At A Glance

Through reading, writing, and close analysis, students in Carthage’s lively English Department community observe the finer details of language and pose serious questions about life, history, art, and justice. English majors with an emphasis or minor in creative writing work with faculty while experimenting in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Majors

Minors 

View Degree Requirements

Earn a Bachelor of Arts in English at Carthage

As an English major, you will immerse yourself in the habits and practices of reading, writing, close analysis, and imaginative thought. In each of your courses, you will learn both to observe the fine details of language and to ask serious questions about life, art, history, and justice.

Wrestling with such big questions will also help you to forge a narrative of your own. An English major serves as a springboard to any career rooted in critical and creative thought. Our graduates now work in fields as varied as education, graphic design, sales, creative writing, journalism, and law.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.jpg" alt="Nikkiema Harris" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,51,2048,2099/38784_10803_163701665847155.rev.1699840377.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2048" data-max-h="2048" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Other students should consider the English major with a creative writing emphasis because of the outstanding faculty and staff in the English Department. Literature also helps us to understand the societal and cultural aspects of life through plays, poetry, and short novels.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2564-nikkiema-harris">Nikkiema Harris</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.JPG 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.JPG" alt="Terrell Tremar Franklin" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/160,275,2905,3022/37818_8320_163701665847155.rev.1684857517.JPG 3x" data-max-w="2745" data-max-h="2747" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Carthage faculty have been really easy to talk to and approach. They are excited to see a student pursue things within their department and always make the time to assist students in their career journey.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2448-terrell-tremar-franklin">Terrell Tremar Franklin</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg" alt="Zoey Kurka" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2316,3088/34625_EECB8A99-35A3-47D7-8729-1B951D74A93A.rev.1652992068.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2316" data-max-h="3088" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The Carthage faculty are amazing. My professors taught me so much and inspired me to enjoy the work I do in the classroom. The encouragement I’ve received from them has been one of my greatest helpers at college.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1876-zoey-kurka">Zoey Kurka</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg" alt="Kj De Jesús" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1000" data-max-h="1000" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I would not have gotten very far without my professors. My English and history teachers have helped me with more questions than anyone else on campus. When you find your people, they really take care of you.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1913-kj-de-jesus">Kj De Jesús</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg" alt="Kara R. Oldham" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1150,1003/38875_11001_163701665847155.rev.1701655045.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1150" data-max-h="1003" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage for the location, small class sizes, and the limitless opportunities to pursue your passions. The views don’t hurt either!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2578-kara-r-oldham">Kara R. Oldham</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg" alt="Elsie Berg" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1006,1006/37815_8363_163701665847155.rev.1684810261.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1006" data-max-h="1006" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I’ve always felt out of place in life, but here at Carthage, I feel like I’m finally starting to figure out how I fit into the world and what I can make of it.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2440-elsie-berg">Elsie Berg</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Attentive Professors and Exciting Coursework

The average English class at Carthage has fewer than 20 students, so you will have an opportunity to build strong relationships with your English professors and with your fellow students in the program.

Meet Carthage English faculty

Many of the English courses at Carthage are interdisciplinary, allowing students to explore literature from multiple points of view. Regularly offered courses include Latinx Literature; Shakespeare; Literature, Illness, Medicine; and Jazz Literature.


Beyond the Classroom

Students majoring in English have the opportunity to hear from writers like Sidik Fofana. Carthage hosts renowned writers and scholars through our Visiting Writers Series and Maxwell Conversations Series. Through these series, invited writers and scholars visit classrooms, lead workshops, and give readings and lectures. Students have the chance to meet and ask questions of artists, makers, and researchers actively changing their respective fields.

Students can also join Poetry Underground or the national English honor society Sigma Tau Delta; submit their work to Centrique, the College’s creative arts journal; or apply to become a writing fellow, who provides tutoring and revision help through the Brainard Writing Center.

Beyond campus, faculty and students frequently travel to Milwaukee and Chicago for readings and theatre performances. We take day trips to Spring Green for the American Players Theatre and/or travel to Ontario for a long weekend every fall to take in several plays at the acclaimed Stratford Festival. During our popular J-Term, English professors lead periodic study tours to destinations like London and Puerto Rico.

See more opportunities for Carthage English students


Multidisciplinary Pathways and Career Advancement

It’s an increasingly multidisciplinary world, and the Carthage English major has been designed with this in mind! Students in the major may bring the study of literature together with the teaching and the writing of it by adding an emphasis in creative writing or a minor in secondary education. Or both: you decide!

English majors can also easily add a second major in many fields of study offered at Carthage, and they can minor in many more. You can follow your curiosity and put together a combination of programs that is uniquely you. And you can be confident in the knowledge that you are developing the skills and habits of mind that are the bedrock of literary studies and in high demand with employers from across the spectrum.

After Carthage: Careers for English graduates

About English and teaching licensure

Many Carthage English majors plan to teach in elementary, middle, or high school. Students who want to teach English to grades 6-12 must complete a major in English and a minor in early adolescence and adolescence education. Students who want to teach English to grades 1-9 must complete an English minor in addition to their education major. The Carthage English Department works closely with both groups of education students to ensure they meet the requirements for their career goals.