Bachelor of Arts - English - Literature

The study of literature fosters curiosity and critical thinking. It requires students to get outside of their intellectual comfort zone, to take risks and to be unafraid of approaching a question in a unique, creative way.

In the jobs of the future, the risk-takers and the innovative thinkers are the ones who will succeed. Employers in the 21st century demand an “adaptable and creative workforce.” They want to hire recent grads who can think critically and creatively, write and communicate well, and distill key concepts from complex ideas—and that’s exactly what Hood College's English majors learn.

What can students do with a degree in English? It's better to ask what a student can’t do: in learning how to think critically, write clearly and speak thoughtfully, students are prepared not for one specific and limited job, but rather for a career path that can respond to rapidly changing employment opportunities. Some of Hood College's majors pursue graduate degrees at major universities; others work in nonprofit corporations, publishing firms, law firms, theatre troupes and libraries. The small, student-focused classes offered at Hood College allow for the kind of faculty mentoring and references that help graduates find careers that are not only successful but personally rewarding.

Hood College’s English major offers three concentrations—literature, creative writing and theatre; all culminate in an intensely focused and collegial senior seminar that encourages students to enter more closely into the scholarly dialogues that interest them most.