English (B.A.)

The study of literature fosters curiosity and critical thinking. It requires you to get outside of your intellectual comfort zone, to take risks and to be unafraid of approaching a question in a unique, creative way.

In the jobs of the future, the risk-takers and the innovative thinkers are the ones who will succeed. Employers in the 21st century demand an “adaptable and creative workforce.” They want to hire recent grads who can think critically and creatively, write and communicate well, and distill key concepts from complex ideas—and that’s exactly what our English majors learn.

What can you do with a degree in English? Better to ask what you can’t do: in learning how to think critically, write clearly and speak thoughtfully, you are prepared not for one specific and limited job, but rather for a career path that can respond to rapidly changing employment opportunities. Some of our majors pursue graduate degrees at major universities; others work in nonprofit corporations, publishing firms, law firms, theatre troupes and libraries. The small, student-focused classes we offer at Hood allow for the kind of faculty mentoring and references that help our graduates find careers that are not only successful but personally rewarding.

Hood’s English major offers three concentrations—literature, creative writing and theatre; all culminate in an intensely focused and collegial senior seminar that encourages students to enter more closely into the scholarly dialogues that interest them most.

Important note: Hood College is transitioning to new core requirements and Program Transfer Guides are unavailable at this time. In the meantime, please visit English (B.A.) to review more information about the major. If you would like to map out your major, follow this link: Major Maps. If you would like to see single-course equivalencies, you can do so here.