Why Earn Your English Degree at Saint Leo University?
An English degree empowers curiosity in students to explore, critique, and create narratives that inspire the intellect, ignite the imagination, and speak to the human experience. Through the study of literature, writing, rhetoric, and language, students develop the ability to think critically, communicate persuasively, and connect ideas to the hopes, values, and stories that shape our world.
The study of English appeals to both creative and analytical minds while opening pathways to a wide range of rewarding careers, including publishing, education, law, business, communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit leadership, and media. Employers increasingly seek graduates who can write with clarity, analyze complex information, and communicate effectively across diverse audiences and platforms.
In an era shaped by artificial intelligence and digital communication, English majors are more valuable than ever. The future of AI depends on professionals who understand language, tone, context, empathy, storytelling, and ethical communication. In essence, English majors have a unique superpower that even shapes how emerging technologies engage with human experiences and meaning.
This program is offered:
Campus
The English major appeals to both creative and analytical minds while opening pathways to a wide range of rewarding careers, including publishing, education, law, business, communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit leadership, teaching, and media. The degree also leads to further study in graduate school. Employers increasingly seek graduates who can write with clarity, analyze complex information, and communicate effectively across diverse audiences and platforms.
In an era shaped by artificial intelligence and digital communication, English majors are more valuable than ever. The future of AI depends on professionals who understand language, tone, context, empathy, storytelling, and ethical communication. English majors have a unique superpower that will shape how emerging technologies engage with human experiences and meaning.
Est. Time to Complete:
4 years
Credit Hours:
120 hours
Undergraduate English Program Details
Design your English major to reflect your passions, creativity, and career goals. At Saint Leo University, the English major has 12 credits of required core courses and offers the flexibility to combine classes that match your unique interests and aspirations.
Interested in studying Harry Potter? Curious about journalism, digital media, or professional communication? Want to learn how to write poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction? You can choose from a vast array of options. The choice is yours. Our flexible curriculum is designed to support student-centered learning while encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and professional growth.
Beyond the classroom, English majors have opportunities to participate in a vibrant academic and creative community. Students can submit their creative work to The Sandhill Review , join The Lions’ Pride Newspaper, participate in faculty-led writing retreats, and travel on literary-focused student trips that explore the lives and works of influential authors. Students may also become members of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, and attend academic conferences to network, present research, and expand their learning experience.
An English degree is more than a major—it is a superpower that prepares you for a lifetime of communication, creativity, leadership, and opportunity.
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![English Faculty]()
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Drs. Burgsbee (Lee) Hobbs and Allyson Marino with Emma Garrett, Heaven Nazario, Brielle Terry, and Valerie “Ray” Eulett at the Sigma Tau Delta Conference in New Orleans
Flexible Learning, Focused on Your Success
Learn your way at Saint Leo University with flexible options—online, campus, or at an education center. Each program has its own modality to fit your needs. Whichever option you choose, Saint Leo University is committed to your success. View the details below to see how this degree program is offered.
Campus
Immersive Campus Experience, A Community That Feels Like Home;
Saint Leo University's campus in Saint Leo, Florida, offers a transformative educational experience amidst scenic landscapes, including Lake Jovita and rolling green spaces. Home to over 2,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, the university fosters a tight-knit, inclusive community.
Campus students benefit from comfortable residence and dining halls, advanced learning facilities, and a vibrant student life with numerous clubs and organizations. The proximity to Tampa Bay provides additional cultural and recreational opportunities, enriching the overall student experience.
Experience Campus LifeCareer Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
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How will you gain real experience?
Internships
Interact with local and national media through Saint Leo’s University Communications and Athletic Communications offices. Spread your wings off-campus at the Associated Press or Tampa Bay Times.
Conferences
Attend writing and English Honor Society conferences.
Guest lecturers
Meet luminaries such as U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine, poet and fiction-writer Valada Flewellyn, ESPN writer Pat Yasinskas and filmmaker Ralph Clemente.
Co-curricular activities
Become an active member of the Alpha Alpha Alpha chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. Contribute to Sandhill Review literary magazine and The Lions' Pride student newspaper. The Sandhill Writers Retreat is open to all aspiring writers and takes place on the lovely University Campus. The retreat features hands-on writing classes in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Nationally-acclaimed Florida writers guide attendees through lessons in craft and imaginative exercises that lead to new works. The retreat also includes a faculty reading and book signing, a reception, and an optional open reading for participants.
Where are Saint Leo English graduates now?
