DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Students listening to a speaker in an English class.

English at Villanova offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare you to read deeply, think critically, write effectively and speak confidently.

In the Villanova English Department, you encounter both revered classics and celebrated recent work by writers coming from widely different experiences and points of view. In our classes, you hone your writing skills, sharpen your abilities to analyze complex texts, deepen your understanding of cultural and material history, and stimulate your imagination.

The abilities you develop prepare you for fields including consulting, journalism, marketing, law, education, banking, government, college administration, screenwriting and publishing, as well as continued studies in competitive master’s or doctorate programs. In addition, beyond the numerous clubs and publications affiliated with the department, we are excited to offer a variety of scholarships for our undergraduate students.

The heart of the discipline of English is the power of the written word to tell stories, communicate ideas, broaden perspectives and bring about change.

  

Department Calendar

Happy 75th Anniversary to the English Major!

Tracy K. Smith Literary Festival Celebration, Tuesday, March 12th, Connelly Cinema, 7-8 p.m.

Our next Literary Festival writer is Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. poet laureate. Her reading will take place at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Q&A session. There will be a special reception preceding Tracy’s event from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the President’s Lounge. Please register here to attend.

Fall 2024 English Pre-Registration Reception, Friday, March 15th, SAC East Courtyard, 12:30-2 p.m.

Join faculty and fellow students as we discuss next semester’s courses over lunch. There will be a raffle of books and swag, student presentations, treats, and more. This is an ACS-approved cultural event, and all are welcome! Please RSVP by Wednesday, Mar. 6th (including any dietary restrictions) to Senior Admin Amanda Eliades.

Understanding Oct. 7th and Its Aftermath: A Multi-Lens Perspective on the History of Israel-Palestine, Monday, March 18th, Driscoll Auditorium, 5-6 p.m.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will hose Hussein Ibish, PhD, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, D.C., and David N. Myers, PhD, distinguished professor and Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History at University of California, Los Angeles. By addressing the history of Arabs and Jews, Israelis and Palestinians, and Israel and Arab States, Drs. Ibish and Myers demonstrate both critical distance and empathy—pushing their audiences to think beyond slogans by clarifying the nature and depth of the current conflict. Register for the event here.

From the Desk of Taylor Swift: Tortured Poets English Department, Tuesday, March 19th, 6-7 p.m., Falvey 205

Join the English Department for a Taylor-Swift-inspired creative writing hangout. The English department will provide writing prompts, music, and food. You bring the tortured poets.

BIPOC Writing Hangout, Wednesday, March 20th, 6-7:30 p.m., SAC 402

Monthly BIPOC Writing Hangouts are for Villanova students, staff, faculty, and alumni who identify as people of color. Pizza, prompts, and company will be provided. No creative writing experience necessary. For more information, email Dr. Kimberly Takahata.

All About the Bagels, Thursday, March 21st, SAC 402

We will have free bagels and cream cheese in the English lounge, from about 9:30 a.m. through noon.

 

Check us out on the University calendar !


 

Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Members of the English faculty promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can find out more about our efforts here.

Villanova University
Department of English
St. Augustine Center
Room 402

Department Chair
Professor Heather Hicks

Why Villanova English?

Careers Through English

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