Literary Studies
Analyze global works of literature from medieval poetry to postmodern theory. Graduate as a critical thinker, writer and reader firmly rooted in narrative and rhetorical analysis.
As a literary studies major, you'll enjoy opportunities for research, honors projects, internships and study abroad. You'll take courses such as Fever/Fantasy/Desire, Alternative African America and Why Dystopias? Each course is designed to foster empathy and understanding of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints — a valuable skill for personal and job success.
Recent literary studies graduates are pursuing careers in academia, medicine, banking, consulting, advancement and more.
Arts Merit Scholarships are available to prospective students.
See detailed major & minor requirements
Why Take Literary Studies Courses?
Because you are interested in becoming:
- A deeper reader
- A more flexible thinker
- A more persuasive writer and speaker
Because you already are:
- Intellectually curious
- A lifelong learner
- Socially conscious
- A believer in the power of imagination to create change
Because you'll develop and strengthen skills that are valued by employers, including:
- Critical thinking and problem-solving
- Oral and written communication
- Intercultural/global fluency
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Independent thinking and leadership vision
Bucknell University Press
Bucknell University Press has been publishing in the arts, humanities and social sciences since 1968. Since then it has published approximately 1,200 titles by authors from a wide variety of genres and countries around the world. The press offers a yearlong internship for students interested in learning about the world of literary publishing.
Learn more about Bucknell University Press
West Branch Literary Magazine
Founded in 1977 and housed in the Stadler Center, West Branch is Bucknell's national journal of poetry, fiction, essays and reviews. Students with an interest in publishing have the opportunity to apply for a competitive, semester-length, non-paid internship, which is open to qualified sophomores, juniors and seniors in any major.
Arts Merit Scholarships
Bucknell offers merit scholarships to applicants who have extraordinary talent in the arts. Students studying creative writing, literature, film/media studies, art & art history, music and theatre are eligible for scholarships that range from $2,500 to $20,000 per year.
Learn more about Arts Merit Scholarships
Literary Studies Club
The Literary Studies Club is a student-run organization coordinated through the English department. Each year, the club works in tandem with a faculty liaison to plan a series of events and gatherings that build community within the department, major and those taking English department courses. Students from any major or discipline are welcome to join events that focus on an appreciation for and interest in literary, creative and media studies. Events include trivia nights, research slams, literary-inspired game nights, graduation picnics, alumni panels and graduate school information sessions.
We learn about the grassroots movements that make those cultural shifts happen. Sometimes literature and journalism, especially in today's media-driven world, are the catalysts for change.
Riley DeBaecke '23, Managing for Sustainability and Literary Studies
