Bachelor of Arts in English
Our English degree equips you to imagine—and to write—the next chapter in your life.
You might be surprised at how many things you can do with a bachelor’s degree in English. Whether you seek to prepare for graduate school, cultivate your creative talent, indulge your passion for literature, or simply explore your options, Oakland University’s undergraduate English degree offers the academic rigor and individual freedom to put you on the right path. Our English degree cultivates versatile, practical skills that you can adapt for almost any career—and that won’t get stale as trends and technologies evolve. Employers in every profession value superior writers and independent thinkers, so our English degree provides you with a wealth of opportunities.
You might be surprised at how many things you can do with a bachelor’s degree in English. Whether you seek to prepare for graduate school, cultivate your creative talent, indulge your passion for literature, or simply explore your options, Oakland University’s undergraduate English degree offers the academic rigor and individual freedom to put you on the right path. Our English degree cultivates versatile, practical skills that you can adapt for almost any career—and that won’t get stale as trends and technologies evolve. Employers in every profession value superior writers and independent thinkers, so our English degree provides you with a wealth of opportunities.
Bachelor of Arts in English: The Oakland University Advantage
Our English degree features a balanced, well-rounded curriculum that offers lots of flexibility, so you can tailor the program to fit your tastes. English majors often refine their degree by focusing on particular literary genres, cultural traditions, geographic regions or other areas of focus.
When you earn your undergraduate English degree from Oakland University, you’ll benefit from:
- Marketable skills. Oakland’s English degree emphasizes skills that routinely rank near the top of employers’ wish lists. You’ll excel at writing, of course, but you’ll also be proficient in research, critical analysis, problem solving, and project organization—skills that are in almost universal demand.
- Professional experience. If you’re interested in a career as an English teacher, Oakland offers outstanding opportunities via the Secondary Teacher Education Program. You can also complete an optional internship as part of the English degree, tapping Oakland University’s wide network of community partners to find an opportunity that fits your interests.
- Personal attention from faculty. You’ll work in small classes while earning your English degree, enjoying extensive one-on-one interaction with faculty and peers. Our English classes are centered on lively discussion and hands-on participation, enabling you to develop your talent, discover your strengths, indulge your curiosity, and take risks.
- Study abroad opportunities. British Studies at Oxford provides English majors with an immersive education in the cultural foundations of English literature and language. This four-week summer program lets you study at an internationally acclaimed institution, live and travel overseas, and earn credits toward your English degree at Oakland University.
- Robust advising. To help you maximize the value of the undergraduate English degree, Oakland provides hands-on advising to help you sort through your academic and professional options. You can consult with regular academic counselors and faculty advisers for all four years, and work with a recent graduate of the English program via our alumni mentoring program as a junior and senior.
What Can You Do With an English Bachelor’s Degree?
Despite what you may have heard, a bachelor’s degree in English provides outstanding preparation for the 21st-century workforce. Graduates of Oakland’s undergraduate English program have channeled their ability to write, think, and analyze in all kinds of professional settings. Some examples include:
- Marketing
- Law
- Government
- Medicine and health care
- Education
- Arts and cultural organizations
- Publishing
- Journalism
- Social services
- Digital media
- Business management
English Degree: What You’ll Study
The English degree includes 40 credits of coursework, with six core courses and four electives. The core includes an introductory course; courses in global and ethnic literature, British and American literary history, and critical and cultural approaches to literature; and a capstone seminar. Electives in the English degree cover an exceptionally broad spectrum. Examples include:
- Contemporary Poetry
- Postcolonial Literature
- Ethnic Literature
- Trans-Atlantic Traditions
- Modern Drama
- African American Literature
- Modes of Self-Narrative
- Biography
- The Bible as Literature
Bachelor’s Degree in English Program Resources
Programs Related to the English Bachelor’s Degree
Not sure if the English bachelor’s degree is right for you ? Check out these other undergraduate degree programs at Oakland, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.
- Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
- Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication
- Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Strategic Communication