Become an incisive, culturally responsive writer and critical thinker. Learn how to effectively communicate with different audiences by skillfully interpreting language and producing engaging content. Specialize in Creative Writing, Literature or Professional Writing to further align your major to your career goals.
Locations
- Statesboro Campus
- Armstrong Campus
- Online
Why Major in English at Georgia Southern?
Our faculty of practicing writers and scholars are dedicated to building a learning community of future professionals. We prioritize one-on-one mentoring, career preparation, and networking opportunities to help you succeed.
Whether you choose to major in English or add one of our minors, one thing remains true: we strive to produce graduates who understand the art and science of language, literature, and writing. You’ll experience a free exchange of ideas in an open, inclusive, and respectful student-centered environment, a commitment to academic excellence, and collaborative support for your individual academic achievement.
We offer a student-centered environment enhanced by technology and transcultural experiences. Through a curriculum that fosters academic and professional development, we provide opportunities to engage with nationally recognized authors and scholars.
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in English?
With a Bachelor of Arts in English, you will become an innovative problem solver and expressive writer, with refined skills in analyzing complex ideas and adapting to different contexts.
With options for specialized concentrations in Creative Writing, Literature and Professional Writing or a broad approach, you can tailor the major to your career goals. Take your BA to industries like Arts & Entertainment, Data Analysis, Education, Editing & Publishing, Healthcare, Information Technology, Journalism, Legal Services, Marketing, Nonprofit Administration, or Public Relations. With the flexibility of your skillset, you’ll be a valuable asset in today’s competitive job market.
Where our graduates work:
- Marketing firms
- Creative agencies
- Law firms
- Nonprofit organizations
- Education
What our graduates do:
- Copywriter/UX writer
- Grant writer
- Technical writer
- Account manager
- Paralegal
- Editorial assistant
What You’ll Learn
The English major is structured so that you are first introduced to the most important activities we do in our various fields. Then you practice those activities, honing your skills and applying them in various situations. Finally, you get a chance to show how well you’ve mastered those activities in a professional portfolio.
Concentrations
Strengthen your English Degree with a concentration. You can focus your studies toward your goals and interests with a concentration in literature, professional writing or creative writing.
Concentration in Literature
When you study literature at Georgia Southern, you’ll analyze classics and contemporary texts, learning more about what makes us human. You can study popular literature, graphic novels, film, and television to broaden your understanding of what makes a great story.
The literature concentration equips you with the communication and critical thinking skills most desired by employers, making you not just career ready but also world ready. Your literature concentration will ensure that you have the versatility needed to overcome the challenges of our rapidly changing world.
Literature majors are prepared to blaze their own career paths. In addition to careers as editors or teachers, literature majors pursue law or graduate degrees. Literature majors also work for nonprofit organizations, as researchers or corporate communicators, or in museums and tourism.
Concentration in Professional Writing
Enhance your effective communication skills by choosing a focus area that prepares you to adapt to multiple industries or strike out on your own as an entrepreneur and freelancer.
Choose from course topics like film genres & adaptation, digital storytelling, plain language & accessible design, social media, freelance writing, writing for social change, usability & user experience, and comics, culture, & composition. Make your mark as a critical thinker & problem solver while creating unique projects for your professional portfolio.
Concentration in Creative Writing
In creative writing classes, you learn the craft of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and screenwriting. Our faculty hold terminal degrees in creative writing, have published full-length collections, chapbooks, essays and articles, and are active in the national spotlight.
Our class sizes are some of the smallest on campus, so your workshop peers and teachers really get to know your writing and offer feedback. Graduates go on to pursue MFAs in Creative Writing, write professionally for corporations, publish their work, and win awards.
The open mic reading series Burning Swamp gives you a monthly chance to read your work aloud. Creative Writing club builds friendships. And because Georgia Southern is part of the nationally renowned Georgia Poetry Circuit, you’ll have the chance to meet world-famous poets in the cozy setting of a classroom.
Build Your Experience
Give your English Degree wings with enlightening lectures, open mic nights, and hands-on skill application.
