English
About English
Our Program and Courses
Our classes develop the skills vital to modern careers: deep, thoughtful engagement
with complexity; persuasive speaking and writing; and not least, the ability to express
oneself with power and grace. English classes will also introduce you to the playfulness
and rigorous delights of reading and writing, with texts and visiting authors who
speak to such issues of identity as race, gender, sexuality, nationality, and disability,
as well as humanity’s relation to the rest of life on Earth.
You can major or minor in English at F&M. A major in English follows one of two complementary
tracks: creative writing or literature. No matter which track you select, you will
gain some experience in both areas.
Creative Writing
Enter a gateway to a lifelong love and appreciation of reading and writing. F&M’s English creative writing track is built upon the premise that reading widely and deeply in literature — including contemporary literature — is essential to becoming a skilled creative writer. The best writers are also avid, engaged readers. Blending your passion for language and imaginative writing with the study of literature, you will explore poetry, fiction, and nonfiction and practice the craft yourself in workshop settings where writing is valued as a serious artform. The creative writing track culminates in an advanced workshop in which you will complete a creative thesis in the genre of your choice.
Literature
The study of literature fosters an engagement with the big questions of living—questions about language, meaning, and value. It fosters self-reflection and greater awareness of the natural and social worlds in which we live. Moreover, studying literature gives us a purchase on how narratives and metaphors work so that we can interpret and deploy them wisely and even re-make them for our own time, with its enormous challenges and demands. You’ll study the traditional periods of British and American literature as well as Native American literature, Caribbean literature, African literature, science fiction, contemporary young adult literature, graphic novels, and more. You will also take at least one course in creative writing to appreciate the craft imaginative literature entails and perhaps to spark your own interest in creative writing.
By the time you graduate with your F&M English degree, you will be able to demonstrate these skills:
- Reading actively and mindfully, including the ability to read figuratively, analytically, and interpretively.
- Writing, including the ability to write clearly, fluently, and persuasively; incorporate evidence gracefully; use discipline-specific language; use appropriate tone; and write with rhetorical deftness.
- Argumentation, including the ability to gather and deploy evidence, whether textual or contextual, in literary analysis and develop competencies and skills to structure and organize information from literary and secondary sources.
Curious what English courses are like? Explore our course catalog to see the depth and breadth of what’s available to you.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Curious to see how you can explore your passion for writing and literature beyond the classroom? You’ll find creativity exists in pockets all over F&M.
The Philadelphia Alumni Writers House
Unique among selective liberal arts colleges, F&M’s Writers House is an actual house — complete with comfy couches, a kitchen, and a picturesque fireplace — with a mission to give the writing and reading community exciting opportunities to fully immerse themselves in wordcraft and literature.Explore the Writers House at F&M
The Emerging Writers Festival
Every year, F&M’s English department partners with the Writers House to host the Emerging Writers Festival. A hallmark literary tradition on campus, the Emerging Writers Festival is a three-day event that invites the country’s most exciting emerging authors to F&M to host readings, craft talks, and writing workshops. The festival is a collaborative effort between students and faculty, offering students hands-on experience in bringing a literary festival to life.
Learn more about F&M’s Emerging Writers Festival
F&M Literary Publications
If you're eager to find an audience for your writing beyond the classroom or gain editing and production experience, you can write for or staff one of F&M's many literary publications:
- The College Reporter, F&M’s student newspaper
- Epilogue, a literary magazine celebrating the creative works of F&M students, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art.
- boy-band, a quarterly magazine with two sections: a lifestyle section focusing on conscious living, fashion, and entertainment, and a literary section featuring F&M authors and poets.
- FEM&M, a fresh, feminist-focused literary and visual arts magazine
Research and Independent Study
Every student at F&M has extraordinary opportunities to engage in independent or faculty-led
research. In the recent past, English majors have pursued advanced independent projects
in fields such as creative writing and Renaissance literature, participated in faculty
research in the study of illness in slave narratives, and served as research assistants
on faculty book projects.
Explore research at F&M
Internships for Credit
What better way to put your earned skills to the test than with an internship? By
completing an internship for credit, you can add valuable experience to your resume
while earning a credit toward your degree. Learn more about internships at F&M.
Explore internships at F&M
Off-Campus Study
At F&M, you’ll find exciting opportunities to extend your academic experience beyond
borders. Current and previous English majors have studied abroad in England, Scotland,
and Australia. English majors also have the opportunity to apply for the Alice and
Ray Drum British Isle Summer Travel Award, an award that supports summer research
in the British Isles.
Explore off-campus study at F&M
Success Beyond F&M
English majors are highly valued for their abilities to think and write. English majors who graduate from F&M are particularly adept at collaboration and self-reflection, reading and analysis, critical and creative thought, and a greater perspective and understanding of the world. These useful and productive skills make you an attractive candidate for any post-graduate pursuit.
Graduate School
With a breadth of study that is uncommon at other liberal arts colleges, our graduates are immediately prepared to pursue advanced degrees upon graduating from F&M. Past F&M English majors have entered graduate programs studying English, creative writing, publishing, children’s literature, advertising, marketing, law, and more.
