Welcome to the Department of English at Macalester College. We're on the second floor of Old Main; stop by our main office (room 210), or call us at (651) 696-6387.

The English Department offers courses in creative writing, literature, literary theory, and film. Majors, minors, and non-majors can choose from a rich array of courses in American, Native American, African American, British, Irish, South Asian, Caribbean, African and African Diasporic literature and culture. Our scholarly interests cover many periods, from medieval and Renaissance to contemporary, and many kinds of works, among them novels, short stories, plays, film, lyric and epic poetry, comics and graphic novels, autobiographies, and expository and narrative prose of all kinds.

We welcome - and use - a variety of perspectives, including feminist theory, environmental and ethical approaches, queer theory, poststructuralism, postcolonial theory, black feminist theory, and critical race theory. We also welcome creative writers in all genres; we strongly believe that the study of literature and the craft of writing belong together. Whatever their content or theoretical perspective, all our courses will help students hone close reading, critical thinking, and writing skills.

In addition to outstanding courses and faculty, there are many resources available to students, including the Critchett Fund, which can be used to help defray the expenses of honors projects and the expenses of applying to grad school.