English
Program Details
Good stories help us better understand the world, ourselves and one another. As a student in the English major, you’ll perfect the art of writing while exploring the history and interpretation of different literary genres, including fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, poetry, speeches, scripts and more. You’ll also have opportunities to study abroad in Ireland and England where you’ll watch plays at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, study English and Irish writers, explore museums and take for-credit English courses.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes. 98 percent of our students, including those in the English major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2021).
Concentrations
Literature
Writing (Creative and Professional)
Both concentrations develop the critical thinking and communication skills needed for careers in marketing, education, publishing, journalism, web content management and public relations.
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the English major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- English 115: Rhetoric............ 3cr.
- Core 100: First-Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- Core 101 GOA: First-Year Co-Curriculum Program I............ 0cr.
- second language I............ 3cr.
- Philosophy 100: Intro to Ethics............ 3cr.
- Mathematics Perspectives............ 3cr.
Spring
- Literature & Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- Theology 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- second language II............ 3cr.
- Historical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- Philosophy 200: Philosophical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- Core 102 GOA: First-Year Co-Curriculum Program II............ 0cr.
Fall
- English 210: Methods Workshop............ 3cr.
- Scientific Perspective............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspective............ 3cr.
- Theological Perspective ............ 3cr.
- Quantitative Reasoning Flag............ 3cr.
Spring
- English 221: Poetry............ 3cr.
- Theory/Criticism Major Elective............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Elective............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
- Social Science Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- British Literature Major Elective............ 3cr.
- American Literature Major Elective............ 3cr.
- Oral Communications Flag............ 3cr.
- E/RS Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
Spring
- British or American Literature Major Elective............ 3cr.
- Language/Linguistics Major Elective............ 3cr.
- Diversity Flag............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
Fall
- English Major Elective............ 3cr.
- English Major Elective............ 3cr.
- Writing Intensive Flag............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
Spring
- English 499: Senior Seminar............ 3cr.
- English Major Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
- General Elective/Double Major or Minor requirement............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that's both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the English major at Xavier:
Rhetoric (ENGL 115) - Intensive theoretical and practical study of discourse. For students who have acquired basic writing skills.
Poetry (ENGL 221) - An intensive critical and historical study of British and American poetry.
Modern Literary Theory (ENGL 302) - Study of contemporary literary theory and its application to selected texts.
History of Literary Criticism (ENGL 303) - From Aristotle through the modern period.
Student Clubs
The following clubs are popular choices for students in the English major.
Xavier Newswire
The Xavier Newswire is Xavier's weekly campus newspaper that is written and edited by the students of Xavier University.
Clocktower Review
The Clocktower Review is Xavier's literary and art magazine. Students publish poetry, prose, and art in this review once per semester.
HerCampus Xavier
HerCampus Xavier (HCXU) is an online magazine with fun articles and how-tos, campus profiles and other campus-relevant articles. HCXU, a chapter of HerCampus, strives to provide interesting and engaging content for the student body at Xavier University.
Career Outcomes
98% of Xavier students, including those in the English major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduating (Class of 2021).
Jobs: web content manager, external/internal PR coordinator, editor, journalist, nonprofit administration, copywriter, teacher, marketing manager, SEO strategist
Take the Next Step
Engaged Faculty in the English Program
Talented and passionate professors in the English program connect students to internships and job opportunities in marketing, journalism and digital content strategy.
Cincinnati: A City of Opportunity for English Majors
Cincinnati, Ohio is ranked the #1 Best City for College Graduates (smartasset.com) and the #15 Best Place to Start a Career (WalletHub). Students in the English major take advantage of for-credit internship and employment opportunities at media companies, advertising agencies, nonprofit organizations and more.
What is Jesuit Education?
A Xavier education is more than your typical college experience. Drawing on a Jesuit Catholic educational model 400 years in the making, students in the english major get the personal attention and support they need to succeed and make a difference in the world. The result is an education that’s as encouraging as it is challenging, and as enriching as it is demanding.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
English Major at Xavier University
The 36-hour English major begins with courses designed to develop students' writing and introduce them to the history and interpretation of literary genres and the theories behind interpretation. Upper-division literature courses deal with specific periods or themes. Three of these are electives. Students seeking secondary teaching certification can fulfill the English requirements for certification without taking English courses beyond the major requirements. Undergraduates who wish to be certified as teachers of English on the secondary level are advised to consult with the Chair of the English Department and with the Office of Teacher Education and Placement regarding specific requirements for teacher certification.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."