At A Glance

Through reading, writing, and close analysis, students in Carthage’s lively English Department community observe the finer details of language and pose serious questions about life, history, art, and justice. Those with an emphasis or minor in creative writing work with faculty while experimenting in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Majors

Minors 

View Degree Requirements

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.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.jpg" alt="Ian Brown ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1080,1169/34751_Ian_Broan_23.rev.1654549034.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1080" data-max-h="1169" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Gorgeous lake view aside, I loved the small classes. Having a small class means that each and every student has the opportunity for hands-on learning — something that you may not receive in a class of 50 people.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1885-ian-alexander-brown">Ian Alexander Brown</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.jpg" alt="Andrew Colletti ?22" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/34789_Andrew_Colletti_22.rev.1654868946.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Follow what gets you excited. The world needs people who are enthusiastic. So long as you are doing the things you love, everything else will fall into place.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1887-andrew-colletti">Andrew Colletti</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg" alt="Zoey Kurka" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2316" data-max-h="3088" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The Carthage faculty are amazing. My professors taught me so much and inspired me to enjoy the work I do in the classroom. The encouragement I’ve received from them has been one of my greatest helpers at college.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1876-zoey-kurka">Zoey Kurka</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg" alt="Karlee De Jesus ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 3x" data-max-w="916" data-max-h="830" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I have enjoyed so many classes here — History of the Caribbean, Native American Literature, Greek Religion, Creative Writing, and Politics in Film are all amazing courses.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1913-karlee-de-jesus">Karlee De Jesus</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/130/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/74,204,339,469/418_Sophia_Rogney_22_2.rev.1638389814.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/130/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/74,204,339,469/418_Sophia_Rogney_22_2.rev.1638389814.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/130/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/74,204,339,469/418_Sophia_Rogney_22_2.rev.1638389814.jpg" alt="" width="183" height="183" data-max-w="265" data-max-h="265" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “My favorite class at Carthage so far has been Literature and Gender, taught by Prof. Brennan. I loved the class so much because of the topics we covered: identity, sexual orientation, race, gender, consent, etc.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/508-">Sophia Rogney</a> ’22</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/36224_IMG_4864.rev.1667421987.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/36224_IMG_4864.rev.1667421987.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,300,400/36224_IMG_4864.rev.1667421987.jpg" alt="Sugeli Mai ?22" width="183" height="183" data-max-w="300" data-max-h="400" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “My favorite class at Carthage so far would have to be Creative Writing. This class was just so amazing. My professor allowed us students the freedom to create any piece of writing we wanted.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1912-sugeli-mai">Sugeli Mai</a> ’22</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg" alt="Ava Serfling Bennett ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1043" data-max-h="989" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The students who go to Carthage are driven, intelligent, and hard working. If you want friends and peers who push you to be the best, this is the best place to be!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2056-ava-serfling-bennett">Ava Serfling Bennett</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

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.

After Carthage: Careers for English graduates