Bachelor's degree in English

Language is universal in human society and a prerequisite to civilization, culture, science, history and technology. The study of linguistics then, is the study of a defining characteristic of the human species.

The linguistics faculty in the Department of English through the College of Liberal Arts conduct research in many sub-fields of linguistics, including sociolinguistics (the relationship between social factors and language use), phonetics and phonology (the physical nature and mental organization of speech sounds), morphology (the structure of words) and language documentation. Our faculty members focus on a similar range of languages around the world, including English and its varieties, Paiute, Navajo and Scottish Gaelic.

Our linguistics students develop excellent analytical and problem-solving skills that are essential to professional careers or advanced study in fields like information technology, law, business, education, finance and medicine.

The literature specialization in English through the College of Liberal Arts trains students to think and write critically through rigorous instruction and engagement with issues of public concern, preparing them for careers in law, project management, publishing and education. The literature emphasis offers courses in British and U.S. literature, as well as global literatures in English. It focuses on a range of historical periods, individual authors, movements, themes and genres, and it stresses a range of theoretical methods and disciplinary approaches. Many of our courses center on diverse and underrepresented literatures in English. Faculty members in the department teach in a variety of fields, including the literature of U.S. writers of color, film, world literature, medieval, modern and early modern British literature.

Learn to write well in a variety of genres while developing critical thinking, collaboration and revision skills. Understand audience and context, and gain confidence in presenting work to an audience. Choose from a creative writing major where you will learn the artistic practice of composing and refining fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. Or choose the public and professional writing track and learn to write for and critically analyze the communications of community organizations, governmental agencies, nonprofits, business clients, social movements and more.

The Department of English at the University of Nevada, Reno also offers an English minor which can help students stand out in today's competitive job market. Students will gain the skills employers need in critical reading, research, editing, oral presentation, writing and language use.

The minor in cinema and media studies introduces students to a variety of approaches to analyzing film and related media through the study of directors, genres, film style, film theory, aesthetic theories and relationships between media and society.