English
It is only in combing through literature, Jean-Paul Sartre argues, that we access the active, imaginative portions of our minds. The English Department aims to pass on a love of literature, deepening students’ understanding of themselves and their responsibility to one another.
As an English student, you will immerse yourself in the habits and practices of reading, writing, close analysis, and imaginative thought. In each of your courses, you will learn both to observe the fine details of language and to ask serious questions about life, art, history, and justice.
Wrestling with such big questions will also help you to forge a narrative of your own. An English major serves as a springboard to any career rooted in critical and creative thought. Our graduates now work in fields as varied as education, graphic design, sales, creative writing, journalism, and law.
Attentive Professors
The average English class at Carthage has fewer than 20 students, so you will have an opportunity to build strong relationships with your professors.
“The professors in the English Department are supportive, open to new ideas, and willing to meet with their students outside of the classroom to ensure success and a deeper comprehension of complex topics.”
— Miranda Paikowski ’20
Carthage’s Visiting Writer Series regularly brings poets and novelists to campus for workshops, readings, and lectures.
Learn more about Carthage English faculty
Exciting Coursework
Many of the English courses at Carthage are interdisciplinary, allowing students to explore literature from multiple points of view. Courses include Latinx Literature; Shakespeare; Literature, Illness, Medicine; and Jazz Literature.
Beyond the Classroom
Carthage brings in renowned poets and novelists for workshops, readings, and lectures. Students can also join Poetry Underground or the national English honor society Sigma Tau Delta; submit their work to Centrique, the College’s creative arts journal; or tutor in the Brainard Writing Center.
Beyond campus, faculty and students travel to Ontario every fall to take in several plays at the acclaimed Stratford Festival. During the popular J-Term, English professors lead periodic study tours to destinations like Italy and Puerto Rico.
See more opportunities for Carthage English students
Career Advancement
English students develop skills that are vital to careers in many fields, from journalism to public relations to law. English majors think critically and creatively to see problems from many angles. They are informed and effective communicators and carry with them a love of literature and writing that enriches them for life.