teacher surrounded by students using computers to transcribe information.
Associate Professor Wendy Beth Hyman works with students during the English department’s annual Transcribathon. This daylong effort teaches students how to use the Folger Shakespeare Library’s online transcription platform to read and transcribe assorted recipes from the 17th century. Photo credit: Audrey Tan ’22
Program Overview

English

Program Type: Major, Minor
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Department: English

The Department of English aims to meet the needs of English majors with different academic goals— from those seeking a foundation for postgraduate work or study in English and related fields, to those who want a humanistic base for reading, thinking, and writing in a liberal arts environment. We are committed to engaging majors with the best that has been written, from the traditional canon of English literature to the marginalized and experimental.

Program Director

Gillian Johns Associate Professor of English

Contact

Linda Pardee Administrative Assistant 440-775-8570

Why Study English at Oberlin?

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Department Faculty
blue icon of a globe.
Study Away Programs
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Special Collections

Winter Term

Oberlin’s four-week winter term in January encourages students to discover the value of self-directed education. You may pursue individual or group projects that are directly linked to your field of study or explore opportunities unrelated to your major. Complete your project on or off campus.

Student Clubs and Organizations

Student Senate, Chess Club, Solarity, the Oberlin Review—these are among the more than 175 student groups and clubs available to you. From politics to faith and identity, and from special interest to sports, Oberlin has an array of clubs eager for new members, new ideas, and new leadership.

Sample Courses

  • ENGL 123 - Introduction to Shakespeare 4 credits
  • ENGL 228 - Modern British and Irish Fiction 4 credits
  • ENGL 242 - Asian American Literature at the Crossroads 4 credits
  • ENGL 366 - Nature and Transcendentalism 4 credits
Curriculum and requirements

English Faculty

Our faculty are both scholars and teachers who devote their careers to making important contributions to their disciplines through writing and research. They are committed to engaging students with the best that has been written, from the traditional canon of English literature to the marginalized and experimental. English faculty teach everything from first-year seminars to advanced courses.

Explore Faculty within English

English Faculty

English News

Students write with quill pens in class.

Pens and Needles

December 7, 2020
Students in Associate Professor Danielle Skeehan’s Early American Media and Identity course aren’t just bringing laptops and books to class. Required materials include Band-Aids, scissors, needle threaders, and kitchen sponges.
Two women stand in the middle of an art exhibit.

This Week in Photos: Beautiful Artistry

November 19, 2020
A display of artwork by Studio Art seniors is shown to President Carmen Twillie Ambar. Her walk through Robert D. Baron ’64 Art Gallery was accented by sculptures and vibrant multimedia pieces. This visit is just one of the images featured in this week’s photo series.
A girl poses next to her art book

Winter Term: The Art of the Artist Book

September 15, 2020
After spending a month researching artist books and creating a book of her own, Marie Romanelli ’21 is officially hooked on the craft, both as an artist and as a short-form poet.
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