A bachelor’s degree and minor in English will prepare you to tackle critical and complex issues, deepen your understanding of diverse cultural issues, and improve your ability to analyze and produce complicated texts. We prepare our students for careers in writing and teaching, as well as professions requiring high levels of literacy and critical thought, including law and business.

The degree in English provides a foundation in literature, rhetoric, composition, and critical theory. You will study text and writing that represents many cultures and historical periods and learn critical approaches to texts and issues that enable you to interpret and compare positions, to read closely, critically, and with empathy. You will gain skills by conducting your own research, weighing evidence, and writing with insight and expertise with guidance from our dedicated expert faculty.

We offer:

A flexible degree with electives that encourage exploration in writing, publishing, and literature
Hands-on experience through an internship advising course
Online, hybrid, and evening classes
Courses that work with our in-house literary magazine Portland Review, and our publishing imprint Ooligan Press
A degree option to pursue a greater emphasis in math and the sciences

The major is grounded in critical and theoretical approaches to literary study and requires a 20-credit sequence of core courses designed to ensure a thorough understanding of the methodologies of the field, in addition to allowing a variety of elective coursework in literature and writing courses in literary studies, film and digital media analysis, and publishing, creative writing, and technical writing. The department also offers an undergraduate degree in creative writing, minors in English, writing and film studies, and a certificate in comics studies.

Portland State offers many opportunities for students to engage in the broader creative community in the city through internships and jobs. Our students are able to work and carry out internships while they’re in school allowing them to build relationships and add experience to their resumes.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR MINOR IN ENGLISH?

Students who major in English go on to careers in many different fields, from politics to book-editing. Writing skills are valuable in every industry, and we prepare our students to be adaptable and thoughtful communicators. Graduates of Portland State’s English program have gone on to careers in education, writing, book publishing, journalism, advertising, communications, politics, public affairs, law enforcement, and even science and technology.

Many of our graduates have pursued graduate degrees in law, creative writing, journalism, business, book publishing, public affairs, and even medicine.

The writing and analytical skills of the English major have long made it a popular major to take before law school—two current Oregon Supreme Court justices were English majors. English is finding increasing interest in medical school admissions, as communication skills are increasingly valued in healthcare and health administration.