English, B.A.

Why major in English at Oakland University?

As an English major, you will do what you love: explore stories, ideas, and cultural conversations that shape our world. Through the study of literature, you will sharpen your skills in critical thinking, research, analysis, and communication. By examining the human experience across diverse historical periods, cultures, and perspectives, you will learn to ask meaningful questions, interpret complex ideas, and communicate with clarity and confidence. And in a world of swift technological advancements, you will acquire skills that stand the test of time: reading closely, writing clearly, and thinking critically and creatively.

• Small Class Size: Because the English program prioritizes undergraduate teaching, class sizes are small, usually ranging from 20 to 30 students in 3000-level courses and no more than 15 students in the 4000-level capstone. Professors get to know and work closely with students, helping them realize their full potential as readers, writers, and scholars, and students get to know one another, building friendships and community. 
• Literary Community: OU English hosts a chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, which provides opportunities for English students to meet and network outside the classroom. Sigma members put on social events, present their work, host visiting authors, and build a network of peers who share their passion for literature.
• Internships: Leveraging its location in the Metro Detroit region, the program connects students with writing and editing internships at local non-profits, publishing houses, corporate communications offices, and more. Through these credit-bearing internships, students gain valuable experience, applying and adapting the skills they have learned in the literature classroom to professional environments.
• Scholarships: The English program awards a series of academic merit and financial need-based scholarships annually, helping ease the economic burden on students and their families. Many scholarships are exclusive to English majors, and the program typically makes 8 to 10 scholarship awards each year.

What will you learn majoring in English at Oakland University?

Through Introduction to Literary Studies, the gateway course to the English major, students learn the primary methods of literary analysis and research. Skills include close reading, or detailed analysis of literary texts; locating, evaluating, and citing scholarly sources; identifying literary forms and genres; and writing cogent, evidence-based arguments about literature. You will also encounter courses in these areas: 

• Global and Ethnic Literatures: Students learn about the vast range of literature written in English beyond the traditional Western canon. By studying African American, Indigenous, and Postcolonial literatures, students examine how different cultures and regions have adapted the English language to express unique identities, historical perspectives, and social experiences across the globe.
• Literary History: Students analyze how literature evolves over history. The curriculum stresses a balance of earlier and later literary history, ranging from British Medieval and Renaissance literature to American literature from the 20th century and beyond. By studying literature from different eras, students come to understand how social, political, and cultural shifts shape British and American literary traditions.
• Critical and Cultural Approaches to Literature: In addition to formal and historical analysis, students study literature through interdisciplinary approaches and perspectives, such as environmental studies, disability studies, and gender and sexuality studies. By exploring these timely fields, students learn how literature enriches our understanding of a variety of issues, movements, and ideas that impact our daily lives.

Advisor: Tim Donahue

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Sigma Tau Delta

Interested in great opportunities like scholarships, internships, and chances to be published in a national journal? Looking for writing groups or people with whom you can discuss the latest books or true classics? Want to spread your love for literature to the rest of Oakland University's campus? Then start thinking about Sigma Tau Delta at Oakland University!

Sigma Tau Delta's central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. One of the largest members of the Association of College Honor Societies, Sigma Tau Delta has close to 600 chapters, 700 faculty sponsors, and inducts approximately 7,000 members annually. Our members have the opportunity to be recognized for their outstanding achievements, enrich their education, help them make career choices, and advance their careers (The International Sigma Tau Delta website English.org) Visit the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society Facebook page.