Best English Language And Literature Colleges in California

Degree Programs: English, Comparative Literature

Berkeley, also known as “Cal,” is recognized for its laboratories, research, notable faculty, publications, and — get excited now — libraries. This public university boasts a student population of more than 27,000 with over a thousand student organizations (weekly reading group anyone?). And it is situated in the San Francisco Bay area, so you’ll have plenty to points of inspiration around the city. The English major sits at the top of Berkeley’s most popular majors, but the university also offers comparative literature. “Our courses in literature have many different focuses: major authors, historical periods, genres, critical theories and methods, as well as cultural and multicultural studies.” The comparative literature major requires courses in Shakespeare, literature before 1800, and literature from Chaucer through the 20th century that includes British, American, and Anglophone writing. As an English major studying literature, you can tuck yourself away in one of the large libraries that together take up 12 acres of campus — like Doe Memorial Library or Bancroft Library — and stay there for the next four years. If you do find yourself outside of the aisles of books, you may come across student activism about the latest hot social topic or a Greek organization event.

English Degree Program

Between San Francisco and San Jose you’ll find 8,000 acres dedicated to a university known for the entrepreneurial nature of its students and the research they output. Study here, and you’ll be among some of the world’s top intellectuals. Stanford’s English department features a well-rounded curriculum that explores the big picture of literature’s development from the Middle Ages to the present day. Classes feature lively exploration and discussion of key literary themes, movements, and innovations. Your courses will also teach you and test your abilities for critical thinking, analyzing literature in poetry, narrative, and methodology. Courses offered include a historical sequence and a pre-1800 course. The department’s website says students will explore things like “How has the idea of theater changed from the York Corpus Christi play (15th c.) to Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (1949).” Once you’ve finished the core classes in an English major, which introduce students to a large body of knowledge and fundamental skills, you can continue on to a concentration in literature. The literature concentration bestows a wide range of knowledge to its students: historical development of British, American, and Anglophone literatures, and a variety of critical methods to interpret texts. The concentration emphasizes the study of literary forms, genres, and textual analysis theories.

University of California-Los Angeles offers 5 English Language And Literature Degree programs. It's a large public university in a large city. In 2015, 348 students graduated in the study area of English Language And Literature with students earning 320 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Doctoral degrees, 13 Master's degrees.

University of California-Santa Barbara offers 4 English Language And Literature Degree programs. It's a large public university in a mid sized suburb. In 2015, 208 students graduated in the study area of English Language And Literature with students earning 197 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.

California State University-Long Beach offers 3 English Language And Literature Degree programs. It's a large public university in a large city. In 2015, 303 students graduated in the study area of English Language And Literature with students earning 255 Bachelor's degrees, and 48 Master's degrees.

University of Southern California offers 4 English Language And Literature Degree programs. It's a large private university in a large city. In 2015, 47 students graduated in the study area of English Language And Literature with students earning 30 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.

University of California-Riverside offers 4 English Language And Literature Degree programs. It's a large public university in a large city. In 2015, 165 students graduated in the study area of English Language And Literature with students earning 146 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.

California State University-Fullerton offers 3 English Language And Literature Degree programs. It's a large public university in a large suburb. In 2015, 193 students graduated in the study area of English Language And Literature with students earning 161 Bachelor's degrees, and 32 Master's degrees.