English majors learn during the course of their studies will enrich their lives, cultivate their values and challenge their intellect, and expand their sense of curiosity and empathy. In courses leading to the major in English, students learn to think critically; to be sensitive to the artistic, moral, and social dimensions of language; and to engage in meaningful research. Literature and writing are studied as forms of art, as forms of social discourse, and as important vehicles for exploring and expressing the human condition.