English

Welcome to the Keuka College English department!

There’s no such thing as a typical English major; however, our students tend to be united by their love of reading and the power of language. They are curious about the world around them and interested in why it works the way it does; and they recognize the importance of creativity and imagination in all aspects of their lives. If this sounds like you, then English may well be the right major for you. And you wouldn’t be alone: according to the Princeton Review, English is one of the ten most popular majors across the United States today.

What makes Keuka’s English program unique, though, is our focus on the value of English in the Wider World. You’ll have a chance to study all the great authors, but at the same time you’ll be asking how that knowledge can be applied in the world beyond the classroom. At Keuka, in other words, the study of English is motivated by the belief that literature makes things happen.

One of the reasons why so many people choose to study English is that it is a major taken seriously by graduate schools and employers. Employers value the fact that our graduates are smart, analytical, and know how to express themselves clearly. It’s no coincidence, for example, that students in Humanities majors, such as English, tend to perform well on the entrance exams for business school, law school, or medical school.

Our graduates, therefore, find jobs in a wide range of fields: many build a career in business, but others go into law, teaching, finance, and the government or non-profit sectors. In short, being an English major prepares you for just about any career you can imagine.

If that choice seems overwhelming, don’t worry. At Keuka you will build close relationships with the faculty, and we’ll help you craft resumés and gain experience through internships in our signature Field Period program. You’ll leave our program well-prepared for the next part of your life – professionally, academically, and personally.

There are plenty of opportunities to visit the English department through Open Houses, but if you want to find out more about what being an English major is like, please feel free to contact one of our professors directly.