Bachelor of Arts in English
Program Overview
A Bachelor of Arts in English from Bellarmine prepares you for a wide range of careers, including law, journalism, publishing, business, public relations, medicine, nonprofit leadership, education, and more.
Our graduates succeed as writers and editors, in government and foreign relations, across the arts and humanities, and in high schools and universities. Many also pursue graduate study in literature, creative writing, library science, technical writing, and other humanities disciplines.
Why earn your English degree at Bellarmine?
At Bellarmine, small class sizes create meaningful connections between students and professors. Whether gathering at a “get-to-know-you” luncheon, celebrating seniors at our annual reception, or simply sharing coffee in the student center, our professors value one-on-one conversation and mentorship.
Our faculty are committed to helping you develop your talents to the fullest. Expect to be challenged and supported. We call our students to greatness as thinkers, writers, and human beings.
Small Classes, Real Mentorship
With classes of just 10–20 students, you are never just a face in the room. Our faculty know you by name and invest in your growth through one-on-one conversations, thoughtful feedback, and meaningful mentorship that extends beyond the classroom.
Writing, Reading, and Critical Thinking
The program emphasizes writing as a powerful tool for learning and expression. Through close and creative reading of culturally diverse texts, you will sharpen your analytical skills, strengthen your voice, and develop the critical thinking abilities valued across professions.
"Because we're such a close community, when I'm in the classroom, I don't feel nervous. I don't feel out of place there. I feel like I belong. Everyone has a voice in the classroom because there's not 90 people in a class, it's usually 15 to 20. Everyone cares about what you're learning and what you have to say and how you can contribute to that conversation."
“My time at Bellarmine helped to mold not only the skills necessary for analyzing and writing, which is a necessity in my field, but also forged a sense of character, responsibility, and an adherence to time management that gave me a great advantage in the world of teaching.”
12:1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
50+
Study Abroad Destinations
100%
Guaranteed Internship Opportunities
Program Highlights
English is a wide-ranging field of study. Historically, it gives attention to the great variety of texts that human culture has produced over centuries. Conceptually, it aims at developing deep abilities in reading and writing. Bellarmine’s English Department reflects this in the variety of courses offered and in the sequential way in which we ask our majors to approach their study. That study begins with ENGL 201, The World of Texts, which introduces the student to the basic principles underlying the discipline. The 300- and 400-level courses presume the solid grounding in literary history and critical reading skills that our 200-level courses are designed to provide. In the student’s senior year, the major provides a distinct “capstone” experience through ENGL 450, the Integrative Seminar. In working through the variety of courses, students in English may expect to find themselves engaged in the reading of novels, short stories, poems, creative nonfiction, films and graphic novels, among other texts.
The program emphasizes writing as a fundamental means of learning and expression; close and creative reading of a culturally diverse range of texts; and critical thinking grounded in writing and reading.
In addition to the English major, we offer an English minor and host the Film Studies minor.
Film Studies Minor
Bellarmine’s Film Studies minor is designed to deepen students’ perception and discernment
when it comes to visual storytelling and media literacy. Movies and television shows
are some of the most important and powerful cultural forms of the last century. Film
Studies courses will guide students away from the habits of mere consumption toward
an attentive and analytic appreciation for the complex content and structure of filmmaking.
The Film Studies minor situates films within an interdisciplinary context that will
increase students' ability to think critically and communicate clearly about the relationship
between images, ideas, narrative, and sound. Courses also count towards the English
major.
The English Department works with a variety of other Bellarmine programs such as Business, Philosophy, History, Communication, and Pre-Law to personalize the educational experience of each student.
Degree Requirements
ENGL 201, 207, 208, 209, 210, 299, 412, 450, and 15 hours selected from 300- and 400-level English courses. Six of those 300- and 400-level hours may be taken from these upper-level Film courses: FILM 370, FILM 371, FILM 470. English majors must also complete six credits of a foreign language or satisfy the Bellarmine College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts foreign language proficiency requirement.
Within the 15 hours of 300- and 400-level English courses, students must fulfill the following:
- at least one upper-level course from American literature offerings;
- at least one upper-level course from British literature offerings;
- at least one 400-level course (which might coincide with #1 or #2) in addition to 412 and 450. An internship will NOT suffice for the 400-level course.
Frequently Asked Questions
What courses are required to complete the program?
