About the Department
Why study English?
This lean 10-course major makes it easy for students to study abroad, double major, or complete a minor. The major is also compatible with pre-med or health professions preparation. English majors have access to frequent readings and lectures by visiting writers and scholars.
Majors in English have excellent employment options. 94% of English majors from the classes of 2018-2022 were employed or in graduate school six months out from graduation. Our majors, who frequently pair English with another major, go on to graduate school, prestigious fellowships, and careers in law, teaching, publishing, marketing and communications, finance, government, and much more. Having a strong alumni network means our alumni frequently step in to provide personal guidance and connect current students with potential employers. Students can take Having it All: Life, Literature and Career, a course that helps majors prepare their professional documents, network with alumni, and learn about various fields.
In the English Department, award-winning faculty teach courses at every level, from first-year composition to senior seminars. Professors make time to advise students one-on-one during ample office hours, which is one of the reasons alums especially praise the writing instruction as well as the mentoring they receive. English professors publish with major university presses and win fellowships from grantors such as Fulbright and the National Endowment for the Humanities, then they share that expertise by working closely with students in small courses, internships and collaborative research projects.
Why study Creative Writing?
At Washington and Lee, the discipline of creative writing is embedded in the study of literature. Students earning a major or minor in creative writing read widely; practice critical analysis; study the forms, modes and histories of literature in English; and develop their own writing through creative exercises and workshop critique. Small classes, dedicated faculty and a lively program of extracurricular offerings foster a supportive and challenging writing community.
English faculty who teach creative writing include Laura Brodie, Freddy Fuentes, Chris Gavaler, Leah Green, Bill Oliver, Beth Staples, Avrin Gray, Jen Harrington, Alex Ramirez, and Lesley Wheeler. Previous faculty include Gordon Ball, Jasmin Darznik, Claudia Emerson, Heather Ross Miller, Deborah Miranda, Asali Solomon, and Dabney Stuart.
Creative writing students should also consider the department’s Shenandoah Internship, ENGL 453, which also counts toward the English major. It is taught by the Editor, Beth Staples.
The Glasgow Endowment for Visiting Writers brings an exceptional roster of artists to campus for readings and workshops, from Eavan Boland and Rita Dove to Linda Hogan and Lev Grossman.
Distinguished alumni include Tom Wolfe, Marshall Boswell, Mark Richard, Christian Wiman, Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon, Rebecca Makkai, Matthew Neill Null, and Suzanne LaFleur.
Major Guidelines
Minor Guidelines
Major and Minor Requirements
The list of requirements to major and minor in English and Creative Writing.