The Department of English offers the opportunity for an education at undergraduate and graduate levels. You may choose from courses in British, American, European, and world literature, including minority and Non-Western literatures; linguistics, interpretative methods, and both critical and creative writing; and other areas, such as those focusing on special movements, themes, and genres, including drama and film. Majoring in English will help to guide you towards a lifetime of reading pleasure and creative fulfillment, and it can also provide you with essential skills for a successful career. With its emphasis on close reading and writing skills and its training in critical thinking—skills that are crucial in today’s high-tech global economy—the English major will help you acquire the tools that will allow you to flourish in a wide variety of career paths in the private and public sectors, and will give you career flexibility in a constantly changing world.
Degrees We Offer Career Outcomes Learn more about each of our programs: BA in English Students have the option to concentrate in either literature or writing. Our literature program spans historical periods and movements of British, American, and European literature, as well as courses in Caribbean, South American, African, Native American, and Indian literature. Our writing program includes courses in fiction writing, business writing, nonfiction, and critical writing. In this program students will gain an understanding of both the historical significance and the contemporary need for strong writing and analytical thinking skills in a pre- and post-industrial world. University Catalog: View requirements and course descriptions: Literature » View requirements and course descriptions: Literature for Education » View requirements and course descriptions: Writing » View requirements and course descriptions: Writing for Education » Minor in English Students have the option to concentrate in literature, creative writing, or critical and professional writing. Each of these minors offers students a core of literature and writing courses to develop close reading and writing skills, and opportunities to explore literary periods, or hone creative writing (both fiction and nonfiction) and professional writing skills, respectively. University Catalog: View requirements and course descriptions: Creative Writing » View requirements and course descriptions: Critical and Professional Writing » View requirements and course descriptions: English Literature » MA in English (currently not accepting new students) Students have the option to concentrate in either literature or writing. In this rigorous program, students gain a deep comprehension of literary figures and periods spanning the globe, as well as in-depth training in fiction and critical writing skills. The literature concentration offers students advanced study and enrichment in English and American literature and contextual studies, literary criticism, history of the language, and modern linguistics. The writing concentration offers aspiring writers, pre-professionals, teachers who wish to update their skills, and individuals interested in writing as process the structure to supply a solid foundation and enough flexibility to accommodate individual writing goals. University Catalog: View requirements and course descriptions: Writing » View requirements and course descriptions: Literature » MFA in Creative and Professional Writing Students will benefit from the program's applied focus on developing a substantial manuscript portfolio, targeting appropriate markets, and submitting work for publication according to professional standards. University Catalog: View requirements and course descriptions: MFA in Creative and Professional Writing » A William Paterson degree in English helps you acquire the tools that will enable you to flourish in a wide variety of career paths in the private and public sectors, and will give you career flexibility in a constantly changing world. Our graduate programs' rigorous course of study prepares students for a wide variety of careers, including secondary education and university-level teaching, book and magazine publishing and editing, journalism, copywriting, public relations, and professional writing. Teaching opportunities at William Paterson University are available to outstanding alumni.
