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. 16, 2026)
Indigenous Perspectives on the Nation’s FoundingSelected to present at a Smithsonian symposium commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary, A&S Professor Scott Manning Stevens is helping ensure Indigenous histories are part of the story America tells about its origins.
(Aug. 18, 2026)
From Literature to LeadershipArts and Sciences alumna Linda Dulye ’77 built a career—and a legacy—around helping others take ownership of success.
(Aug. 13, 2026)
Connecting Classrooms, Inspiring StudentsStudents and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences partner with local high schools through the Traveling Teaching initiative to bring humanities lessons to life through collaborative, hands-on learning.
(July 7, 2026)
Your Summer Reading List: 10 Books by Creative Writing AlumniLooking for your next beach read? Whether you want a novel to get lost in, poems to savor, or a memoir that lingers, there's plenty here — all from one of the country's most prestigious writing programs.
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