Above all else, Literary Studies majors exit the program with an appreciation of the power and pleasure of literary interpretation. In addition, the program grants students the opportunity to acquire both certain kinds of knowledge and certain types of skills, summarized below.

After completing the Literary Studies program, students will know the following:

• The traditional canon (major authors and works) of British and American literature
• Works (in English or translation) from world literatures other than British or American
• Questions and problems of literary history and canon formation
• Specialized vocabulary for literary analysis
• A range of theories and critical methods for interpreting literature
• The history and formal structure of different literary genres
• The relationship between literary texts and their cultural contexts
• The relationship between literature and other media (including film)

Students who complete the Literary Studies program will be able to the following:

• Write clean and clear prose
• Perform logical analysis
• Construct sound arguments
• Critique other writers' arguments
• Collaborate with other people in developing ideas and arguments
• Initiate and complete independent research projects
• Synthesize and critique information gathered through research
• Present their arguments and research in both writing and speech