The English program at St. Mary's University offers students the opportunity to develop a rich and broad understanding of literary texts, contexts, and interpretations. The program stresses critical thinking, incisive consideration of texts (oral and written), and clear communication through a synthesis of creative, critical, and theoretical methods. At St. Mary's, the English degree programs allow students to approach texts within an interdisciplinary environment fostering a spirit of open inquiry. Courses in the English program offer all students the opportunity to experience literature and complement all courses of study. A degree program in English offers students a chance to immerse themselves in a rigorous study of literature and literary forms. The three-year Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in English has been designed for individuals who seek a broad and extensive interdisciplinary education in the liberal arts tradition. The concentration in English grounds students in critical, analytic, and communicative methods. Through the study of literary texts, genres, and periods, students are introduced to methods of reading, interpreting, and synthesizing a broad and diverse range of ideas.