BA in English (Columbia College) in New York United States | Columbia University

The English program cultivates skills in critical and imaginative reading, helping students recognize how language influences thought and portrays reality, while developing awareness of literary creation and impact. The curriculum builds on multiple foundations, teaching critical analysis through key English literary works, examining historical and social contexts of literature, and exploring theoretical perspectives on writing, reading, and literary works./p

Departmental courses employ diverse methodologies and theoretical frameworks, including formalist, political, and psychoanalytic approaches. Covering periods from medieval times to the modern era, the program examines classic authors alongside contemporary culture, traditional genres alongside cross-media forms, and British literary classics alongside postcolonial, global, and transatlantic works.

Balancing traditional disciplinary values with evolving perspectives, the major focuses on three core principles: history, genre, and geography. By requiring varied coursework and encouraging analysis through these distinct lenses, the program provides comprehensive exposure to literary history, diverse forms of expression, and the varied cultural settings where English literature has emerged.