Events
Burning Swamp
Get your ideas, poems, short stories, and songs out of your notebook and into the community at the Statesboro Campus’ own open mic series.
Contact Prof. Ben Drevlow for details
The Department of English Presents
Throughout the academic year, the English Deparment hosts visiting scholars, published writers, or conversations with alumni.
We’re proud to have hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning writers Andrew Sean Greer and Jericho Brown, New York Times Best-Selling author Stacy Willingham, Harvard University’s Nasir Jones, Hip Hop Fellow Dr. Regina N. Bradley, and so many other inspiring literary voices.
Fledge Award Reading
Students selected to have their work published in fledge, as well as the winners of our high school writing contest, will read from their pieces at an award ceremony. This event is held once a year in April.
Learn more
Georgia Poetry Circuit
The Georgia Poetry Circuit is a consortium of ten Georgia colleges and universities working together to bring three poets of national and international reputation annually to all members’ campuses, providing important access to the literary arts for Georgia residents across the state. At each school, each Circuit poet gives a free and open reading of their work. Poets visit our campus every November, February, and April.
Contact Prof. Christina Olson for details.
The Working Writer Lecture Series
Learn from people who make their living from writing at The Working Writer Lecture Series.
Contact Dr. Lisa Dusenberry for details.
Going Far with an English Major: A Professional Development Series
Going Far with an English Major highlights our talented alumni who are working in their fields all thanks to their English major.
If you’re a Lit, W&L, or English alum who would like to be featured, please email Prof. Christina Olson.
Get Involved
The Creative Writing Club
With locations on both the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses, the Creative Writing Club analyzes works of media, shares personal writing, and discusses storytelling and writing techniques, with the goal of using language to create beautiful and lifelike pieces of art.
Armstrong faculty contact: Chris Cartright
Statesboro faculty contact: Benjamin Drevlow
Sigma Tau Delta is the International English Honor Society; its aim is to foster all aspects of English as a discipline. Phi Sigma, the Georgia Southern chapter, is an active organization that promotes fellowship among English majors and service to the community. We hold bi-weekly meetings and host field trips, parties, and readings; we also engage in community service projects.
Please contact Dr. Julia Griffin or Dr. Mary Villeponteaux
Take Action
Follow these steps to complete the Georgia Southern application:
- Create an application account.
- Complete our online application using the PIN you received after creating your application account.
- Once complete, pay the $30 application fee or upload a valid fee waiver. Previous Georgia Southern applicants and dual enrollment students do not need to pay the fee.
You can check your application status at My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/admissions three days after completing your application. This page contains live information about your admission status, including a checklist of missing documents we need to make a decision.
Apply as a First-Year Student Transfer to Georgia SouthernThere are more than 35 awards and scholarships available for English majors, minors, and first-year writers. Our winners are celebrated at our “Celebrations of Success” held each April.
See Scholarships See AwardsStudent Testimonial
Ezra Kirsch is an animator, puppeteer, and, importantly, writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Having graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts from Georgia Southern’s English program, she’s since found work on a number of projects across the entertainment industry, including TV shows, commercial content, stage performances, games, and more. Despite her career primarily being in the visual arts, she heavily credits her education in writing and rhetoric as a major factor in what led her to finding success in her profession and proficiency in her craft as an artist. In March of 2024, she spoke with Department of English students about the value of a writing education in the entertainment industry. She offered experience as to how a background in written communication helped kick-start her career, how a strong understanding of rhetoric has led to artistic and professional success, and how students may apply their passion for writing to other genres and mediums. Students were able to see how her Department of English education was a firm advantage in a famously competitive industry and how their educations may offer similar opportunities for growth and success.
Take the Next Step
Ready to transform into an incisive, culturally responsive writer and critical thinker? Learn more about majoring in English at Georgia Southern University.
Contact Us
College of Arts and Humanities
Georgia Southern University
P.O. Box 8142
Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8142
Phone: 912-478-2527
Fax: 912-478-5346
Email: cah@georgiasouthern.edu