Find the English program that matches your love of reading, passion for writing, or ambition to be part of the fast-growing and evolving world of publishing - in print and digital.

Choose a Concentration

Deciding to be an English major is the easy part. Choose a specialty from our engaging concentrations: 

Literatures in English

Literatures in English is the English major for the 21st century, with courses in British, American, and global English literature.   

Creative Writing and Literature

The creative writing concentration is for serious writers ready to immerse themselves in their craft. Classes are intimate and interactive, led by our faculty's accomplished poets, playwrights, and fiction and nonfiction writers.

Publishing Studies and Literature

One of the nation's premier programs in this field. The publishing studies faculty is comprised of active professionals who teach classes in editing, book design, industry-standard publishing software systems, and marketing. A Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Publishing Studies is available for those with an interest in publishing who have already earned a bachelor's degree.

Children's and YA Literature

The department’s newest concentration draws on the resources and faculty expertise within the English Department and also reaches out to other areas of the University, including child psychology and literacy studies.

Degree Programs

Any one of the English Department's concentrations can be a great foundation for a career in education, publishing, journalism, public relations, law, advertising, marketing, and many other industries. In addition to the BA in English, Hofstra also offers minors in creative writingEnglish; publishing studies; and medicine, culture, and society. 

Learn from the Experts

Learn from a distinguished faculty of active scholars, creative writers, and publishing professionals. English faculty have been recognized with prestigious awards from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Student Experience

Hofstra's proximity to New York City enriches the curriculum and provides incomparable access to internships and experiential learning, while our event series and in-house literary journals offer opportunities right on campus.

New York City

Internships and Experiential Learning

Being a short train ride away from New York City makes it possible for English majors to intern with industry leaders in the worlds of book and magazine publishing.

They have also secured internships at media companies like ABC and CBS News, and at publications like O magazine, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue. The Hofstra Center for Career Design and Development is available to help students identify internship opportunities.  

Students may also get involved with the in-house literary journals Windmill and AMP and earn credit toward their degree. 

Sigma Tau Delta

Sigma Tau Delta

Hofstra is home to a chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English Honor Society. The department sends invitations to eligible juniors and seniors in the spring semester.

Additionally, advanced students may choose to earn departmental honors by completing an honors project, either a researched essay or a creative manuscript. Interested students should consult with a department advisor and/or a faculty member who they would like to director their honors project.

Great Writers, Great Readings

Great Writers, Great Readings Series

Bestselling, award-winning authors share the craft of writing and career advice as part of the Great Writers, Great Readings series. Recent guests have included novelists, essayists, memoirists, playwrights, and poets like Colson Whitehead, Natasha Trethewey, Gary Janetti, Pamela Paul, Claudia Rankine, John McPhee, Jhumpa Lahiri, A. Van Jordan, Susan Orlean, Jennifer Egan, and Karen Russell.

The Outlook

English majors develop skills valued in every profession – abilities to write, analyze, interpret, synthesize, and explain complex information in a clear, concise, and thoughtful way. Our graduates pursue successful careers in a wide range of industries and advanced degrees in areas such as publishing, education, public relations, law, advertising, journalism, broadcast media, government, and marketing. More on outcomes

100%

Percentage of recent alumni in this program reported that they were employed, pursuing, or planning to pursue graduate studies within one year of graduation. 

90%

Percentage of recent alumni reporting employment said they landed their position within six months of graduation. You can find these Hofstra English alumni at

  • Anton Media Group
  • HarperCollins Publishing
  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Macmillan Publishing
  • Massachusetts State Senate
  • McGraw Hill Education
  • Penguin Random House LLC
  • Scholastic, Inc.
  • Simon & Schuster
  • St. Martin's Press
  • Walt Disney Company
  • W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

$46K

The average annual mean reported salary for recent alumni, one year post-graduation. 

Questions About Our Programs?

English Department Office

Contact Us:

Room 204 Mason Hall
516-463-5454
Office Hours: 
Monday-Friday 
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Send an email

Department Secretary 
Pauline McInnis 

Department Chair

Dr. Karyn Valerius
Room 201 Mason Hall
516-463-5455
Send an email

Secretary to the Chair

Suzanne Viggiano 
516-463-5453