Words shape how we think, connect, and create change. Studying English helps you understand—and influence—the world through language, ideas, and stories.
The English program at SUNY Oswego offers a dynamic and comprehensive education designed for students passionate about literature, writing, social history, and critical analysis. With a curriculum that covers a wide range of genres, periods, and cultures, the program provides students with an in-depth understanding of literary traditions and contemporary writing practices.
The program emphasizes both the art and craft of writing, offering opportunities to study the works of great authors, participate in workshops, and contribute to student-run literary publications. Whether you’re aiming for a career in law, publishing, education, management, or another field, our program equips you with the critical and creative tools you need to succeed in a wide variety of professions.
Graduates of the English program will be able to:
The English Department at Oswego doesn't treat you like a student, but rather like a scholar. Professors treat you as equals and do their best to help you evolve in your styles of argumentation.
I participated in a GLS 100 class to London. It was a place I had always wanted to visit and the class I went with enhanced my knowledge and understanding of the culture. I also, was able to see a lot of different places that I had read about in novels which was really great from an English major's standpoint.
For my English major, I love the variety of classes am offered. I've taken classes that range from feminist theory to Harry Potter. The selection is amazing and each class provides you with extensive knowledge of that subject, as well as how to apply that knowledge to other classes, majors, minors, and real-life scenarios.
The professors really want you to succeed and are willing to sit down and help you figure out your plans both before and after graduation. The English and Creative Writing Department has a very approachable atmosphere.
Our English program engages students with a range of topics: Afrofuturism, games and visual media, gender/sexuality theories, medieval studies, Latina/o/x poetics, Norse mythology, Indigenous horror stories, apartheid, colonialism, and more.
Each fall, Pulitzer Prize winners, bestselling authors, and rising voices in contemporary literature visit Oswego to meet with students, discuss their creative process, and share their paths to success as writers.
The student-led SUNY Oswego Chapter of the International English Honor Society leads writing workshops, produces panels of student work, and hosts other events. They are also lead writers for One City. One Campus. One Community., a photojournalistic project—displayed at both City Hall and Quest Day—that spotlights the work of SUNY Oswego interns and alumni in the City of Oswego.
Take classes and participate in internships while immersing yourself in all that region has to offer.
Start an internship at a local newspaper or business, join the editorial board of the Great Lake Review, our student literary magazine, or get an inside view of higher education and scholarly pursuits with a teaching or research assistantship. From clubs to events, there are many ways to get involved with the English Program on campus.