Department of Language and Literature

The Department of Language and Literature educates you to be highly literate, to think critically, and to creatively express yourself. Our programs create graduates who are skilled in understanding the written word, including rhetoric, classic literature, and foreign languages, and using the principles of language to communicate effectively.

You’ll study philosophy, as well as a wide range of literature, from classic to contemporary, and practice your language skills by writing in different styles – short stories, poems, informational and how-to writing, linguistics, and even journalism. Graduates enjoy successful careers that rely on effective communication – editing, publishing, media, government agencies, marketing, business, and more. An education deeply rooted in rhetoric can even lead to a successful career in law, in which the ability to read and understand policies and arguments is critical.

You also will have plenty of hands-on opportunities to practice your craft with a variety of publication outlets, writing opportunities, and other events to build your portfolio and gain practical experience in your field of study. You can showcase your skills by competing in poetry and fiction slams and meet working professionals when you participate in writing programs and attend conferences.

The department also provides training in other languages and offers a full major in the Spanish language. The chance to study abroad will help you develop your foreign communication skills and give you a greater command of the structure of the English language.