ENGL 201, 207, 208, 209, 210, 299, 412, 450, and 15 hours selected from 300- and 400-level English courses. Six of those 300- and 400-level hours may be taken from these upper-level Film courses: FILM 370, FILM 371, FILM 470. English majors must also complete six credits of a foreign language or satisfy the Bellarmine College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts foreign language proficiency requirement.
Within the 15 hours of 300- and 400-level English courses, students must fulfill the following:
- at least one upper-level course from American literature offerings;
- at least one upper-level course from British literature offerings;
- at least one 400-level course (which might coincide with #1 or #2) in addition to 412 and 450. An internship will NOT suffice for the 400-level course.
What employment opportunities are available with an English degree?
Graduates will find themselves qualified to work in such fields as law, journalism, banking, publishing and editing, advertising, medicine, management, public relations, teaching, grant and proposal writing, and academic administration. They will also be prepared for graduate study in such areas as literature, creative writing, library science, institutional technology, technical and scientific writing, and many other humanities disciplines. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad in order to help complement their major, especially if they plan to attend graduate school. Our graduates have earned M.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. degrees at top universities here and abroad.
Do you provide job or internship placement?
Yes. Bellarmine guarantees every student the opportunity to have an internship, develop a career plan, and build a professional network. Many English majors intern for local publishing companies and law firms. Others have interned at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Music Theatre of Louisville, and Walden Theatre.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. Please go to Bellarmine’s financial aid page for detailed information on financial aid packages. Additionally, students can work with our Faculty Development Center to apply for grants and awards outside of the Bellarmine offerings.
How many hours can I expect to spend studying outside of class time?
Students have their own learning styles so this can vary greatly. As a rule of thumb, expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour you spend in class.
Career Opportunities
A major in English can lead to a wide range of professional opportunities. So that students may better understand these opportunities, the department provides a class called Introduction to the Profession of English.
Graduates will find themselves qualified to work in such fields as law, journalism, banking, publishing and editing, advertising, medicine, management, public relations, teaching, grant and proposal writing, and academic administration. They will also be prepared for graduate study in such areas as literature, creative writing, library science, institutional technology, technical and scientific writing, and many other humanities disciplines. Recent majors have gone on to graduate programs at Columbia University, Vanderbilt University, Vermont College, University of Chicago, and others. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad in order to help complement their major, especially if they plan to attend graduate school.
Read more about Tyler and other alumni on our Featured Alumni page.
On-Campus Experiences
Students who major in English have authentic opportunities to share their literary works with the larger Bellarmine community. English majors are encouraged to strengthen their writing skills by submitting to The Ariel, The Concord, and The Lance, student-run publications that feature literary forms of expression as well as other art forms.
Students who major in English at Bellarmine University will be invited to speaking engagements and events such as the Guarnaschelli Lecture Series, which features well-renowned speakers to campus. Recent speakers include Roger Rosenblatt and Dava Sobel. Past lecturers include William Styron, George McGovern, Norman Mailer, Joyce Carol Oates, Ken Burns, Seamus Heaney, Wendell Berry, Billy Collins, Isabel Allende, Salman Rushdie, Andrea Mitchell, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Seymour Hersh.
Bellarmine’s Theatre Program celebrates the creativity of the human spirit. Students are encouraged to cultivate critical thinking skills and develop their individual artistic passion through immersion in literature, new world views, cultural diversity, exposure to a wide variety of performance practices, and their own practical creative exploration.
Our students have been very successful in the Metroversity Writing Competitions, which are publicized each spring.
English students are encouraged to apply for the English-Speaking Union Scholarship in support of summer study in Great Britain.
English majors entering their junior or senior year may also apply for the annual Elizabeth Norton Hagan Scholarship, which provides a financial aid award for that academic year.
Faculty
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Jennifer Lynde Barker | Professor, English and Film Studies; Director of Film Studies Minor | jbarker@bellarmine.edu | (502) 272-8186 |
| Dr. Jon Blandford | Assistant Provost; Associate Professor, English | jblandford@bellarmine.edu | (502) 272-7404 |
| Dr. Charles Hatten | Professor, English | chatten@bellarmine.edu | (502) 272-8086 |
| Dr. Conor Picken | Associate Professor, English | cpicken@bellarmine.edu | (502) 272-7099 |
| Dr. Kathryn West | Professor, English; Director of Women’s and Gender Studies | kwest@bellarmine.edu | (502) 272-8210 |
Contact
Conor Picken, Ph.D.
Department Chair
cpicken@bellarmine.edu
(502) 272-7099
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