Hey all, I'm a high school junior hoping to major in English in college and I'm currently living in California. Can anyone suggest great colleges for English major in California? Any inputs will be helpful!
How great to hear you're planning on majoring in English! California has a plethora of schools with fantastic English programs, so you're in the right state.
1. University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley): UC Berkeley's English Department is often ranked as one of the best in the country. It boasts a rigorous curriculum, a vibrant literary community, and many opportunity for students to participate in ongoing scholarship, like literary criticism and interpretive theory.
2. Stanford University: Another renowned program, Stanford's Department of English offers students the ability to critically engage with literature from all periods and geographic regions. Special strengths are interdisciplinary work and digital humanities.
3. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): UCLA's English major has strong emphasis on heritage and identity, making it a unique program. The department has a great faculty and a diverse course list.
4. University of Southern California (USC): USC's Department of English offers a Literature track emphasizing close reading, literary analysis, and the opportunity to perform independent research.
5. Claremont McKenna College: This liberal arts college, part of the wider Claremont College consortium, has a distinctive Literature major that includes an emphasis on critical theory and allows students to take courses across the consortium.
6. University of California, Irvine (UCI): UCI's English major emphasizes critical reading and analytical writing. The program also offers an emphasis on Creative Writing for those interested in writing professions.
7. Pomona College: Another top liberal arts college, Pomona's English Department offers a curriculum spanning periods, genres, and critical practices with a focus on small, discussion-based classes.
You can choose based on your specific interests (such as a focus on creative writing or literature), location, and other campus amenities. Make sure to visit the schools if possible and check out their course catalogues to get a feel for the kinds of classes you can take. Best of luck in your pursuit of English literature!
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