Why study English?
In a world resounding to the continuous drumbeat of “STEM, STEM, STEM,” to study English is to strike out on one's own.
We are a community of students and faculty dedicated to the skillful reading and writing of texts in a variety of genres, both creative and expository. Classes are small and our faculty members pride themselves on the excellence of their classroom instruction and the lasting relationships they make with their students. High-quality instruction, internship opportunities, and the opportunity to tailor the major to your intellectual and professional interests are only part of the story though.
News
Oct. 24, 2025
VCU students follow in John Milton’s footsteps — literally
Summer study abroad program from the Department of English embraces the life and times of the ‘Paradise Lost’ poet
Oct. 20, 2025
Family, war and a tsunami propel ‘Tall Water,’ SJ Sindu’s new graphic novel
The VCU creative writing professor from Sri Lanka says her latest work stems in part from the responsibility she feels to bear witness to ‘the horrors and the joys of the world.’
Oct. 16, 2025
Marcel Cornis-Pop, a leader in VCU humanities education, dies at 79
The Romanian-born scholar served as chair of the Department of English and established the interdisciplinary doctoral program in media, art and text.



