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Literary Studies

Available as a major or minor

The Literary Studies program trains you to read critically, respond incisively, and write with discernment about the complex worlds depicted in a variety of texts and genres. In addition to canonical works from the Anglo-American traditions, you'll be exposed to specific historical eras and geographical settings. 

In addition to preparing you for graduate work in literary studies or for careers in education, the literary studies major will prepare you for work in fields where clear communication and sharp analytical skills are in high demand, such as business, law and publishing.

Curriculum & Courses

Sample Course Offerings

ENGL 220: Novels of the Family 
ENGL 220: Star Wars, Myths, Context 
ENGL 310: Literature of African Diaspora

Student reading on the porch of the Administration Building

Student Experiences

Internship brings Shakespeare to life for Roanoke student

After interning as a dramaturge, backstage manager and line caller, Madison Little '18 knows one thing: She was made for the theater.

Little, a creative writing and literary studies major at Roanoke, landed a summer internship and a spring semester gig with American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia.  Until her internship, she never thought about using her love of writing and storytelling on stage."I really like watching Shakespeare come to life," said Little, who was a member of the College's improv club. "I like seeing how the story threads come together."

Madison Little sits on floor in theater

Erin Keating on studying at Shakespeare's Globe Theater

Learn By Doing

We offer many firsthand learning opportunities for our students. 

  • Internship Opportunities

    Roanoke College’s Creative Writing and Literary Studies majors and Editing and Publishing Concentration prepare students to be flexible writers, thinkers, and creators. Students have internship opportunities at the college and in the community, including Berryfield Marketing and Media and arts magazine Artemis.

  • Brackety-Ack

    Roanoke College's much beloved weekly newspaper is known for its weird name and its insightful, hard-nosed approach to life on campus. Students handle everything at Brackety-Ack, including writing, photography, editing, opinion polling, layout and web design.

  • On Concept's Edge

    On Concept's Edge, Roanoke College's literary magazine, is entirely student run. The staff works on layout, printer selection, and the choosing of student and faculty submissions for print.

  • The Roanoke Review

    The Review is an annual national journal that publishes poetry, short fiction and nonfiction every spring. Established in 1967 by Henry Taylor, a past Roanoke College English professor and Pulitzer Prize winner, the Review is staffed by current students and Professor Mary Hill.

  • Visting Writers

    Students meet Pulitzer Prize winners, best-selling authors, eminent scholars and prominent journalists. Through direct exposure to these writers, students gain a greater understanding of the discipline and more confidence in their own writing.

  • Creative Writing Club

    The Review is an annual national journal that publishes poetry, short fiction and nonfiction every spring. Established in 1967 by Henry Taylor, a past Roanoke College English professor and Pulitzer Prize winner, the Review is staffed by current students and Professor Mary Hill.

Children’s literature class fights for childhood literacy

Students pose for a group photo reading or holding up various books

Roanoke's contemporary children's literature class is teaming up with the Roanoke Public Library and Star City Reads to address the growing literacy issues in the county. The students have organized a drive to collect children's books for Roanoke's Books on Buses literacy program.

"I just want other kids to share the same passion for reading that I have had since I was a little girl," student organizer Tabitha Tutwiler '18 said. "If I can put one book in the hands of an eager child, I've succeeded. Although, I'd love to collect hundreds of books!"

"Childhood literacy is a serious issue in our country, and access to books has everything to do with that," said Mary Hill '91, who teaches children's literature. "By collecting books for Roanoke's Books on Buses program, students can reach out to the children in our community who need books the most."

Scholarships & Fellowships

Literary studies student lands prestigious Fulbright grant

Photo of Courtney Vaughan

A visit to Cambodia during a May Term travel writing course was the first time that Roanoke College student Courtney Vaughan ventured outside of the United States.

The experience sparked her interest in Southeast Asia. As a result, the literary studies major landed a grant through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program to teach English in Laos for a year.

"There's something intriguing about Southeastern culture," said Vaughan, a member of the College's Honors Program and a Writing Center tutor.

She is considering a career teaching English as a Second Language. 

Literary Studies major wins $30,000 Rotary Scholarship

Jessica Compton smiles next to a gondola while traveling

Jessica Compton has received the Rotary Skelton/Jones Scholarship. This scholarship, offered by Rotary International, a service organization with programs that span the globe, funds a year of graduate study abroad at a university of Compton's choice. Compton, a Literary Studies major from Mount Pleasant, S.C., is considering graduate schools located in New Zealand. She intends to earn her master's degree in teaching and learning.

Careers & Outcomes

Career Paths

Students in our programs build practical job skills in editing and research, developing and maintaining tone and voice, and hooking readers with an engaging narrative whether in a novel or newsletter. These qualities help them excel in diverse professions such as: 

  • Social media writer (in fields such as education, business, and health care)
  • Grant writer (in fields such as research, health care, and for non-profits)
  • Editor (for business online and print publications, newsletters, and news media)
  • Content strategist (in corporate settings and fields such as health care and education)
  • Public relations (for both online and print publications and news releases) 

Our grads work at great organizations.

Logos for SunTrust, NASA and Simon & Schuster

Faculty

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News

“Roanoke College builds students who understand both the craft of writing and the real-world demands of a working publication. I can say with confidence that the creative writing, literary studies, and publishing programs at Roanoke College are the real deal.”

Liz Long, Editor, Vista Media, Inc. (Employer of Roanoke College interns)

Interested in exploring literary studies at Roanoke College?

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