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English

English: Major 

The study of English attends to literary works of the imagination — poems, plays, novels, short stories, and non-fiction — and to the use of language as a means of communication. Through a wide exposure to a range of texts, students are challenged to explore the meaning of literature in a variety of contexts, and by that exploration, develop a deeper understanding of today’s world.

The English department offers students the opportunity to develop an appreciation of literature, literary techniques and language, and a command of written expression. Courses in the department help students to become better readers, writers, and speakers, preparing them for professional fields that value effective communication, as well as for graduate study in English, rhetoric, law, medicine, business, and education. Faculty include active scholars in a wide range of literary and rhetorical fields, as well as creative writers working in all major genres, supporting the breadth and depth of the major. Learning inside the classroom, and the vibrant daily life of the department outside the classroom, are defined by close relationships between faculty and students.

Program Highlights

Each semester the department offers approximately 25 upper-division courses for majors, as well as numerous offerings for non-majors at the introductory and intermediate levels. These include:

Sstudent writing
National Acclaim

USA Today named Holy Cross the ninth “best U.S. college for a major in English.”

Students in an office
Opportunities

High achieving students can join honors societies and work with professors on scholarly and creative projects.

Students in the library
Creative Writing Program

The Creative Writing Program offers students the opportunity to pursue fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

English News

From left to right: Jeff Reppucci '14, Madeleine Fontenay '21, Helen Conroy '21 and Emily Cook '21
Holy Cross Students, Alumnus Receive Distinguished Scholarships
The prestigious Fulbright and Knight-Hennessy scholarships showcase the talent of Holy Cross students
Maggie Hartnett '23 and Professor David Karmon
Student-Generated Urban Studies Minor Debuts at Holy Cross
Maggie Hartnett '23 & faculty advisors team up to create new Urban Studies minor, which will explore themes around how we build our cities, what we do in them and how they shape us
Melissa Schoenberger, associate professor of English. Photo by Tom Rettig
English Professor Points to 18th-Century Poetry for Sage Wellness Advice During the Pandemic
The Conversation