BA in English (Honors) in Madison United States | University of Wisconsin-Madison

An English major equips students with mastery of the English language and literature, fostering critical analysis, articulate expression, civic engagement, and professional achievement. Students develop exceptional writing abilities while cultivating sophisticated critical and interpretive skills. They explore groundbreaking, timeless, and challenging literary works while confronting viewpoints vastly different from their own, questioning fundamental beliefs. Faculty expose students to diverse genres and cultural frameworks, meticulously guiding every element of thought and composition—from reasoning and support to innovation and expression. By enhancing communication techniques, sparking imagination, building intercultural awareness, and refining critical faculties, the English major opens doors to numerous career paths.

English majors select from three concentrations: the general track (centered on literary and cultural analysis), creative writing, or language and linguistics. All students complete foundational coursework exploring various literary and linguistic perspectives, including studies in historical contexts. General track students expand on these fundamentals with intermediate and advanced classes examining texts from different eras and regions, employing diverse analytical frameworks. Those focusing on creative writing complement core studies with intensive workshop courses. Students emphasizing language and linguistics select specialized coursework in grammar, English language evolution, sound systems, and language learning processes.