Fellowships
It’s not uncommon for English majors to pursue fellowships, which offer often-funded
experiential learning opportunities such as advanced study, research, internships,
service, travel, and more. Our graduates have pursued teaching and public service
fellowships with organizations such as Teach for America and Americorps. They also
go on to complete fellowships overseas with the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, for which F&M is recognized as a top-producing institution.
Explore fellowships at F&M
Career Paths
Our English graduates embark on a vast array of careers, including in education, publishing, advertising, marketing, public relations, media and entertainment, and more. They hold positions such as:
- Copywriter
- Digital Content Specialist
- Editor
- Editorial Assistant
- English Teacher
- Grant Writer
- Lawyer
- Literary Agent
- Marketing Manager
- Professor
- Project Manager
- Public Relations Coordinator
- Publishing Assistant
- Reporter
- Science Writer
- Talent Agent
- Therapist
- Writer
Each spring, the English Department at Franklin & Marshall College hosts its annual
Emerging Writers Festival, dedicated to championing the work of writers early in their
careers. Since its inception in 2002, the Festival has been a collaborative effort
between students and faculty, bringing people together across the campus community
and beyond for readings, workshops, and the opportunity to mix, formally and informally,
with some of the country’s most exciting new literary talents. An Emerging Writers
Festival student organizing committee is formed each year, offering students hands-on
experience in bringing a literary festival to life.The Emerging Writers Festival
Finding Culture & Community Through Lancaster Internship
When she transferred to F&M, Teagan Durkin ’26, an English and anthropology joint
major, set a goal to expand her professional portfolio and become further immersed
in LGBTQIA+ culture and community. This summer, she achieved both by interning with
Lancaster Pride. “I was responsible for researching and creating a presentation around
how Lancaster Pride can become better connected with and support LGBTQIA+ folks within
the realms of legal systems, education, safe spaces, community engagement, and health
and wellness,” Durkin said. “Additionally, I was heavily involved in the nonprofit's
various events: the annual Lancaster Pride Festival, various vigils, and fundraisers
like pool parties and a trip to New York City for a Broadway show.”
Read More »Alumni Spotlight
Randy Wilkins ’01 Directs and Produces “The Captain,” an ESPN Docuseries
In fall 2002, Randy Wilkins ’01 — then a senior English major at F&M — found himself
sitting next to Spike Lee at dinner prior to the filmmaker’s Mueller lecture. But
rather than talk cinema, America’s greatest pastime was on the agenda. More than 20
years later, Lee asked Wilkins to direct and produce “The Captain” – an ESPN docuseries
focused on baseball hall-of-famer Derek Jeter. “It’s a love for baseball. It's a love
for the sport. It's a respect for the sport,” said Wilkins, a former centerfielder
for the Diplomats. Wilkins said the basis of how he approaches his film work is rooted
in his F&M experiences. “In my work, I have to challenge myself and challenge the
viewer. It’s all rooted in critical thinking at F&M. When you see my work, you see
F&M.”
Read More »Course Spotlight
A Collaboration with Lancaster Public Library
Have you ever wanted to curate a library exhibit? F&M students did just that as part
of Associate Professor of English Shari Goldberg's English 226 class. Students spent
a semester studying and analyzing texts, learning theoretical terms to open up genres
such as tragedies, poetry, and novels, and using their new knowledge to write about
the tragedies, poetry, and novels they love. The class then collaborated with Lancaster
Public Library to curate a display of the texts they studied. To accompany the display,
students designed bookmarks to share their insights of their recommended reads.
Related Fields of Study
Classics
Immerse yourself in a rich artistic and intellectual tradition. By studying Classics at F&M, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the ancient Mediterranean while building an appreciation of its lasting legacies, empowering you to become a productive and thoughtful citizen in today’s rapidly changing world.
Comparative Literary Studies
Investigate the development of literature in an international and historical context. When you immerse yourself in comparative literary studies at F&M, you’ll explore foundational works of literature from a variety of historical periods and national traditions to better understand the ways in which literary processes unfold in various environments.
Linguistics
Language is what sets humans apart from other species, but how well do we understand it? By studying linguistics at F&M, you will learn about the roots of language, and why it’s so important in understanding humankind.
English in the Spotlight
October 30, 2024
Jake Lamb ’25: F&M Transfer ‘One of the Best Decisions I’ve Ever Made’
“Becoming a Diplomat has changed me for the better,” said Jake Lamb ‘25. Learn about his experience transferring to F&M and meet other students who made the switch.
September 18, 2024
Junior Finds Culture & Community Through Lancaster Internship
When she transferred to F&M, Teagan Durkin ’26 set a goal to become further immersed in LGBTQIA+ culture and community. This summer, she interned with Lancaster Pride and helped plan a record-breaking festival. We talked to her about her summer responsibilities and how they added value to her overall F&M experience.
September 13, 2024
A Day in the Life: Summer Research at F&M
“F&M’s small class size was perfect for me to engage with my teachers and make the most of my learning experience,” says junior Aayat Tahir, who spent her summer on campus as an organic chemistry research lab assistant.