About Our Department

Transformative knowledge. Transferable skills. Learning for life.

We offer a wide variety of courses in classic, modern, and postmodern literature; in speculative fiction and experimental writing; in digital humanities, videogame narrative, and environmental humanities. Our courses are taught by professors who are active scholars and writers, and who bring their cutting-edge research and creative activities into the classroom.

Our students learn agile, independent thinking and clear, precise, imaginative writing. These skills are essential to many professions, and our alumni have gone on to successful careers in law, business, government, education, medicine, tech, and media. Employers value English majors because they know how to think creatively and present their ideas forcefully.

Meet Our Faculty & Staff WHY ENGLISH?

Student in Class

Humanities Radio

From Shakespeare to video games, an English degree teaches valuable skills that translate to a variety of careers. Matt Potolsky, professor of English, discusses the diversity of the degree and how it’s more than just studying old books for Humanities Radio podcast.

Click Here to Listen

Student Reading

A Fulfilling Career and a Complete Life

Studying English also gives students opportunities to develop themselves as well-rounded, caring, and self-aware human beings. Our classes are discussion-based and interactive spaces of shared exploration. We believe that people learn best through collaboration and respectfully engaging diverse perspectives. These are the habits of civil discussion that create strong communities and empathetic citizens.

Explore what we have to offer: dynamic courses, inspiring professors, a vibrant community, and skills you need for a successful career and complete life.

Our Community and Values

At the Department of English at the University of Utah, we believe that the interactions between literary texts and the broad cultural contexts that surround them are paramount. Accordingly, while we excel at instilling in our students an outstanding knowledge of literary and cultural analysis, we are also dedicated to cultivating a shared set of values that recognizes and celebrates the rich tapestry of human experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that all members of our community have equal access to a sense of belonging and inclusion; that they enjoy myriad opportunities to grow as scholars, teachers, and learners; and that, perhaps most importantly, they are allowed the dignity, space, and grace to participate in the free exchange of ideas.