Dedicated to the intellectual curiosity, analytical dexterity, and creative thinking of its students, the English Department at CWRU fosters reading, writing, and media skills through a broad selection of seminars and research. Our classes combine the study of English and American literature, exploring the craft of poetry, Shakespearean drama, science fiction, the techniques of horror films, the rhetoric of medicine, and the dynamics of novels, plays, short stories, and creative non-fiction.

There is no better place to learn the art of communication. In addition to being a stand-alone major, English effectively complements many other disciplines and serves as excellent preparation for law school, medical school, and business school. Our smaller class sizes allow individual attention from professors who have published acclaimed books and won awards including the Fulbright and the Guggenheim.

The works we study challenge us with different values, ideas, and perspectives. We are committed to free and open debate in a context of tolerance and respect.

The Writing Program, part of the English department, focuses on supporting a thriving culture of writing at the university. The Writing Program coordinates courses for undergraduate and graduate student writers, including first-year Academic Inquiry Seminars and a variety of communication-intensive courses, and supports pedagogical and curricular development for faculty and staff. In addition, the Writing Resource Center provides individual consultations to CWRU writers at any stage of their writing processes, and for every writing occasion (from personal statements to science fiction; from research papers to podcasts).

Department of English Newsletter: March 2024

//Letter from the Chair/Burgess-Van Aken Retirement/Grad Student to Medical Writer/Earlier This Year/Department News/The Way We Write Now/Alumni News// Letter from the Acting Chair This spring, I have had the privilege of serving as the department’s Acting Chair - don’t worry, our intrepid poet-scholar, Walt Hunter, will return next semester - and,...

Department of English Newsletter: December 2023

Letter from the chair/Writers in Residence/ Sheldon Greene/Department news/ Nov. 17th colloquium/Suzanne Ferguson/Holiday Party Pix/Words for Wellness/Legacy of Thrity Umrigar/Alumni News// Letter from the Chair On a recent Friday afternoon in Guilford House, Camila Ring, this year’s MacIntyre Award winner for the best graduate student essay, presented her dissertation work on...

Department of English Newsletter: September 2023

//Letter from the chair/Welcome back party/Bob Wallace book/Department news/Cleveland Humanities Collective/Alumni news/Conversation with Sangeeta Ray// Letter from the Chair When second-year English major Molly McLaughlin stepped to the front of the room at Waterloo Arts in Collinwood, she didn’t know she’d be reciting her villanelle to an audience that included Michelle...