- American TESOL Institute
- AUA Language Center, Thailand
- Florida Legal Group
- Lancaster University, England
- Newcastle University, England
- Pasco County Schools
- Scholastic Books
- Trinity College, Ireland
- U.S. Army
- University of South Florida
- University of Wisconsin
- Wesley Chapel High School
College of Arts, Sciences, and Allied Services
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The College of Arts, Sciences, and Allied Services at Saint Leo University offers students a broad education that lays a durable foundation for critical and independent thinking. The essential spirit of the liberal arts is a cornerstone of the varied degree programs. From biology to English to sociology, students enjoy a nice selection of in-demand degree programs for all interests.
Learning takes place both in and out of the classroom. Students travel to Europe through our cultural immersion courses, research unique plant species while trekking through the Peruvian Amazon, and attend film screenings and poetry readings. With highly experienced professors who bring a wealth of practical knowledge to the classroom, students are prepared to work in a variety of rewarding fields. The College supports more than 30 degree programs across University Campus, education centers in five states, and online.
Testimonials
In the English major, we are tight knit. It has been much easier to befriend my classmates within my major than those in my general education classes. I am grateful for the time we have spent together in and outside of the classroom. The classes are not only engaging but thought-provoking. The major isn't simply about learning certain subjects, but to build our critical thinking and argumentative skills. We are taught to analyze every topic and form our own ideas for a nuanced debate or report. The English major has offered me the chance to build both my creative and academic writing skills through the classes offered at Saint Leo.
Emma Garrett: Class of 2027
The versatile English degree provides the foundation for many career paths, just as stories and narratives have provided the foundations of civilizations since humans started communicating. At Saint Leo, you explore the historical context behind why those stories exist in the first place. You’ll explore narratives from across cultures through many lenses and learn how to effectively participate in dialogue through research and analysis. The benefits are wide-reaching. I graduated with an English degree and then pursued an M.B.A. at Saint Leo. This combination has helped me navigate many roles in which effective communication, analysis, creative solutions and strategies dominate: Quality Assurance, Project Management, Paid Ads, and Search Engine Optimization. My English degree has also been instrumental in teaching me the necessary skills to publish my creative work in Dancing Girl Press and Frogpond and publish an article about data storytelling with Search Engine Land. I highly recommend the English degree at Saint Leo!
Amanda Beil: Class of 2013, Published Author, Project Manager
As an English major, I learned the power of writing and communication to motivate, change, obscure, and apologize. The program cultivated my deep curiosity about the stories we live with and who gets to tell them. I graduated from the English major with an uncanny comfort engaging in ideas, artifacts, and practices that were outside of my comfort zone. Classes created meaningful, challenging, fun, and productive discussions, moments where I was forced to commit my ideas to paper and review them with peers—the unsung moments of professional development that the English Major provides. Literature is a playground for conflict, strife, and love: The complexities of life.
Wesley Johnson, Class of 2010—Assistant Professor
The English major continues to shape my life today. The program fostered intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a deep appreciation for the power of clear communication. Through meaningful discussions, constructive feedback, and self-reflection, I learned how to listen, adapt, and grow. Moreover, those lessons became the foundation of a rewarding career in medical writing. For nearly two decades, I have helped communicate complex scientific research through clinical study reports, protocols, and regulatory submissions that contribute to bringing new treatments to patients.
Mary Goodwin (Stevens), Class of 2007—Medical Writer
My Saint Leo English degree laid the foundation for my career as an attorney (J.D.) and Army Public Affairs Officer. I sharpened my ability to write persuasively, learned to view an issue from multiple angles and write about it objectively, and developed my research skills. All of these are critical to my law practice today. Additionally, as a Public Affairs Officer, I supervised Army writers, editors, photographers, and videographers in the United States and abroad. This work has taken me to various locations in the U.S., Europe, South America, and Africa. Though I’ve moved over to a position in Intelligence now, the communication skills started at Saint Leo continue to benefit me today. Your English degree can take you far.
Grant Schrantz, Class of 2015 - Attorney
When I first stepped onto campus at Saint Leo University, I enrolled in a major in which where I did not truly belong. That changed once I started taking English courses and spending more time within the department. The welcoming and supportive environment created by the faculty and students impressed me. The faculty were incredibly welcoming and insightful, and their genuine passion for literature, combined with their thoughtful guidance, made me realize that English was the best decision for me. Each classroom was a supportive environment where all students felt free to be open and express what they felt. The students in the English program were also so welcoming and encouraging, creating a truly supportive community. Today, I am a better reader, writer, critical thinker and a more compassionate individual. These sharpened skills helped me complete my MBA in marketing.
Parker Surace, Class of 2025 & 2026
Accreditation
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.