English
We are a community of scholars and artists dedicated to the study and creation of literature in English. Faculty work closely with students to hone their skills as readers and writers, and to make meaningful connections between literature, their lives, and the world beyond the classroom. We are proud to be part of a vibrant arts community at L&C and in Portland—home to the world’s largest independent bookstore, Powell’s Books!
Why Choose a Degree in English?
We choose to immerse ourselves in the English language’s rich and varied literary tradition, its long history and expansive present, because we believe literature is synonymous with good—ethical and pleasurable—living. Reading, we encounter other people and ideas across time and space. Writing, we give clarity and shape to the world and our experiences of it. A degree in English will make you a more creative thinker, perceptive reader, and lucid writer. It will also prepare you to critically discern, express, and navigate complexity in ways that will serve you well in life and in any career.
What You’ll Study
We offer both a major and minor, as well as a concentration in creative writing with a focus on poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. Our curriculum invites students to explore and extend a literary tradition that spans over 1,000 years, emerging from Britain, the United States, and English-speaking communities around the globe. We offer introductory surveys, topics courses on a wide range of literary themes, upper-division courses devoted to a single author or historical period, and creative writing workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. In the classroom, our faculty draw upon a variety of approaches and techniques, but we all emphasize close attention to textual detail, collaborative discussion, genuine inquiry, and thoughtful, effective communication–both on the page and in real time.
Literature happens outside the classroom, too! The English department’s celebrated Visiting Writers Series brings nationally recognized authors on campus to present their work, speak with the L&C community, and lead workshops with students enrolled in English classes. Our students frequently showcase their own scholarship and creative work in a variety of venues, including the student-run Lit Review, the Gender Symposium, the Ray Warren Symposium on Race & Ethnicity, the Festival of Scholars, and other events organized by Arts@LC. The annual Senior Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction Readings, in which students in our creative writing capstone courses read from their portfolios, are some of the most keenly anticipated events that we host.
Many of our students earn course credit while on an overseas program. In addition to general cultural programs that are open to all students, the England humanities program is designed and led by an English faculty member.
Complement Your Education With One of These Minors
English pairs beautifully with many other disciplines. The flexibility of our requirements also makes it likely that students can pursue a minor or even a double-major with English. The most popular minors for our English majors are Classics, political economy, and rhetoric and media studies.
What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark
Leo McNaughton BA ’24More about LeoA strong understanding of the classics is the keystone of interpreting a huge portion of literature, philosophy, medicine, politics, and more.
Annabelle Rousseau BA ’23More about AnnabelleMy favorite and most challenging class has been Emerging Topics in Environmental Law with Adjunct Professor Karen Russell. We dove into the history of environmental law in the U.S., and the landmark cases and pieces of legislation that inform the environmental field today.
Burton Scheer BA ’25More about BurtonLearning about storytelling in my English major has taught me a lot about human behavior, history, and writing techniques that will be helpful for my future career.
What Can You Do With a Degree in English?
Our alumni use their BA in English to pursue a wide range of careers within academia, nonprofits, government, marketing, publishing, education, and law. . Some of our alumni pursue MFAs and other advanced degrees. Others put their critical thinking, research, and writing skills to work directly after graduation. Our recent alums have held the following professional titles: Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist; Artistic Director; Director of Planning and Community Development; News Assistant at the New York Times; Senior Political Strategist; Fine Art Consultant.
Dedicated Faculty
Our faculty members are active scholars and creative writers who have been recognized for excellence in teaching and have won some of the country’s most prestigious awards, including the National Book Award, The Graves Award in the Humanities, and The Pushcart Prize.We continue to broaden and deepen our expertise through fellowships and other sponsored learning opportunities through the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, and The New York Public Library. Above all, we pride ourselves on bringing our expertise, discoveries, and questions into our classes where we work directly and closely with all of our students (no teaching assistants!) in intimate settings with lots of opportunity for individual feedback. Students interested in collaborating with faculty on research projects beyond the classroom have opportunities to do so in the English department. English faculty also assist students in finding and securing internships in Portland and beyond.
Invest in Yourself
A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate with their bachelor of arts degree in four years that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.
Find Your People
The completely student-run Literary Review gives students hands-on experience generating submissions, working on an editorial board, and laying out a magazine. English majors are also frequent contributors to the student-run college newspaper, The Mossy Log, and serve as peer tutors at the Writing Center.
Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You
Noah Foster-Koth BA ’19More about NoahMy work with the Fulbright program required me to draw on a variety of skill sets I developed while I was a student. No single major or department would have taught me all of the skills I ended up using, which is why L&C’s interdisciplinary, liberal arts approach is so valuable.
Smith “S.” Yarberry BA ’16More about Smith “S.”The most important thing I learned while at L&C was how to communicate my ideas and questions most articulately. By that I mean not only how to write clearly, but also how to speak in class and engage with my peers.
Megan Sawyer BA ’20More about MeganLewis & Clark prepared me for my post-grad work and law school because my degree strengthened my analytical, reading, and writing skills that are necessary to succeed in school, the workplace, and certainly in my future legal education.
Featured News
Palatine Hill Review, Student Magazine at Lewis & Clark College, Wins Highest Honor for Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest
February 15, 2024 (Portland, Oregon)—Palatine Hill Review from Lewis & Clark College, has been recognized as a REALM First Class magazine for the 50th Anniversary Edition, “growing pains” by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Palatine Hill Review, “growing pains”, Volume 50 Student Editors: Jillian Jackson, AJ Di Nicola, Elizabeth Huntley, Zach Reinker, Max Allen, Burton Scheer
Four Commemorative Cover Artists: Anneka Barton, Dakota Binder, Zach Reinker, Kincaid DeBell
Faculty Advisors: Karen Gross, Mary Szybist
Staff Advisor: Amy Baskin
