College of Arts and Sciences
English
Channel your passion for reading and writing to hone your analytical and critical thinking skills.
Program details
- Duration
- 4 years, 3 year option
- Credits
- 120
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Why study English at UMass Dartmouth?
At UMass Dartmouth, English students learn professional skills that are valuable and transferrable to any field. Students will develop their abilities across English studies, from critically engaging in literature to considering how best to write and communicate for various audiences. The skills you'll acquire during our English degree program, such as reading, writing, researching, and analyzing, are evergreen and universally applicable.
Our English program prepares students to navigate a future filled with AI, and teaches the skills to critically analyze texts and literature with a human eye. You will learn how to independently research, format, and articulate arguments and ideas— abilities that are increasingly valuable in the modern world.
Launch your career
What can I do with an English degree?
All industries need articulated communicators and critical thinkers. The English degree program at UMass Dartmouth teaches students how to be engaged and analytical readers and writers that can thrive in many fields. Skilled communicators are in-demand for careers such as:
- Writing
- Editing
- Public relations
- Education
- Publishing
- Marketing
- Social media
- Journalism
- Law
Top employers
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Curriculum
As an English major, you will learn to:
- Read and think critically
- Write to move audiences
- Communicate effectively
- Understand the structure of the English language
- Conduct research in both traditional and newly emerging formats
You'll take courses like literary theory, visual communication, autobiographical writing, Shakespeare, document design, magazine writing, African American literature, copywriting, comedy writing, and the Victorian novel. Our faculty are experts in creative writing, postcolonial literature, Native American literature, Bollywood studies, rhetoric, and more.
Real-world experience
There are many opportunities for English students to learn by doing. Students will apply what they've learned in the classroom to internships, research presentations, and tutoring programs.
Our English students have interned with top employers like WGBH Radio, Akamai Technologies, and The New Bedford Light.
Students also have the opportunity to get their work published in one of our on-campus publications, such as Corridors, Temper, and The Torch.
Student spotlight
- Hometown
- Auburn, MA
- Major
- English Literature & Criticism
- Minor
- Communication
- Leadership
- The Torch
- Internship
- Corridors, University Marketing, WMC
Online or on-campus: your choice
English literature and criticism is also offered online
Earn an online English literature and criticism degree with flexible coursework designed to fit your schedule.
Learn more about the online option for English literature and criticism
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Accolades
UMass Dartmouth is a nationally ranked R2 research university that combines the resources of a major university with a personalized educational experience. Ranked among the top 15 public research institutions with fewer than 10,000 students and in the top 17% nationally for return on investment, UMass Dartmouth is recognized for advancing research, social mobility, and career-ready education.
Nationally Ranked Discovery Across Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences brings together nationally ranked programs, accomplished scholars, and research with measurable impact. Its faculty includes eight Fulbright Scholars and has secured more than $14 million in grants over three years, creating opportunities for students to learn through research, creative inquiry, and community engagement.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about the English BA program? Here you will find answers to common questions about admissions, curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience.
Our English program prepares you for a multitude of fields and positions. English majors gain strong communication, analytical, writing, reading, researching, and critical thinking skills— all of which are highly valuable to any employer.
English graduates are especially in-demand for a variety of industries and roles, including:
- Copywriters
- Grant writers
- Communications specialists
- Teachers
- Authors
- Technical writers
- Sales & marketing
- Web content writers
Our students are also prepared to continue their studies and pursue research at the master's or PhD level.
English majors can study a generalist English track, which covers topics across literature and writing, or they can join one of two concentrations:
- Literature and criticism: Develop your analytical skills as you consider literary texts, language, and the creation of meaning. Hone your ability to critically engage literature through oral, written, and web-produced assignments.
- Creative and professional writing: Develop your ability to analyze context and rhetorical problems with awareness of cultural diversity to create and compose effective, well-formulated written communication for specific audiences across multiple modalities. You'll study fiction; nonfiction; poetry; journalism; digital media production; script, drama, and screenwriting; professional writing; and technical writing.
English is also available as a minor. Students can choose to minor in:
Contact your academic advisor for more information.
The English program focuses on analyzing literature and developing critical writing skills, while the communication program focuses on multimedia messaging and strategy. Both majors heavily include reading and writing, but the English program specializes in areas such as producing and analyzing complex texts. The communication program specializes in areas such as business, public relations, and journalism.