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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, 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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Experts available: Texas floods and fallout, Netanyahu in Washington, measles, tourism shortfall, and more , articleVirginia Tech experts are available to discuss issues around the flooding in Texas, Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, rising measles cases, Elon Musk's intent to form a new political party, the U.S. tourism shortfall, and more.
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Expert explains crime genre’s appeal ahead of 'Dexter: Resurrection' , articleAs Dexter Morgan returns to the small screen in "Dexter: Resurrection," Ingrid Johnson, an advanced instructor in the Department of English, explains viewers' fascination with morally-complex characters, and how scripted dramas compare to true crime.
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From manuscript to marketplace: Students explore self-publishing , articleStudent authors Aidan Mason and Ruhi Parikh didn’t wait for permission to share their stories with the world.
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Justin Greene, unscripted , articleFrom first-year writing to speculative media, Justin Greene brings curiosity, creativity, and care to the classroom. This year’s Department of English Joyce Gentry Smoot Award honoree shares his path to teaching, his love of video games and horror cinema, and how he builds student confidence one toolbox at a time.
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Hundreds honor the late Nikki Giovanni through music, dance, and poetry , articleWriters, poets, and musicians reflected and performed as part of a celebration of life for Giovanni on June 8.
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Nikki Giovanni's iconic words come to life in new exhibition , articleThe immersive experience will debut with recordings of Nikki Giovanni reading two of her poems, “Ego Tripping” and “Nikki Rosa,” from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 8, in the Cube at the Moss Arts Center.
English Experience (Learn, Discover, Explore)
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