About the Department
Because we teach the arts of rhetoric, English faculty have a special obligation to defend and promote the open exchange of ideas, and to expose and resist deliberate misrepresentations of the past. We honor the right to free speech and will oppose the intrusion of hate speech and hateful symbols of oppression on our campus. Since we recognize that the College of Charleston, like the rest of the country, has yet to shed the vestiges of our racist history, we stand committed to working toward a fully diverse and inclusive educational environment.
The study of English is fundamental to a liberal arts and sciences education. English Department faculty members teach students to read perceptively and critically; to understand the historical, cultural and aesthetic dimensions of language and literature; and to write with clarity and precision. We offer courses in literature, film, composition, rhetoric, and creative writing.
English majors benefit from small class sizes, individual attention from professors, and opportunities for independent research and internships. Students in this department may pursue a concentration in Literature and Film; a concentration in Creative Writing; or a concentration in Writing, Rhetoric, and Publication. And for those who wish to teach English at the secondary school level, the department supports a double-major program along with the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance.
Our faculty possess expertise in a wide range of specializations within English studies, and have published widely with top academic and literary presses, and in leading journals.