English Language and Literature
Overview
Translate your love of reading and writing into a viable professional pathway. Through academically rigorous and relationally vibrant courses, Gordon College’s English language and literature major will teach you to read critically and appreciatively and write creatively and effectively. Our faculty include experts in British Literature, American Literature, poetry writing, play writing and persuasive writing. As a result, your journey through the major will have variety, depth and innovation.
Why study English language and literature at Gordon?
At Gordon, literary history is within your reach. Orchard House—the setting of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women—is a brief drive from campus. So is Anne Bradstreet’s house, T.S. Elliot’s coastal home, Walden Pond and Hawthorne’s The House of Seven Gables. And that is just the beginning.
Here, immersion in language and faith in Christ work together. Through our innovative Professional Pathways in English initiative, taught through the context of a Christian liberal arts education, you’ll receive specialized career coaching during your entire time as an English major and spiritual mentoring that will guide you long after college.
What can Christians bring to English language and literature?
Writers have an immense power: to tell stories that can change the world. Christians have much to contribute as they engage this power with truth and grace. To be immersed in the beauty and power of literature and writing is to encounter a fabulous dimension of being created in God’s image.
| Degree | Bachelor of Arts, Minor |
|---|---|
| Program Level | Undergraduate |
| School | School of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Program Format | In-Person |
Learn more
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Courses
English Language and Literature Courses
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Degree Options
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Concentrations
A concentration is an area of focus that may be added to your degree.
Experiential Learning
Get hands-on experience outside of the classroom through:
- Writing for our on-campus publications like the Idiom (literary and arts journal), the Vox Populi (alternative news and feature writing) and The Tartan (student newspaper)
- Joining Alpha Upsilon Omega
- Participating in the Five Ponds Creative Writing Festival
- Attending the Princemere Writers Series
- Studying abroad in the Balkans, Orvieto, Italy, Oxford, England and more
Apply to Gordon
Take the first step toward a nationally ranked Christian liberal arts education.
Scholarships
We’re committed to working with you to make college accessible. Explore Gordon's scholarships, which are stackable up to $25,000.
Faculty
Faculty
Nationally recognized, personally focused
Gordon faculty are committed Christians, exceptional scholars and catalysts for transformation—both in their fields and in the lives of the students they teach.
Careers
Life after Gordon
What careers can I pursue with English Language and Literature?
The foundational skills you develop as an English major will equip you for further studies in graduate or professional programs, and will set you up for success in a wide range of careers, including:
- Creative writing (M.F.A. program)
- Marketing and communications
- Education
- Law
- Publishing
- Journalism
- Freelance writing
"Since my time at Gordon, one thing that’s really benefited me in my career is learning how to synthesize lots of different sources together into a big-picture insight...If you can be curious about everything and constantly learning new things, it will help you in any industry because you have humility about finding things that will put you in a good position to do work that other people can’t or don’t want to do."
Kate Stadt '11
Manager, Legal & Compliance at HubSpot
Ready to get started?
We're here to help! We believe you were made to thrive, and we’re here to give you the tools to do just that. Get in touch with our admissions team to guide you through the process.