5 Things You Didnʼt Know About Being an NYU English Major

English majors have their choice of three paths at NYU: English with a literary studies concentration, English with a creative writing concentration, and Dramatic Literature. But how do you decide which route to take? Students on the creative writing track study literature with a focus on the craft of writing, including analysis and revision. On the other hand, the interdisciplinary Dramatic Literature major unites literature, performance, and playwriting. “The creative writing track is great for anyone who wants to explore their options,” affirms Elena. “You get to play around with writing, discover some new styles, and learn from some fantastic professors while doing so.”

As an NYU student, you’ll take rigorous, exciting classes no matter what you study. But for those particularly ambitious—and exceptionally talented—English majors, there’s the English Honors program. In addition to the standard 10 English course requirements, honors students take the Senior Honors Thesis and Senior Honors Colloquium. These small classes focus on scholarly conversation, research, and methodology and include guest speakers and presentations. The competitive program culminates in writing a 40- to 60-page thesis during your senior year.

“Being a part of the English Honors program was, without a doubt, my favorite aspect of my NYU experience,” says Hanna Saadat Khosravi, an English and History double major. “Like many avid readers, I spent years amassing texts and ideas that I hoped to write about one day. The program grants students the opportunity to dedicate a year to pursuing their personal, carefully honed literary interests. Additionally, the opportunity to learn from a professor one-on-one is like attending a personal seminar every week. It’s a truly remarkable academic experience.”

The best cure for writer’s block is a change in perspective. And the best way to do that is to see the world while you study abroad. NYU English majors can follow in the footsteps of literary giants, studying Nietzsche in Berlin or Kafka in Prague. NYU London offers a number of courses on literature and theatre, with a side of Shakespeare, complemented by excursions to plays, museums, and galleries. There are also a variety of other study away sites that are eligible for credit toward the major. These include Abu Dhabi, Accra, Buenos Aires, Florence, Paris, Madrid, Sydney, and Tel Aviv.

College is a time of exploration, and one of the many benefits of a liberal arts education is that you’re not limited to one field of study. At NYU, we encourage undergraduates to keep their academic and professional options open and engage with the world around them. That’s why prelaw and prehealth aren’t majors. Instead, any aspiring lawyer can self-identify as prelaw while majoring in the subject of their choice. Likewise, as a prehealth English major, you can prep for med school while honing your craft as a writer. After all, the best lawyers and doctors come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wealth of knowledge to their practice.