English is an astoundingly versatile major at Millsaps, positioning students for success in business, journalism, law, marketing, public relations, government and teaching or for acceptance into top graduate programs in medicine, law or English - to name but a few of the possibilities. Knowledge of great classical and modern literature, exposure to contemporary literary theory and criticism and - above all - intensive experience in the art of writing propel our graduates into the world with both the skills and the confidence to achieve great things.

What our recent graduates tell us:

“As a graduate student [in English], you are forced to write on topics that are cutting edge in your field of study. My Millsaps degree had thankfully already forced me to think outside of the box, to stretch my imagination, and most of all to have confidence in not only my ideas but my writing abilities; therefore, I was not threatened when my graduate professors required something new and innovative; in fact, I relished the challenge.”

“I feel my English major from Millsaps prepared me well for the challenges of doctoral work in English. Most importantly, the excellent English faculty at Millsaps gave me the confidence and encouragement I needed when applying to graduate school. Because of the department's size, professors knew me well enough to write detailed recommendations and were generous with their time and help.”

“Having a background in English from Millsaps has helped me on so many levels in law school. I found that from my English classes I was used to playing with concepts and ideas, posing hypothetical situations, thinking of issues from a variety of viewpoints -- all of which are a vital part of law school classes, exams and clerkships.”

“As a first-year medical student I have found many uses for the skills that were developed through my study of English at Millsaps. In my first patient interviews, I quickly realized that a patient's description of their illness might be as complicated and intricate as a novel. Being able to understand ideas and communicate with others, skills that are integral in the study of literature, will be crucial in my transition from a medical student to a physician.”

“My English major has enhanced my career by enabling me to write clearly, concisely, and correctly. Written communication is a huge part of my job as a public relations officer; a large portion of what I write is intended to be directly printed in a newspaper or other publication.”

"While at Millsaps, the English major provided me with great opportunities, from internships at the University Press of Mississippi and the Oxford American magazine, to working closely with acclaimed writers such as Clyde Edgerton and Beth Henley. But what I cherish most is the breadth and depth of the major: reading great works of literature and using them to reconsider our world, themes and ideas and issues that really matter.” [graduate student in creative writing program]

“Even (and maybe especially) if you're not planning on being a teacher or a lawyer, the [Millsaps] English major is a route with many twists, many turns, and limitless amounts of joy and inspiration.”

The Millsaps English program offers courses organized in different ways: around historical periods, single authors, cultural studies, or interpretative problems -- to name a few. There are also course offerings in both expository and creative writing, and students share their work with others either informally or in Stylus, the Millsaps literary magazine.

Every Millsaps English major learns how to:

These skills are both essential to living productive and imaginative lives and are also excellent preparation for careers in advertising, business, journalism, law, government, or teaching, to name a few of the most common choices of English majors.

Framed by the Introduction to Interpretation and the Senior Colloquium, the English program allows students to pursue particular interests and lines of inquiry within broad distribution requirements. Students are encouraged to enrich their advanced study by taking courses in philosophy, history, and other disciplines.

For more information visit the English Department Website.

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