As English majors, students read widely, engaging with many kinds of texts from multiple periods, geographical areas, genres, and literary traditions. Within the major, students choose a specific emphasis (English Major: Literature Emphasis, English Major: Creative Writing Emphasis, or Writing and Communication Studies Minor) as their focus and develop their skills and knowledge through in-depth exploration within that emphasis. Through the major, students develop flexibility of thought, attentiveness to language, an ability to engage with the world around them, and to understand difference (gender, race, class, ability, religion, nation), capacities which they may apply in almost any area of study or employment after college. <br><br>You love language, value imagination, want to emulate your literary idols. You dream of someday seeing your name on the spine of a book. As a Creative Writing major, you can study poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and playwriting. You will read widely and deeply and consider discrete elements of craft. You will compose your own poems, short stories, and essays, and learn how to formally critique the work of your fellow writers.