Aaron GwynDog on the Cross

Welcome to the Department of English, one of the largest academic programs at UNC Charlotte. Our intellectually diverse faculty, which brings together expertise in British and American Literature, Linguistics, Children’s Literature, Technical Communication, and Writing, is dedicated to excellence in teaching, as well as a commitment to scholarship. With a vision of success for our students, both undergraduate and graduate, the department is proud of the many remarkable achievements of its alums.  We hope you'll review our newly created Newsletter for Winter-2012 which will update you about recent events in the department.

Situated in the beautiful and dynamic city of Charlotte—which is driven both by finance and the arts—UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s “Urban Research University.” Thus, in addition to diverse literatures and cultures, our program offers a vision for English Studies that combines pragmatism and innovation. In a world that sees daily changes in technology, culture, and commerce, we offer the education and the support that will help student flourish intellectually and professionally.

Please take a look at the diverse programs offered by UNC Charlotte’s Department of English and feel free to contact our administrators, our faculty, and our staff to learn more about how we can help you.

The Department of English endeavors to provide students with the intellectual skills that lead to

• excellent written and verbal communication skills,
• an awareness of and respect for diverse ideas and viewpoints,
• the ability to analyze and understand complex ideas and texts,
• experience in inventing drafting, editing, and publishing both printed and electronic texts,
• a knowledge of the history of spoken language, written literature, rhetoric, and communication technology,
• the ability to collaborate on complex research and writing tasks.

One of our graduates' most valuable skills is the ability to understand and analyze complexity and ambiguity. Having developed an aptitude to devise innovative solutions to challenging problems, our undergraduates have pursued advanced degrees in literature, law, medicine, teaching, and administration. Others students generate careers for themselves in any number of fields including business, banking, advertising, public relations, and technical/professional writing.

Our graduate students go on to pursue similar careers, but their advanced degrees give them additional opportunities for professional recognition and advancement.  Our Master’s students have been successful in their in pursuit of the Ph.D., as well as positions in professional writing, teaching, and administration.

^{Charlotte at sunset.}

UNC Charlotte English Department Statement on Diversity (April 2009)

The English Department strives to create an academic climate that respects people of varied cultural backgrounds and life experiences. As a community of scholars and teachers who study language, literature, and writing, we are committed to nurturing intellectual and aesthetic diversity. In all our activities, we invite participation by diverse groups, including, but not limited to, those who define themselves in the following terms: race and ethnicity; gender; political orientation; sexual orientation; special health needs; age; religion; country of origin; and socio-economic status. Finally, by fostering multiple perspectives in our coursework, we can help our students prepare to participate in our increasingly diverse society, as well as in the global community.