At a Glance
I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Scripps’ Department of English is home to all courses in English-language literature and creative writing. This includes classes in British, American, and global Anglophone literature, and workshops in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. All Scripps English courses are small, discussion-based seminars.
There are two different tracks in the English major: the critical track and the creative writing track. The critical track requires more literature courses; the creative writing track requires more creative writing workshops. However, there is substantial overlap between the two tracks. As the largest humanities major at Scripps, there is a real sense of camaraderie and community amongst our English majors.
What are some courses appropriate for first0year students interested in exploring this field of study?
Most Scripps English courses are appropriate for first-year students. In general, the only courses that are not appropriate are senior seminar courses (courses with an “S” at the end of the course number). With a few exceptions, such as intermediate or advanced workshops that require previous creative writing experience, Scripps English courses do not have prerequisites, so we encourage you to explore whichever courses most interest you!
Should I ultimately decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
There are two required introductory courses: ENGL 101: Readings in British Literature and ENGL 102: Readings in American Literature. Ideally, these should be taken by the end of the sophomore year, though students often take them as juniors and seniors. They are appropriate for first-year students, but are commonly taken during sophomore year due to limited space available for first-years (given all the sophomores taking it). These courses do not have to be taken in any particular order.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Yes! Students frequently double major with English. The fact that the English major has a one-semester (as opposed to two-semester) senior thesis makes it even easier to double major in another discipline. Popular pairings have included foreign languages, politics, psychology, economics, math, neuroscience, linguistics, classics, and many others.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
If you’re interested in majoring in English, you should know that college graduates with degrees in English or other humanities subjects are as gainfully employed as their peers in other fields. Recent studies have consistently found that the career prospects for English majors compare favorably with other disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, including ones that are considered more “practical.” Scripps English majors have gone on to careers in publishing, law, education, library science, film, advertising, marketing, medicine, academia, creative writing, and countless other arenas.
Scripps Catalog link to specific requirements for the major/minor:
https://catalog.scrippscollege.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=33&poid=4971
Link to profiles of faculty who teach in this field:
https://www.scrippscollege.edu/departments/english
The Scripps College Department of English offers courses in British, American, and global Anglophone literatures. The major is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of the history of English-language literature, a strong foundation in literary criticism and interpretation, and extensive instruction in written expression. We encourage students to pursue a broad array of approaches to the study of English: courses required for the major range across time periods and genres, and can include both theoretical and creative work. English majors can also take advantage of the resources offered by literature departments at the other Claremont Colleges.