Unlock the power of words with a major in English. Learn the writing and analytical skills you need to thrive in your future career.
Why Study English?
A major in English gives you the tools and skills necessary for your future education or career. In your courses, you'll develop your writing and analytical skills. You'll become an effective and persuasive communicator, which will help you in many professional contexts.
You will also learn how language changes and shapes the world. You'll see how ideas change and evolve through your readings. You'll also learn empathy by reading from different perspectives and understanding their contexts.
Your English degree will help you pursue a career in education, writing, media and more. It is also a great major for a future in law, medicine, business and federal service.
Why Study English at CSUN?
Passionate Faculty
Work with nationally recognized scholars and writers in small classroom settings. Our faculty have published reviews, essays, poems, short stories and novels. They will help nurture your craft and give you insights into great works of poetry and literature. Be encouraged and inspired in the Department of English.
Choose Your Option
Pursue your area of interest under the broader category of English. We have three options for English major students:
- Literature: Learn to analyze and critique British and American literature.
- Creative writing: Refine your narrative, verse or playwriting skills. You'll also build a solid background of study in British and American literature.
- Honors: Develop a strong academic background with advanced seminars in close relationship with faculty. Be prepared for postgraduate study in English or other postgraduate disciplines.
Internship Opportunities
Through our internship program, you'll gain professional experience while receiving college credit. Your duties will include technical and professional writing, which you will compile into a portfolio. Previous internship fields include:
- Publishing
- Copywriting
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Human resources
- Grant writing
- Law
- Politics
- Entertainment
What You'll Learn
As an English major, you will analyze novels, poems and other texts. You will study British, American, and other diverse works. You'll study creative, linguistic, and rhetorical theories. You'll learn writing skills and develop critical reading skills. You'll be prepared to apply your analytical mind in a variety of fields.
The Department of English offers three options for students. Each has a different set of course requirements and will prepare you for your future career.
The literature option focuses on the analytical reading of British and American literature.
In your lower-division core courses, you broadly study the works of English and American writers from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The rest of your classes will be upper-division courses that will delve more deeply into the study of specific authors, time periods and genres. You'll choose from classes covering topics such as:
- Literary genres
- Literary criticism
- Shakespeare and Milton
- Major British novelists
- Major American novelists
- Modern poetry
- Plays and dramas
- Contemporary American literature
You'll also choose at least one class to study more diverse literature. You can learn about:
- American Indian literature
- African American writing
- Gay and lesbian writers
- 19th century women novelists
For your electives, you will select three upper-division English courses.
In this option, you'll develop narrative, verse or playwriting skills. You'll also build a solid background of study in British and American literature.
In your lower-division courses, you'll take an introductory workshop course in creative writing. You'll focus on prose fiction, poetry or drama. You'll also take one class to study major English or American writers.
In your upper-division courses, you'll continue to focus on your creative writing. You'll take courses such as:
- Narrative Writing
- Verse Writing
- Playwriting
- Theories of Poetry
- Theories of Fiction
You'll also study great past and contemporary works. This includes courses on topics such as:
- Shakespeare and Milton
- Major American novelists
- Drama from Ibsen to the present
- Contemporary poetry
You'll also take a senior seminar to write, revise and complete a finished work.
Prepare for postgraduate study with advanced seminars and conduct independent research. Admission to the program begins in the first semester of your junior year. You will need a GPA of 3.5 or better in upper division English courses to graduate from the honors program.
In your lower-division core courses, you broadly study the works of English and American writers from the Middle Ages to the present day.
In your honors courses, you will take seminars to give you research opportunities and in-depth studies into a period of literature or major work.
You will also complete an honors revision seminar. In this class, you will develop an existing research paper into an article-length manuscript. You will even present your findings as a scholarly paper at an academic conference or similar setting.
The rest of your classes will be upper-division courses that will delve more deeply into literary history. You'll choose from classes covering topics such as:
- Literary criticism
- Major British Novelists
- Major American novelists
You'll also choose at least one class to study more diverse literature. You can learn about:
- American Indian literature
- African American writing
- Gay and lesbian writers
- 19th century women novelists
For your electives, you will select additional upper-division English courses.
Careers & Outcomes
The English major will prepare you for a wide range of career options. Your research and communication skills will prepare you for further educational studies. Your writing and critical thinking skills are crucial in a variety of fields.
Get published on campus.
Submit your original work to the Northridge Review, a literary and arts journal curated and produced by CSUN students. Every year, the NR publishes two volumes containing the best in art, poetry, fiction and drama from the CSUN and neighboring community.
Want to Teach?
Take advantage of our credentialing program to earn a degree in English and your teaching credential at the same time. Learn about our three English for Teaching options.
English Department Awards
The department offers a number of prizes for students who have excelled in their academic work. Some of our awards celebrate overall academic achievement, while others recognize the best pieces of prose or poetry. Read about our awards.
Study Abroad
The Department of English believes you should study overseas to gain new academic and cultural experiences. Certain courses taken at CSU International Program Study Centers in foreign countries are equivalent to courses in the Department of English and will fulfill your major requirements. For more information, consult the International and Exchange Student Center, the English department associate chair, or the campus International Programs advisor.