Department of English — The Department

The English Department offers a wide variety of courses and programs in literature, language, and writing for major and non-major alike. Hundreds of UMass Boston students choose the English major as one of the best (and most recognized) forms of pre-professional training, since it cultivates powers sought after in many careers: perceptiveness, language skills, ability to analyze human motive and situation, careful judgment, the ability to recognize underlying principles and to foresee human consequences. Many study literature as a rich repository of human values and vision, and for others it provides unique opportunities for self-discovery as well as immediate access to remote worlds of experience. Courses in literature are organized according to the major critical orientations: historical, generic, thematic, and authorial, and each semester’s offering of advanced courses gives balanced representation to these. Courses in practical and creative writing are available at three levels. Clusters of courses in language and linguistics are available, as are courses suitable for students preparing for careers in teaching at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Members of the department teach in several interdisciplinary programs, and all English faculty teach courses at all levels. The department offers master of arts degrees for the study of literature, composition, and creative writing.