with 2025 Jacob A. Lutz III Award for Eminent Scholars , articleWalid Saad, Joseph Eska, and Robert Gourdie, whose work spans wireless communications to Celtic linguistics to cardiac biology, were honored during the university's annual research awards ceremony, Celebrating Scholarly Excellence.
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Humanities leadership program gears up for its third year , articleThe aim of the Institute for Leadership in Technology is for business leaders to build their skills and purpose by studying history, religion, creative writing, critical thinking, and more.
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Experts explore the potential of the U.S.-China TikTok deal , articleU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced a deal reached with Chinese negotiators that could allow TikTok to continue operating in America. Details remain scarce. Virginia Tech communications and social media experts Megan Duncan, James Ivory and Cayce Myers share insights on the multitude of issues informing the deal.
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From community to career: English Club shapes student success , articleThe English Club helps students prepare for life after graduation by offering a mix of career-focused workshops, networking opportunities, and a supportive community.
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What we’re reading: English faculty recommend their favorite books , articleThis collection of thrillers, historical fiction, romance, or thought-provoking nonfiction will appeal to every type of reader.
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Charting a new course: A veteran’s path from Navy service to academic advocacy , articleFrom the Navy to Virginia Tech’s Ph.D. program,, Patrick Greene’s path to academia is driven by resilience and a deep love of language. A disabled veteran and former technical editor, Greene researches disability in higher education, with a focus on writing center leadership.
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