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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From English major to the Coast Guard , articleCourtney Woodley's story is a reminder that the ability to read, write, and communicate can take you anywhere.
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Creating a welcoming environment for students , articleJosh Thompson, an alumnus of English and a doctoral student in the School of Education, is building a study abroad course to help rural students see their environment from a global perspective.
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'What research can do for a community': New center dives into Arctic research , articleThe Center for Sustainable Engagement in the Arctic aims to transform how Arctic research is conducted. Led by Director Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq, it prioritizes listening to Indigenous leadership to create sustainable solutions and foster connections with resources at the university and beyond.
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‘Bridgerton’ resonates amid romance boom, expert explains , articleVirginia Tech expert Netta Baker said the series is part of a broader resurgence of romance across books, television, and online communities. She explores the series’ popularity, and how social media communities like BookTok are breathing new life into the genre.
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How this English graduate became a leader in nursing accreditation , articleListening deeply, something she learned from years of interpreting literature, helps Jennifer Butlin '92 unify educators, policymakers, and practitioners around shared interests and goals as the executive director of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Class of 2025: Brooke Wager turns love of English into path to law school , articleWager, who double majored in professional and technical writing and English with a pre-law option, will graduate as the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences' Phi Kappa Phi Senior Medallion recipient.
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