BA Major
English Literature
Become an expert in reading stories, literature, and understanding the underlying aspects of culture.- Home
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Great literature transcends time. Geneva's literature program equips you to not only read widely but also to see how the story of this world and the story of scripture are intrinsically intertwined. This program will prepare you for anything in life that requires reading deeply.
Geneva prepares you to make a meaningful impact in your career, community and life.
Share Your Work
Write and Edit at our newspaper, literary publication, and poet’s journal
Become Known
Earn a Spot in our international honors society for English and writing majors
Experience Deep Learning
Gain critical thinking and literary criticism skills vital to professional success
Key Courses
Introduction to Literary Study
How do I know what a text means?! Can it mean anything I want it to mean? What's more important, the author, the text, or the reader? In this course you will consider the integration of Christian faith and the reading, interpretation, and appreciation of literature and theory
British and American Literature Surveys
Study major works of British and American Literature from their origins to present
Masterpieces of World Literature
What does it take to be a “classic?” Consider that question as you study literary works such as Homer’s The Iliad, Dante’s The Divine Comedy, Brontë’s Jane Eyre, and Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov.
Shakespeare
Explore some of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, histories, and tragedies both as literary texts and film productions
Experienced & Accomplished Faculty
The English Department bases its curriculum, teaching pedagogies, and scholarship on the belief that human beings, created in the image of God, are inherently creative beings themselves.
Students will grow steadily in their ability to honor God as they prepare to become competent writers and innovative critical thinkers through the study of:
- literature
- analytical and creative writing
- the related arts
Students graduating with an English Literature degree will accomplish the following outcomes:
- Students will know, understand, and appreciate British, American, and World literary history, including representative authors and literary works.
- Students will gain a basic awareness of literary genres and their formal features.
- Students will acquire a grasp of the succession of socio-historical contexts.
- Students will write clear and effective persuasive arguments about literary texts using academic research, methods, and discourse.
- Students will discover the immense creative capacity of all human languages by studying language structures within both oral and written traditions.
- Students will know, understand, and apply with discernment a variety of critical approaches to literary interpretation and will execute detailed analytical examinations of texts.
- Students will understand the intersection of Christianity and literary study and will be able to make connections and distinctions between their own worldview and the worldviews expressed in literary texts.
Career Outcomes
Graduates who aspire to have an impact in their communities and their careers through a Geneva Education gain expertise in this field enhanced by academics rooted in Christian values and ethics in Geneva’s program.
11%
Job growth estimate for art director positions from 2020-2030 (BLS)
$61,800
is the national average salary for a copywriter (Indeed.com).
“My professors helped me to see the beauty in the midst of my storms and gave me the courage to express and believe things I thought. Thank you for speaking truth to me.” - Hillary, English Major
Be prepared for careers such as...
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Editor
- Lawyer
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Content Manager
- Archivist
- Publisher
- Writer
Further your impact...
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Pursue a master’s in library sciences, creative writing, or English education
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Work overseas teaching English in foreign countries
- Gain certification as a Digital Archives Specialist, Content Systems Manager, or a Book Publisher
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Geneva graduates teach at colleges like Florida Southern College, York College, Eastern Mennonite University, and Penn State University
Tell Me More
Discover more about our English Literature program
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How Geneva Prepares English Majors for Success
Few academic endeavors match the satisfaction of analyzing a complicated work of literature or writing a perfectly phrased essay. In addition to delivering a personal feeling of accomplishment, these skills also translate to success in the workforce, as indicated by a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which examined the starting salaries of several different college majors.
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