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The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. - Mark Twain

Why English?

"Language," wrote Oliver Wendell Holmes, "is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow."  Language is the foundation of culture and of society; it is at the core of what it means to be human.  The study of English, therefore, is the study of our culture, our world-indeed our very humanity.

The English Department of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI offers a varied and comprehensive curriculum in literature, creative writing, composition and rhetoric, film, and linguistics.  The English major is designed to convey to students a broad knowledge of English and to examine the language and literature of English from a wide variety of perspectives.

What does one gain from an English major?  The study of English language and literature develops a capacity for logical thought as well as the ability to creatively and persuasively express our thoughts.  It expands our emotional and creative capacities, while sharpening our ability to view the world through different eyes.  It teaches us to view writing as a process and to collaborate with others in this process.  It develops skills that help us to thoughtfully respond to the personal, social and intellectual problems we encounter in our daily lives.

In short, the study of English teaches us how to think more clearly, feel more deeply, and express ourselves more eloquently.  The professional fields of law, education, journalism, advertising, editing and publishing, public relations, technical writing, corporate communications, as well as medicine-to name just a few-all deeply value the skills and habits of mind that are central to the study of English.

I invite you to explore more closely our different concentrations in English.  It is my belief that no major better prepares students for "the real world" than the English major. 

 

Thomas A. Upton, Chair