English is at the heart of the liberal arts. One of the largest departments in the UW College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English makes major contributions to the intellectual vitality, academic excellence, and educational mission of the University. The many interests and instructional programs of the Department - including literature, rhetoric, culture, theory, criticism, history, pedagogy, and creative writing - are linked by the study of this common language.
The undergraduate English major at the University of Washington offers students a broadly based, historically grounded introduction to the literatures of Britain, the United States, and, increasingly, Anglophone literature from around the world. Courses in literature emphasize techniques of literary analysis, theoretical problems posed by the interpretation of texts, the social, historical, and political context of literary production and reception, and the pleasures of reading. Most require significant written work and stress the development of critical thinking skills. Courses in language study examine the structural, historical, social, and aesthetic dimensions of English. Our Creative Writing Program offers a range of workshops in verse, short story, novel, and creative non-fiction or expository writing.
The English major provides a rigorous course of study in the language, literature, and culture of the English speaking world. The major is structured around three key principles: historical depth, power and difference, and a reflexive awareness of genre, method, and language. These three overlapping areas of study help students see how language, literature, and culture are always intertwined with the movement of history, bound up with questions of power and difference, and shaped by form, genre, and grammar. By giving students the tools to think critically and reflectively about these concepts, the major prepares them to be engaged readers, writers, and thinkers throughout their lives.
Suggested First- and Second-Year College Courses: Foreign languages, classics, English history, American history, and philosophy.
60 credits
The Creative Writing Option prepares students not only to be more effective communicators and artists, but also creative problem solvers and more nuanced critical thinkers. By situating small, student-oriented writing workshops alongside literary models, Creative Writing classes enhance the broader study of literature and critical theory, helping students gain a greater understanding of the social and cultural forces informing their work. A student completing the program is more able to situate themselves in a larger context and make more meaningful, informed decisions about their own artistic practice. In addition, through the intense practice of creative writing students are able to see the world more clearly, in a more nuanced and meaningful manner, and apply these skills to a wide variety of work and life situations.
Minimum 65 credits
All students must make satisfactory academic progress in the major. Failure to do so results in probation, which can lead to dismissal from the major. For the complete continuation policy, contact the departmental adviser or refer to the department website.
With an English minor, students will: Develop familiarity with and deeper appreciation for English-language literary and cultural texts. Gain an understanding of how literary texts and language shape/are shaped by culture and history. Strengthen critical reading skills by learning techniques for parsing, analyzing, and contextualizing a variety of texts and genres. Improve writing, research, and communication skills through explicit attention to constructing arguments, using evidence, crafting prose, and structuring discourse for a variety of audiences, genres, and contexts. Acquire introductory awareness of the variety of methodologies and theories employed by scholars of literature, language, and culture to interpret texts (and their effects).
The English minor encourages students to develop familiarity with and deeper appreciation for English-language literary and cultural texts, and gain an understanding of how literature and language shape, and are shaped by, culture and history. It also strengthens critical reading skills by learning techniques for parsing, analyzing, and contextualizing a variety of texts and genres, and improve writing, research, and communication skills through explicit attention to constructing arguments, using evidence, crafting prose, and structuring discourse for a variety of audiences, genres, and contexts. Students acquire introductory awareness of the variety of methodologies and theories employed by scholars of literature, language, and culture to interpret texts and their effects.
30 credits
The Writing Minor is designed to provide students with concentrated study of and practice in writing, language, and rhetoric. The minor is most appropriate for students entering writing-intensive careers such as journalism, business, marketing, law, publishing, editing, education, and public relations, or for students interested in enhancing their writing, analytic, and communication skills.
25 credits
Student Outcomes and Opportunities
The undergraduate program of study in English concentrates on developing students' critical and interpretive abilities with regard to literatures written in English. Students become familiar with the critical developments in the study of language and literary forms, including especially understanding the cultural and historical contexts of various forms of literature. Students are, accordingly, asked to cultivate a habit of self-conscious and careful reading of written texts. Honing a successful habit of reading depends on acquiring an early awareness of the broad range of critical and interpretive methods available to readers of literature, as well as comprehending the basic purpose and effects at stake in different reading methods. Finally, students develop the ability to compose effective and persuasive written analyses of texts in a manner that demonstrates comprehension of the complexities or nuances of language, literature, and culture.
Of Special Note::
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Our two-year Master of Arts for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) program provides a well-balanced curriculum of theoretical and practical coursework to a diverse body of students from the United States and around the globe. Our students develop a comprehensive understanding of second language acquisition theory, language pedagogy, assessment, and research while also learning about the sociopolitical, multicultural, and racialized global contexts within which English instruction takes place. Students are given the unique opportunity to take two practicum courses in which they work with international students and are mentored by experienced English language teachers as they learn to translate theory into practice. We also offer a limited number of competitive TAships, generally to second year students, which enable students to teach their own English classes.
Core courses (25 credits): ENGL 571, ENGL 572, ENGL 574, ENGL 575 or LING 461, ENGL 576
Practicum (5 credits): ENGL 570
Practicum electives (5 credits): ENGL 567 or ENGL 570
Electives (15 credits): Course list maintained by department
Linguistics competency: Must have completed linguistics coursework as an undergraduate or complete LING 400 while enrolled as a graduate student at UW, which would count towards Electives credits (5 credits total).
Language competency: Must have completed one year of coursework or its equivalent in a language other than English with a 3.0 or higher as an undergraduate no earlier than three years before entering graduate studies at UW; or pass a language exam administered by the UW Educational Assessment Center; or complete one year of coursework in a language other than English while enrolled in graduate studies at UW.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.