English, B.A.

Read. Write. Reimagine your life. In Saint Louis University’s English program, students engage the world of literature and the art of language. SLU's English majors do more than read great books; they encounter diverse perspectives and learn to read their place in the world. Award-winning English faculty train students to think critically and creatively, write with precision and style and analyze how language shapes culture.

Through courses in literature, creative writing and rhetoric, as well as personalized mentorship, English students reimagine what their futures might hold. SLU’s English alumni often credit the department’s emphasis on writing, analytical rigor and creativity for their success in varied careers. Whether you wish to pursue law or education, marketing or medicine, an M.F.A. or an MBA, an English degree will help you get there.

Additional highlights of SLU's B.A. in English include:

Curriculum Overview

Saint Louis University’s English major is flexible and student-centered, with small classes emphasizing discussion, critical thinking and reflection. A spine of four required courses brings majors together as a cohort to explore foundational questions, such as: Why English? What are the functions of literature and rhetoric for communities beyond the university? What role does creative storytelling play in shaping cultures of justice?

Students craft their own paths through the rest of the major, following their passions in literary studies, creative writing and rhetorical studies. From true crime podcasts and Shakespeare’s plays to climate change novels and new media writing, elective courses cover a range of literary histories and genres while drawing connections to the present. Many electives within the English major also fulfill University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements, giving students time and freedom to explore. The English curriculum concludes with a senior capstone experience in which students work with a faculty mentor to complete a significant research or creative project of their own design.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

The English department offers opportunities for students to supplement their regular course of study with research experiences, internships and community-based learning. In the selective Research Intensive English program, some students pursue literary and rhetorical studies in small, rigorous settings and conduct distinctive scholarly research. The department provides support to students who present original research at national and regional undergraduate conferences.

SLU English students also take their learning out of the classroom through projects such as The Saint Louis Story: Learning & Living Racial Justice, a collaborative digital humanities research endeavor that brings SLU students and faculty together with community partners.

Finally, the English department sponsors credit-bearing internships where students make meaningful connections between their studies and the practical, social and intellectual demands of a workplace. English students intern in fields like law, publishing, marketing and business. Others apply their writing skills and creativity in internships with arts and media organizations such as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Saint Louis Poetry Center.

Careers

Students who study English receive a solid foundation for professions that require excellent analytical and communication skills and a creative spirit. SLU English graduates have worked as editors at major New York publishing houses and taught English at the university and high school levels. Others pursue law and have become attorneys in business and commercial litigation and clerked for federal judges. Alumni in the creative sector have directed digital strategy and advertising campaigns and written, directed, and produced feature films. Others consult for tech firms, serve as workforce management specialists, and enter careers in government and nonprofit agencies.

Some graduates enroll in master’s or doctoral programs to continue their English studies, finding placement in some of the nation’s leading programs in literary studies, creative writing and rhetoric. Others attend law school, medical school or MBA programs.

Admission Requirements

Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.

Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following: