beyond your textbook

English Portal

A first edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass is among the many rare books accessible to students in Drew University library's special collections.

In Drew’s English program you will be immersed in the vitality of human language and explore the range of possibilities for literary expression across time. You'll watch how literary artists awaken feeling and transform culture. You'll gain expertise in facing unfamiliar texts and broaden the kinds of questions that you will be able to ask about literature. You'll emerge from the major knowing many authors and books that others don't know, and you will have the chance to look at writers' drafts and meet living writers who come to campus.
(Check out a sample of our course offerings.)

New Faculty Spotlight

yanique

Meet Prof. Tiphanie Yanique, a new member of our faculty, and learn more about her award-winning short story "How to Escape from a Leper Colony."


poems

Poetry from Boy, the new Publishers Weekly—starred book from Assistant Professor of English Patrick Phillips

The Drew English program also allows students to chart their own paths. You can combine creative writing and the study of literature; follow the development of a genre (such as the novel, poetry or drama); study a period in depth (whether that's medieval or 20th century); focus on race and ethnicity or gender studies and literature; focus on literature in English from the Caribbean or India; combine theatre, visual arts, philosophy or religious studies and literature. The Drew London Semester is wildly popular (prominent members of London’s literary scene are often guest speakers in the program’s courses).

The number of required courses for the major is kept at a minimum so that students can explore other subjects such as Russian literature in translation, philosophy, theatre, art history, music, anthropology and other fields that enrich your knowledge of literature. Graduates from the program are currently working as spokespersons for nonprofit organizations, editors, high school and college teachers, information and technology experts, college administrators, ministers, lawyers and journalists.

Meet Our Majors