English is a West Germanic language that was first spoken in early medieval England and eventually became a global lingua franca. It is named after the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes that migrated to the area of Great Britain that later took their name, as England
Whether you’re captivated by Chaucer’s Middle English poetics, obsessed with the colonial subtext in the novels of Joseph Conrad, or take a keen linguistic interest in the rap music of Snoop Dogg, you’ve come to the right place. This guide is all about what to expect from English language and literature degrees, including English topics you may be able to specialize in, opportunities for a journalism career, teaching career, or careers in the arts and humanities sectors, as well as the key skills you will pick up along the way.
A degree in English language and literature is designed to get you reading books, analyzing theories, critiquing prose and verse, and taking a more critical look at the signs and words surrounding us every day. The aim is to get students thinking creatively and analytically about the English language; this differs from other modern language degrees as it is intended for students already proficient in written and spoken English. An English degree can focus equally on the literature and language sides, while others specialize in one or the other; this will usually be clear from the course title.
