We use literature to reflect and forge our identities as individuals and societies. By studying diverse texts for your degree in English at Winston-Salem State University (including American, British, African, Caribbean and other literatures), you’ll learn how language molds our communities — and how you can use your knowledge to make a positive difference in our world.
You’ll leave WSSU with advanced communication, writing and speaking skills, as well as critical thinking and analytical proficiencies that make you a strong candidate for any career path.
English degree depth areas at Winston-Salem State University
After mastering your foundational classes, you can choose to study in one of two depth areas:
Our English degree alumni often credit their faculty and learning opportunities at WSSU — among the best colleges for English majors — for their career success after graduation.
Internships through your major in English at WSSU will give you real-world experience sharpening your writing skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to truly visualize places written about in texts through study-abroad opportunities, which will also help you more deeply experience and contextualize literature set in other countries.
Our WSSU English degree faculty bring industry experience from post-secondary and K–12 teaching, leadership in national discipline-related agencies, research fellowships and editing —not to mention their own writing — passing their life lessons on to you.
Our campus in the Piedmont Triad has a writing lab to help you work on campus. Pursuing a degree in English in the City of Arts and Innovation also gives you the benefit of location: Every year the Bookmarks’ Festival of Books and Authors brings internationally renowned and locally lauded authors to your doorstep. Other local fixtures include the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, the Stained Glass Playhouse — and, of course, the annual River Run International Film Festival at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the National Black Theatre Festival.
Your WSSU major in English sets the stage for your choice of graduate school or for you to jump straight into your career. Recent WSSU English degree graduates successfully enrolled in graduate school at American University, North Carolina Central University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and North Carolina A&T State University.
Our graduates pursue a broad array of jobs with English degrees, such as:
22% of graduates with English degrees work in educational instruction and library occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
16% work in management; 9% in arts, design, entertainment sports and media; 9% in office and administrative support; and 8% in business and financial operations.
The variety of in-depth courses available makes WSSU stand out as one of the best colleges for English majors, particularly due to the opportunities we offer to study African American and Black literature. As one graduate put it, “What I love most about the English department is the professors’ incorporation of Black scholars and Black literature to help drive educational conversations.”
Your WSSU major in English may include courses like:
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As a WSSU student, you’ll be in a supportive HBCU environment, surrounded by like-minded peers who care about challenging injustice through their work. In addition to university-wide Greek life and student organizations, you can join the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society (Theta Mu Chapter), which serves our communities by fostering literacy, or the Drama Guild, which presents theatrical performances every season. |
At Winston-Salem State we prioritize affordability — that’s why WSSU is the #2 HBCU in the U.S. for value. You can also apply for need- and merit-based financial aid. Learn more about paying for college and your WSSU scholarship options. |
When you major in English at WSSU, you’ll be advised by an English department faculty member. As one of our alumni, who now has a career in writing, said, “Without their [WSSU faculty members’] guidance, I would not be where I am today.” You can also access writing-specific support at the WSSU Writing and Communication Center. Learn more about the Department of English. Learn more about the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education. |
The WSSU English Department believed in me when I doubted myself, pushed me to reach my greatest potential and prepared me for life in ways I could not have imagined.
