Students who study English at Saint Louis University explore British, American and World literary traditions. You will hone your ability to make arguments and analyze complex problems, as well as learn to communicate in both print and digital formats.
Saint Louis University's English curriculum is student-centered, with small classes
to emphasize discussion. This gives you the opportunity to work closely with faculty
members on independent research topics. You’ll also have the option of choosing a
concentration, such as creative writing or rhetoric, writing and technology. You may
also apply to join our research-intensive English concentration, which serves as our
honors track within the major.
In addition to core classes that will introduce you to major literary periods and
authors, SLU's Department of English offers advanced students specialized courses, such as "Renaissance Drama," "Nature
and Literature" and "Public Rhetoric." English majors at SLU explore British and American
literatures, postcolonial literature, literary theory, fantasy, film, gender and race,
rhetoric, language study, professional writing and creative writing.
Students earning a B.A. in English at SLU must complete 36 credit hours in a range
of introductory, intermediate and advanced-level courses that stress specific areas
of knowledge of English. Six of the 36 credit hours required for the major also count as core requirements
for the College of Arts and Sciences.
All courses ask students to write a significant amount of formal and informal critical
analysis. Along with courses in literature — in which writing plays a principal role
— you may also take courses in various genres of creative writing or business and
professional writing.
The English program course roadmap outlines the typical sequence of courses a student in the program may take.
For more details about English major requirements, see Undergraduate English Curriculum.
Many internship opportunities are available including at the River Styx literary journal, SLU English Language Center and Contemporary Arts Museum.
A degree in English from SLU guarantees a solid foundation for any profession that
requires excellent analytical and communication skills. Graduates from SLU's English
program are employed in business, education, government and nonprofit agencies. Some
students choose to pursue service upon graduation through organizations such as Teach
for America, AmeriCorps, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps or the Peace Corps.
Many graduates from this program also have chosen to attend law school, medical school
or enroll in MBA programs. Others pursue careers in the media or publishing.
American Literature
Harold K. Bush, Ph.D.
Vincent Casaregola, Ph.D.
Stephen Casmier, Ph.D.
Nathan Grant, Ph.D.
Juliana Chow, Ph.D.
Rachel Greenwald Smith, Ph.D.
British Literature (Pre-1800)
Ruth Evans, Ph.D.
Antony J. Hasler, Ph.D.
Donald Stump, Ph.D.
Jennifer Rust, Ph.D.
Jonathan Sawday, Ph.D.
Sara van den Berg, Ph.D.
British Literature (Post-1800)
Toby R. Benis, Ph.D., Chair
Ellen Crowell, Ph.D.
Anne Stiles, Ph.D.
Joya Uraizee, Ph.D., Associate Chair
Phyllis Weliver, D.Phil.
Creative Writing
Devin Johnston, Ph.D.
Ted Mathys, M.F.A.
Rhetoric, Writing, and Technology
Paul Lynch, Ph.D.
Janice McIntire-Strasburg, Ph.D.
Nathaniel Rivers, Ph.D.
Saint Louis University takes pride in being one of Barron's Best Buys in College Education
and Kiplinger's Best Values in Private Colleges.
For information regarding the upcoming academic year’s tuition rate, fees and financial
aid, visit SLU Financial Services.
SLU students can earn minors in English or creative writing. SLU’s minor in English
requires 18 credit hours, including core courses. The creative writing minor requires
15 credit hours of coursework consisting of nine credit hours in creative writing
and six credit hours in literature.
SLU’s English department also partners with the Department of Communication to offer
an interdisciplinary minor in creative and professional writing.
For more details about English minor requirements, see Undergraduate English Curriculum.
English majors at SLU can participate in our student-edited online literary magazine, the Kiln Project, which publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, visual art and podcasts. SLU’s English department also publishes a journal of undergraduate scholarly research, VIA, which features original, critical research projects by students.