Students in Dickinson's Department of English study a range of English-language texts, including novels, poems, plays, graphic narratives, films, television and other work.
Our curriculum is flexible and focused, allowing majors to follow their own interests through diverse course offerings that address core questions (of author and audience; culture, nation and identity; form, medium and materiality; and history, period and influence).
Classes deepen the skills that help students to engage in critical conversations with authority and purpose. This culminates in an independently chosen senior thesis project—and then, a life beyond Dickinson in which English majors continue to show how reading, writing and thinking are vital to understanding and shaping our world.
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University
Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications
Johns Hopkins University
Columbia University
Where Students Have Interned
NPR
Christie’s
Rodale Inc.
WriteGirl Los Angeles
Smithsonian Institution
NBC/Universal
Penguin Group
WHDH Boston
Student Perspective
“I really loved taking Plague Years with Associate Professor of English Claire Seiler. Learning about the different types of literature, propaganda, films and advertisements produced in the influenza epidemic of 1918 and the midcentury polio crisis was incredibly interesting and introduced me to the fields of health humanities and disability/mobility studies, which are now part of my personal interests in the world of literature.”
Her House Has a Name: Meet the 2025 Weiss Prize-winner
“It’s been so rewarding to see a community come together over something I wrote.” Meet student-composer Zuzu Black ’25, recipient of the 2025 Weiss Prize for the Creative Arts.
Burgess Institute Executive in Residence: Susan Miller '81, President and CEO of ATIS
The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions leader holds career sessions and office hours with students, providing vital insights into the evolving landscape of technology and business.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright Paula Vogel to Give Public Presentation
The literary luminary will give a free public presentation at Dickinson on March 19, followed by a Q&A and book signing, as part of her on-campus residency.
The Art of Problem-Solving: Connections, Liberal Arts Create Paths to Success in Consulting
Last year, Jason Cutshall '96 hired two Dickinson grads for his growing team. This year, all three Dickinsonians returned to campus to meet with students and illuminate paths to success in consulting.
Creativity in Bloom: Dickinson Announces Spring Arts Events
From students to luminaries, we're highlighting work by Dickinsonians and guests at various stages of creative careers. Learn more about the can't-miss public arts events in store.