City University of New York

What you'll study

The BA in English emphasises breadth across historical periods and genres alongside options for specialisation. Core work typically includes surveys of British and American literature, courses in world and postcolonial literatures, and instruction in literary theory and critical methods. Students take practical modules in academic and professional writing, creative writing workshops, and courses in rhetoric or composition pedagogy.

• Foundations: introductions to literary analysis, close reading, and research methods.
• Historical surveys: major periods in British, American and global literature.
• Theory and criticism: modern and contemporary theory, gender/queer studies, race studies and cultural criticism.
• Writing options: creative writing (fiction, poetry), professional writing, journalism and digital composition.
• Complementary subjects: linguistics, film and media studies, digital humanities and interdisciplinary electives.
• Capstone or senior seminar: sustained research project or advanced seminar preparing a thesis or portfolio.
• Experiential learning: internships, community-based projects and opportunities to work with New York cultural institutions.

Entry requirements

Admission to a BA in English at CUNY is through the university's undergraduate application process and may vary by campus. Typical requirements include a secondary school diploma or equivalent and a record of strong performance in English-language subjects. Transfer applicants normally need college-level transcripts showing satisfactory completion of general education and introductory English modules.

Additional expectations or steps can include:

• Completion of general education requirements (composition/first-year writing) before advancing in the major.
• Proof of English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English (for example, recognised language tests or institutional equivalents).
• For certain concentrations such as creative writing, programmes may ask for a brief writing sample or portfolio as part of advising or competitive placement.

Career prospects

A BA in English develops transferable skills prized by employers: analytical reading, structured writing, research, argumentation and clear communication. Graduates work across a range of sectors:

• Publishing and editing: editorial assistants, copy editors, and production roles.
• Media and communications: journalism, digital content creation, social media strategy and corporate communications.
• Education: teaching at primary or secondary level (typically requiring additional certification) and academic pathways into postgraduate teacher preparation.
• Public and non-profit sectors: programme coordination, grant writing, policy support and cultural organisations.
• Further study and professional training: law, library and information science, archival studies, and graduate research in literature, creative writing or related fields.

Why study at City University of New York

CUNY offers access to a large public university system embedded within New York City, providing a wide choice of campuses, faculty expertise and cross-campus course options. Students benefit from proximity to major publishers, theatres, museums and libraries, which supports internships, research and cultural engagement. The system is known for serving a diverse student body and for multiple pathways from associate degrees to four-year degrees and on to graduate study.

Within CUNY, English programmes typically combine seminar-style teaching with opportunities for experiential learning, small-group tutorials, student literary journals and community partnerships. Advising and transfer-friendly structures help students tailor the BA to their interests, whether that is creative writing, literary scholarship, or professional writing.