WFU Department of English

Welcome to the English Department

When you study literatures in English, you engage with works of significant cultural and aesthetic value, wrestle with important philosophical questions, reconstruct histories of past times and places, and develop in writing your own critical and creative voice. We offer a diverse range of courses, a graduate program, an honors program, journalism, creative writing and medieval studies minors, scholarly lectures, readings by visiting writers, and other events, all of which give students a rich experience of the discipline of English.

Expressing our solidarity with and support for Black Lives Matter.

Course Listings

Explore English Department course offerings in Literature, Creative Writing, the Writing Program, and Journalism.

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Why Study English?

English majors and minors develop valuable wisdom and skills and successfully pursue careers in a wide range of fields.

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Meet the Faculty

Learn more about the English Department faculty’s teaching interests as well as their research and creative specialties.

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Faculty News

Our faculty accomplishments include published books, articles, and creative work, conference presentations, and awards and recognition.

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Dean Family Speaker Series

The Dean Family Speaker Series brings nationally and internationally recognized scholars to present their research to students and faculty.

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Dillon Johnston Writers Reading Series

The Dillon Johnston Writers Reading Series brings emerging and established poets, fiction, and creative non-fiction writers to campus.

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News and Events

English Department Faculty Receive Spring 2023 Research and Travel Awards

The Wake Forest University English Department is pleased to announce that five English, Writing, and Creative Writing faculty have been awarded research and travel funds for the spring and summer of 2023. These faculty will conduct primary research, attend scholarly conferences, hold panels, and share their recent works. Lucy Alford… Continue Reading: English Department Faculty Receive Spring 2023 Research and Travel Awards

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Poet, scholar, and artist Ronaldo V. Wilson to give a poetry reading Feb. 15 as part of residency in Hanes Art Gallery

Wake Forest Kenan Chair in the Humanities Laura Mullen and Hanes Art Gallery are bringing performance artist, poet, writer, and visual artist Ronaldo V. Wilson for week-long residency at the Gallery February 13-22, 2023. His visit is part of the gallery’s “Ad(d) Hoc” spring 2023 programming. Wilson will use the… Continue Reading: Poet, scholar, and artist Ronaldo V. Wilson to give a poetry reading Feb. 15 as part of residency in Hanes Art Gallery

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Interdisciplinary Poetry Reading and Art Talk with Laura Jaramillo and Jose deVera

Poet Laura Jaramillo will visit Wake Forest on Wednesday, January 25, at 5:00 p.m. in Hanes Art Gallery in Scales Fine Arts Center for an interdisciplinary poetry reading and art talk with WFU art professor Jose deVera. This event is free and open to the public. Laura Jaramillo is a poet and… Continue Reading: Interdisciplinary Poetry Reading and Art Talk with Laura Jaramillo and Jose deVera

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Announcing the Academy of American Poets / Edwin G. Wilson Prize for Undergraduate Poetry

Wake Forest University and the Department of English are proud to announce an exciting new prize to recognize our outstanding undergraduate poets: the Academy of American Poets / Edwin G. Wilson Prize. The first prizes will be awarded in Spring 2023, and then annually each spring in perpetuity. We’re especially… Continue Reading: Announcing the Academy of American Poets / Edwin G. Wilson Prize for Undergraduate Poetry

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New book by Prof. Eric G. Wilson: “How to Be Weird”

Professor Eric G. Wilson recently released a new book titled How to Be Weird: An Off-Kilter Guide to Living a One-of-a-Kind Life. Published in November 2022 by Penguin Random House, How to Be Weird is a guidebook for beating the monotony of the everyday by purposefully cultivating the surprising joys that… Continue Reading: New book by Prof. Eric G. Wilson: “How to Be Weird”

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Sigma Tau Delta’s Creative Nonfiction Career Chat with Profs. Erhardt and Harlan

On Monday, November 7th, WFU’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta—the international English honor society—hosted Prof. Susan Harlan and Prof. Marianne Erhardt in Ammons Lounge to talk about their experiences as professional creative writers in the public sphere. Prof. Erhardt is currently working on a memoir-in-essays, which explores personal and social… Continue Reading: Sigma Tau Delta’s Creative Nonfiction Career Chat with Profs. Erhardt and Harlan

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