Department of English
About the Department
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Hear novelist Colum McCann, winner of the 2009 National Book Award, talk about literature and the writing life at Washington College. He delivered keynote remarks before announcing the winner of the 2011 Sophie Kerr Prize.
Meet the finalists for the 2011 Sophie Kerr Prize: Lisa Jones, Dan McCloskey, Insley Smullen, Joseph Yates, and Maggie Farrell. Learn more...
Whether you stood in line for the newest Harry Potter or scorned J.K. Rowling in favor of Jane Austen, if you love literature, you should think about majoring or minoring in English.
With small classes and lively literary discussions, you'll have plenty of opportunities to polish your poetry or prose while learning from the best—Shakespeare, Chaucer, Hemingway, Hawthorne and more.
You can become part of our vibrant community of scholars and writers, form lasting friendships, and enjoy a literary lifestyle complete with quirky, unique features like the Lit House, Writers' Theatre, and the Kiplin Hall trip.
Not sure if an English major is right for you? Even if you don't know what your future holds, the English department can help you prepare for it, with flexible course requirements to prepare you for careers in writing, editing, teaching, law and advertising, just to name a few.
Why English? Five Good Reasons
1. You'll gain exposure to living writers.
Lindsay Lusby '08 had dinner with visiting fiction writer Mary O'Connell and discussed her writing with poet Elizabeth Arnold. "Experiences like these have so much more of an impact than just going to a reading or listening an interview about the writer's latest work," Lindsay said.
2. You can follow in your favorite poets' footsteps—literally—on the Kiplin Hall trip.
Tim Danos '09 traveled to England as part of the 2007 summer program at Kiplin Hall. "We studied 19th century Romantic writers like William Wordsworth, Emily Bronte, Beatrix Potter, Bram Stoker and Samuel Coleridge, and visited the exact settings where they found inspiration for their most notable prose," he said.
3. You might win a $70,000 literary prize.
In her will, Sophie Kerr, a 20th century writer and native of the Eastern Shore, bequeathed half a million dollars to Washington College. Each spring, the Sophie Kerr Prize—the largest undergraduate literary award in the country—is awarded to the graduating senior who has the best ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor. The endowment is also used to bring to campus a succession of the nation's top writers, editors and scholars, to buy library books and to fund campus literary activities. "It is a celebration of writing and the writing life," said Bobby Bangert '08.
4. You'll have a place to call your own at The Rose O'Neill Literary House.
Fondly dubbed "The Lit House," the restored Victorian is a place for students stop by to relax with a good book, work on their poetry and prose, cook a meal with friends, or just escape from everyday life for a few hours. With posters on the walls, shelves full of books, a working printing press, and comfy couches, the Lit House is at the center of our literary culture.
5. You can try your hand at the medieval sport of jousting.
The Washington College Jousting Tournament brings new meaning to the phrase "active learning." To celebrate medieval literature, English students met on the campus green for a cutthroat competition using cardboard and dining hall trays for shields and lances and wheelbarrows instead of the traditional steeds. "Whoever falls is unhorsed. It's just like normal jousting but with wheelbarrows and protective gear," said Rebecca Scarborough '07.
Course of Study
Academic Requirements
Catalog Entry
Creative Writing
Current Courses
Senior Capstone Experience
Opportunities
Sophie Kerr Legacy
Study Abroad
Sigma Tau Delta
Writers' Union
Want to meet some amazing people who share your passion for writing? Check out the Washington College Writers' Union.
The College's quirky community of student writers often gathers at the Rose O'Neill Literary House for workshops, readings and social events.
As a member of the Writers' Union, you can hone your writing skills in bi-weekly workshops or submit your pieces to The Colophon, the group's online journal. You can discover new literature - and share some of your favorite works - at themed readings complete with hot cocoa and homemade cookies, or you can join fellow reveling writers at the ever-popular Halloween Party or anti-Valentine's Day Blackhearts Ball.