Literature
Cultivate your love of language and literature in the company of avid poets, novelists, scholars, artists, and literary entrepreneurs. As you pursue the great conversations in literature from the ancient to the contemporary world, you’ll refine your analytical skills and further develop your ability to write well and with Christian discernment.
In the English department, we aim to prepare students for a life of professional excellence in the creative arts, and for a life that glorifies God. If this sounds appealing, then consider yourself warmly invited to join our eclectic community.
Completion
4 Years
Credits
120
Major
English: Literature
Delivery
On Campus
Featured Courses
Masterpieces of Christian Literature
Discover the enduring power of Christian literature. Study influential writers from the Bible through the late 18th century, including Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, Bunyan, and others. Explore a rich variety of devotional works, poetry, drama, and epic literature that have shaped faith and culture.
Literary Criticism
Engage with the great literary thinkers from Aristotle to modern theorists. Examine major schools of criticism—like Feminism, Marxism, and Psychoanalysis—and sharpen your ability to analyze texts through multiple critical lenses.
Shakespeare
Dive into the world of Shakespeare’s plays and poetry. Analyze literary elements while exploring their meaning through both historical and contemporary lenses, gaining insight into the timeless relevance of his work.
Devotional Poets
Explore how Christian faith and literary artistry intersect through the poetry of Donne, Herbert, Rosetti, and Hopkins. This course examines how doctrine and personal faith blend with poetic form and emotion, offering a deeper understanding of devotional literature’s spiritual and artistic significance.
For a complete list of courses in this program, view the program overview.
For official course descriptions, refer to the academic catalog.
Literature is full of God’s glory if we learn how to read it Christianly. As you explore works from across history and culture, you’ll develop your voice as a thinker, reader, and writer—engaging the world’s stories with curiosity, creativity, and a biblical worldview.
Career Opportunities
English majors routinely report high rates of employability and job satisfaction in a diverse array of professions. At Corban, you’ll be equipped for exciting careers in a variety of fields, including:
- Publisher
- Writer
- Editor
- Professor / Educator
- Journalist
- Blogger
- Librarian / Information Specialist
- PR and Marketing Professional
Featured Faculty
Dr. Ryan Stark
Chair, Humanities | Professor of English and Humanities
rstark@corban.edu(503) 589-8190
Gina Ochsner
Associate Professor of English | Writer-in-Residence
gochsner@corban.edu(503) 589-8103