Program Overview

When studying English at UNO, you will be exposed to outstanding faculty, a wide-variety of challenging and interesting classes, and a variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

The Department of English offers flexible programs where you can take courses in areas that interest you including literature, composition and rhetoric, creative writing, and language studies. You will learn to analyze literary and non-literary texts within cultural and historical contexts, to think critically, to write clearly, and to communicate persuasively.

What can I do with my English degree?

Actually, you'll have a wide and exciting selection of careers. English majors are trained to write well, to organize ideas in a logical way, and to develop arguments. You can analyze complex information, research, and critically read and observe. With these skills, you can work for book publishers, hospitals, television networks, advertising firms, and the government.

Employers, graduate schools, and professional schools often seek out well-rounded English majors because they are versatile, able to use their training as writers, thinkers, editors, and teachers in fields such as medicine, law, business, media, and public service.

American Literature

The American literature concentration exposes students to the rich and diverse legacy of creative expressions produced by authors from the area now known as the United States of America. This nation and its expression have developed uniquely over time from periods of pre-contact, colonization, urbanization, and modernization among others. By applying various critical theories to these productions, students learn both to appreciate their artistry and understand their significance as cultural artifacts. Students in this concentration gain extremely valuable skills, including the ability to see beyond the surface of texts, think critically in innovative ways, and clearly communicate their ideas in writing.