Department of English
Land Acknowledgment
The English department at Syracuse University acknowledges that we are living and working on the lands of the Haudenosaunee. Please see our linked statement.
English and Textual Studies
Take a journey through the human experience via literary study. Explore creative expression across a broad array of texts—novels, plays, film, digital media and more. Interpret motivations behind stories of yesterday and today and hone your skills as a writer.
Our curriculum is called English and Textual Studies (ETS) to acknowledge the breadth and diversity of the texts you will study. In addition to traditional literature courses in Chaucer and Shakespeare, the Romantics and Victorians, and literary modernism, you can also take courses in:
- Fantasy and Science Fiction
- Hollywood film
- Video game history
- Comics and Graphic Novel
- Hip-hop culture and more
ETS is designed to:
- Introduce you to a wide array of texts
- Enhance your ability to interpret texts and express ideas
- Develop powers of argument and analysis
- Train you to write critically and clearly
- Develop skills for writers of poetry and fiction
- Become critical readers of your own work
Our diverse faculty includes literary historians, critical theorists, film scholars, editors, poets, and novelists who approach the field in a variety of ways.
Spotlight: Faculty
Dana Spiotta
English Department News
(Sept. 11, 2025)
George Saunders G’88 Wins National Book AwardAt age 66, Saunders is the youngest recipient of the National Book Award for Distinguished Contributions to American Letters since Judy Blume in 2004.
(Sept. 4, 2025)
Game On! A&S Grads’ Sports CareersFrom medicine to media to community leadership, Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences alumni are proving that a liberal arts education is foundational to success in the sports world.
(Aug. 1, 2025)
New Honors Professors AnnouncedHonors Professors Brett Jakubiak and Antonio Tiongson bring new classes and engagement opportunities to students in the Renée Crown University Honors Program.
(July 15, 2025)
Unlocking a World of Career PossibilitiesDepartment of English alumni thrive in today’s workforce, empowered by the adaptability gained through studies of literature, creative writing and screen-based media.
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