Welcome to the Stanford University Department of English

Main content start

Congratulations, Class of 2024!

One of the founding departments of Stanford University in 1891, the English department is the cornerstone of the humanities at Stanford. The pioneer faculty of English was an eclectic group of writers, comparativists, and literary scholars.

Front entrance of the quad from Jordan Hall to Hoover Tower, on Serra Street. From a series of images intended to "recreate" historical images from the Stanford Archives. bicycle

 

Linda A. Cicero / Stanford News Service

Undergraduate Program

To study English is to master the power of language.

On the first day of summer, junior Chaz Curet takes a break to read in the sun. The English major found a comfortable spot in the SEQ to read from 'Our Story Begins,' a collection of short stories by Stanford professor Tobias Wolff.

Linda A. Cicero / Stanford News Service

Coterminal Master of Arts

If you are an advanced undergraduate who wants to take the study of literature to a higher level, then the coterminal M.A. program is for you.

Ato Quayson speaking with Ramon Saldivar and Paula Moya

Paul Keitz

Check out our courses

Stanford English offers a wide variety of interdisciplinary courses taught by world-class faculty

A photo of Ato Quayson and Adam Johnson attending the Creative Writing Welcome Back Dinner.

Views from the Department

Professor Ato Quayson with Professor Adam Johnson at the Creative Writing program Welcome Dinner

 

 

Recent News

https://youtu.be/jR1u72V7bVs?feature=shared 
Does literature merely reflect the world or actually shape the future? British writer Peter Boxall from Cambridge University answered this question during his lecture, “The Possibility of Literature,” hosted by the Center for the Study of the Novel at Stanford. The talk coincided with the release of Boxall’s book, “The Possibility of Literature...
On Sunday, June 16, the Department of English awarded 36 bachelor’s and 2 master’s degrees. Additionally, 7 doctoral degrees were awarded, 2 of which were from the Modern Thought and Literature program.4 of our students give speeches during the ceremony:  Sarah Esther Lewis, BA English Zuni Vinod Chopra, BA English Briana Maytee García, MA English Jessica Camille Jordan, PhD English

Upcoming Events

February
20
Date
Thu February 20th 2025, 5:00pm
Location
Ceras
520 Galvez Mall, Stanford, CA 94305
101

One of today’s most widely respected voices tackling multiracial and complex social identities, American Studies alum Danzy Senna is…

March
5
Date
Wed March 5th 2025, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location
Terrace Room (rm. 426), Margaret Jacks Hall, Bldg 460
450 Jane Stanford Way, Bldg 460, Stanford, CA 94305

The discipline of English is changing in creative directions while new pedagogies are emerging in the undergraduate classroom. Our graduate…

March
7
Date
Fri March 7th 2025, 9:30am - 6:00pm
Location
Terrace Room (rm. 426), Margaret Jacks Hall, Bldg 460
450 Jane Stanford Way, Bldg 460, Stanford, CA 94305

Please join the Center for the Study of the Novel for their annual conference! This year’s theme is “The Novel as Theory,” exploring past and…

Department Bookshelf

English remains a top-ranked department nationally because of the strength and variety of our faculty publications, both in scholarly research and creative writing. Browse the Bookshelf to explore our many interests.

 Browse the entire Bookshelf