ENGLISH & LITERATURE PROGRAMS

What you can do with a degree from an English & literature program:

Studying at UT

Setting you up for success

As a student studying an English and literature program, you’ll dive into the works of iconic writers like William Shakespeare and Toni Morrison. You might even be taught these classics by a published author! Many of our professors have written books covering topics from coming-of-age tales to poetry to history. 

UT has been the recipient of the Writing Program Certificate of Excellence, a national award from the Conference of College Composition and Communication. All of our students learn how to use language as a social tool, develop well-constructed arguments, and apply critical-thinking skills to understand the world around them. 

Your success here on Rocky Top extends beyond the classroom. We provide students with opportunities to connect with one another through clubs and special events. Maybe you’ll attend the English department’s Jane Austen Regency Ball where you’ll learn Regency-era dances and interact with actors portraying Austen’s characters, for example.

Research & hands-on learning opportunities

Our students often participate in local and national internships. To name a few, you might intern for UT’s McClung Museum, HarperCollins, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, or Teach for America.

As Tennessee’s flagship university and a premier land-grant research institution, undergraduate students have conducted research on topics ranging from Hemingway to bog bodies. Graduate and PhD students have access to special collections in British and American literary history and resources from the Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. 

And in true Volunteer spirit, you’ll have the chance to get involved in the community. Maybe you’ll become a tutor to seniors at local high schools through the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center.

Learn around the world

You’ll delve into history, discover new worlds, and learn other ways of thinking through the magic of words in our English and literature programs. But you can also experience this in person through studying abroad. Students have traveled to Ireland and the United Kingdom to study playwrights, discover the medieval charm of Galway, and explore Shakespeare’s hometown.