Department of English

Welcome to the Department of English

At Chowan, we believe in the power of stories and language. Literature teaches us not only about our past but also about a shared human experience in the present. Studies in English lead students to a richer appreciation of life and its meaning, helping them to appreciate the complexities of our world and the opportunities we have to connect with others. Our program develops the whole student. English majors at Chowan become accomplished oral and written communicators. Our small classes allow students to engage deeply with literature, and our creative writing workshop model fosters the writing and editing skills students need to work in creative industries. Further, our Global Learning Core allows students to engage with a variety of literatures across the world and across the span of history. As an English major, our students learn to write well, to speak well, to analyze well, to argue well, and to do research well. With these essential skills, our graduates work in a variety of fields, from education to business, and many go on to pursue graduate degrees.

Our Mission Statement

Studies in literature and language should lead to a richer appreciation of life and its meaning. Learning to express oneself, orally or through writing, demands critical thinking skills to determine what one perceives to be true about experience. Seeing how others express themselves, by reading great literature or studying foreign languages, exposes one to a variety of perspectives on culture and existence, thus expanding a student’s vision. These studies also encourage and help develop a sense of aesthetics and humane values. While these values cannot be measured, we feel they are central to the life of the truly educated; the skills necessary to express one’s growing understanding of these truths, perspectives, and values-critical thinking, clear and logical writing, and oral communication of complex ideas-are essential to success in any career a student eventually chooses.