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
May 26, 2023
With graphic novel ‘Shakti,’ SJ Sindu shares ‘the kind of story that I wanted to have’ as a child
VCU creative writing professor blends Tamil mythology from native Sri Lanka, manga inspirations from childhood, LGBTQIA+ narratives and life lessons on emotions and bullying for middle-grade readers.
May 11, 2023
Class of 2023: After allowing herself time to grieve, Christine Singleton returns to school and resumes her love of literature and learning
Singleton, an English major, has thrived at VCU, where she has found her voice again.
May 11, 2023
Class of 2023: Allison Bennett Dyche found few resources on how to teach podcasting to college students. So she created her own.
Dyche, who is earning a Ph.D. in Media, Art and Text, is “at the forefront of a growing conversation about how universities can help prepare students for careers in this growing industry,” her dissertation director says.
English Spotlight
New accelerated bachelor's-to-master's degree in English
If you're interested in fast-tracking your advanced education, the accelerated B.A. and M.A. program is for you.
Meet Tess
Tess Stalls' love for working with children and helping others inspired her to study English. Visit our 'Meet a Student' page to read more about Tess' favorite classes, favorite professors and a study abroad trip that will help her complete her studies and prepare for her future.
Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts was founded in 2001 by the Department of English at Virginia Commonwealth University and New Virginia Review, Inc. The nationally recognized open-access journal features work by new and established writers and provides internship opportunities for students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
British Virginia
British Virginia is a VCU-hosted series of scholarly editions of documents touching on the colony. These texts range from the 16th and 17th-century literature of English exploration to the 19th-century writing of loyalists and other Virginians who continued to identify with Great Britain. Editions appear principally in digital form, freely downloadable.