About the Literary Studies Minor
The minor in literary studies is the perfect program for students who love literature
but don’t have room in their schedules for an English major.
During the minor, you’ll take 18 credit hours of courses. This includes one introductory
course and your choice of interesting electives. Elective topics span from Shakespeare
to film studies to poetry. Students may also choose to study abroad and take courses
that count toward the minor. Here are some other courses you may enjoy:
- Modern poetry
- Comics and graphic novels
- Literatures of slavery and freedom
- Medieval literature
- Literature and American sport
The English department is composed of many accomplished writers, researchers and educators.
Here is just a small sampling of our faculty’s specialties and published work:
- Arielle Zibrak, 19th Century Literature and Public Humanities (Guilty Pleasures)
- Julia Obert, Postcolonial Literature (The Making & Unmaking of Colonial Cities)
- Scott Henkel, Literatures of the Americas (Direct Democracy)
- Caroline McCracken-Flesher, Scottish Literature and the Medical Humanities (The Doctor Dissected)
- Susan Aronstein, Medieval Studies & Pop Culture (An Introduction to British Arthurian Narrative)
What can you do with a literary studies minor?
The literary studies minor provides students with lifelong communication skills and an outlet for their love of literature. Our graduates can easily apply what they’ve learned in a wide variety of career paths. Many of our students pursue careers in education, communication, journalism, marketing, library sciences and more!
Our English and literature studies students pursue careers in many different industries. Some graduates use what they’ve learned in the nonprofit sector, while others pursue careers in media. Whatever path you take, your UW education will be there to support you! Here are some of the most common career paths our graduates pursue:
- Law
- Education
- Communications
- Media
- Publishing
- Grant-Writing
- Editing
- Journalism
- Marketing
With a literary minor, you’ll hone and deepen skills in critical thinking, close reading and effective writing. You'll learn to analyze texts, understand different perspectives and communicate ideas clearly, making this a valuable minor for just about any field or career path!
Yes! A literary minor can give you a competitive edge by sharpening your writing and communication skills—traits employers value across industries. It also shows you can analyze complex ideas and express them clearly and creatively.