The degree in English and American Literature adds the study of the literary tradition of the United States, from Melville and Poe to Thomas Pynchon and Louise Erdrich. Students thus have the opportunity of extending their knowledge of a foreign language or languages while devoting most of their time to the study of English. English Literature and Creative Writing involves a strong emphasis on the practices of writing in different genres under the guidance of established authors. Option courses and special topics offer a chance to match students' interests and enthusiasms with the research areas of tutors in the Department. Recent options have included Arthurian Literature and its Legacy, T.S. Eliot, Thomas Hardy, Literature of World War II, The Practice of Poetry, Contemporary Fictions of History, and courses in Composition and Creative Writing and in Screenwriting.
Options vary from year to year.
Courses can also be taken in other departments. These all allow students to combine specialised work on a foreign language and literature with courses in English. Philosophy and Literature , English and Theatre Studies and Film and Literature integrate the study of English and comparative literature with another discipline. Teaching methods vary to suit the particular topic. The heart of the Department's work is the seminar, where groups meet regularly with a tutor who supervises essay assignments and directs private study.