Orange Alert

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

Black and white photo of three people.

(Sept. 25, 2025)

Their Grandson’s Footprint

Peter ’63 and Susan Mellis honor their grandson Max Brown through an endowed scholarship.

Mona Awad

(Sept. 25, 2025)

Awad Novel Shortlisted for Giller Prize

“We Love You, Bunny” is one of five books nominated for the award.

George Saunders in front of Hall of Languages

(Sept. 11, 2025)

George Saunders G’88 Wins National Book Award

At age 66, Saunders is the youngest recipient of the National Book Award for Distinguished Contributions to American Letters since Judy Blume in 2004.

Various Sports Balls

(Sept. 4, 2025)

Game On! A&S Grads’ Sports Careers

From 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.

Upcoming Events

Books by Department of English Faculty