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Prospective Students

Welcome to the UW Department of English! 

As part of the Humanities Division in the College of Arts and Sciences, the English department plays a leading role in helping students develop a global perspective and an understanding of diverse cultures that is essential in our increasingly connected world.  As English majors and minors, students learn to think critically and write expressively across media and genres. For information about our graduate programs, please visit our graduate programs website.

Our department has been named the third best English department in the country by USA Today. Our graduates can be found at every major company in the region and in nearly every profession, from medicine and law to video game design. English majors can pursue concentrations in either creative writing or literary and cultural studies, including advanced training in expository, technical, and professional writing as well as close reading and critical analysis, which are among the most desired skills by employers in a wide range of fields.

As part of a research university, we offer our undergraduate and graduate students opportunities to participate in leading-edge research. Our faculty are among the most accomplished in their respective disciplines. They publish prize-winning books and organize numerous public initiatives. Most importantly, they are dedicated teachers and mentors, whose courses engage with the most pressing questions of our time, from racism and economic inequality to climate change, from book history to video games. Many have won departmental or university teaching awards.

In addition to an honors program, we operate study abroad programs in London and Rome and an undergraduate journal Bricolage, which publishes student writing. English majors have also founded journals in medical humanities, and are regular contributors to the UW Daily, where they often occupy senior editorial positions. Our graduates pursue advanced degrees in a wide range of fields, from law, medicine, and business to the arts, humanities, and social sciences, from education to journalism to tech, and many more.

The pages below describe our degree programs and admissions procedures.

Undergraduate Programs Graduate Programs

English BA, Literature and Language
English BA, Creative Writing
English Minor
Writing Programs and Courses

What can I do with a degree in English?
FAQ

English MA/PhD, Language and Literature
English MFA, Creative Writing
MATESOL

How do I apply?

In Fall Quarter 2020, the University of Washington’s Humanities Division launched Humanities First, an exciting new First Year Experience for incoming freshmen to learn more about the university, the campus, the community, and the abundant resources of each. The program is supported by a generous $700,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Meet Humanities First

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