If English majors get a bad rap, why did so many of today's greatest minds choose English degrees? Barbara Walters, John Legend, Steven Spielberg the list goes on and on. Do you have a talent for diving into a topic and finding intriguing connections? Do you have a natural curiosity, a love for learning, and a passion for storytelling? If you answered yes to all of the above, you're a perfect fit for SNHU’s online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Language and Literature. As an English major, you'll gain a vital skill set that’s highly sought after. That same skill set is also crucial to long-term career growth in virtually any field.

In a wide-ranging study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 95.9% of employers consider oral and written communication skills as an essential quality in a prospective hire.1 Though employers are looking for strong communication skills in their employees, only about 41.6% of new hires actually demonstrate proficiency in this area.1 In nearly every industry, the ability to harness the power of the written word has emerged as one of the 21st century's most critical career skills. Like all liberal arts majors, English degree programs develop enduring skills that transfer easily to nearly every profession.

This English degree focuses on many of the most valued skills highlighted in a report by Burning Glass Technologies, including:

- Attention to detail

- Creativity and presentation skills

- Collaboration and communication

- Organization and research

As an English major, you might be asked to interpret implied meaning in a text or support an idea with a logical, organized argument. You might need to proofread a paper or research and document sources. You might make an oral presentation or team up with peers. In each case, you'll be constantly improving these skills throughout your coursework.

I think people don't think as widely as they might about areas they can go into with an English degree, said SNHU associate dean of liberal arts Dr. Christopher Lee. Every professional career wants you to read something and have a comprehensive understanding of the material. Those are all the things that are learned by studying English.

Learn how to:

- Build critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills

- Develop cultural literacy across periods and places

- Analyze literary form, genre, structure, and style

- Construct a logical, organized argument

- Team up with peers on group projects

Our online English degree courses are taught by accomplished instructors with deep industry insights and a passion for literary pursuits. Many are published, authors. Some specialize in genres such as medieval literature or young adult fiction. The curriculum includes a mix of literature and writing courses. Students have a wide range of freedom in choosing which literature courses are most appealing to them.

Among the more popular options are:

- World Mythology: An introduction to the study of mythology. Students read and discuss myths from western and non-western cultures. Students get to choose one culture's myth to concentrate on for a final project.

- Nature Writers: An introduction to the prose and poetry of major British and American writers and naturalists since the 18th century. These writers observe nature vividly and write about humanity's relationship with the natural environment.

- Romance, Revolutions and the Birth of the Novel: A survey course covering two periods in British history the Enlightenment and Romanticism. The course covers various aspects of English literature, including the novel, the essay, and satire. Themes range from civil liberties to sexuality and gender. Featured authors may include Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, and Byron.

- Popular and Contemporary Fiction: Learn what makes a book a bestseller, from style and pacing to clever, memorable plots. This course explores a variety of literary sub-genres, including true crime, memoir, road novel, extreme adventure, western and roots quests. Themes range from individualism to race and violence in American culture.

- Gender and Text: Learn how sexuality, sex, race, class, ethnicity, nationality, religion, and other factors influence writers' depictions of gender. Topics may include women's suffrage, feminism, third-world feminism, the LGBTQ community, and queer theory. Featured authors may include Mary Wollstonecraft, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, and Michael Cunningham.

- The Black Literary Tradition: An overview of African-American literature, with glimpses into African and Caribbean literature. Literary genres include slave narratives, poetry, short stories, fiction, and plays. Featured authors may include Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois, Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, and Toni Morrison.

This program also gives you a choice of creative writing workshops:

- Playwriting Workshop

- Poetry Writing Workshop

- Fiction Writing Workshop

- Nonfiction Writing Workshop

Dr. Christopher Lee, SNHU associate dean of liberal arts, points out that "by reading great literature, students learn about other cultures and develop emotional intelligence and empathy. There's a large amount of self-knowledge you also gain, he said. You learn about yourself. You learn about humanity and history. Anchored by a curriculum that encourages collaboration, students also learn from each other."

Audrey Greathouse 15 earned her online English degree at SNHU and later went on to publish a bestselling novel, The Neverland Wars. She credits the program’s curriculum and her instructors with a large part of her success."

With open arms and a brilliantly simple application process, SNHU welcomed me to a program that challenged me to think for myself and thinks a lot! said, Greathouse. Greathouse also attributes her success to the peer group she got to know throughout her studies. For almost 3 years now, I have worked with the most ideologically tolerant and intellectually diverse collection of students I've ever known, she said. With manageable, but deeply intellectually challenging course loads in every class, I really do feel that I had an opportunity here that I wouldn't have had with any other institution in the country. Talented and motivated seniors like Greathouse can petition to complete our BA in English with a senior thesis in literature. The 2-term research and writing project offers graduate-level research and writing experience in American, British, or world literature."

Part of our mission to expand access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That's why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials. Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)