English
Guided by the principle that the study of literature enables students to become better readers, writers, thinkers, and citizens of the world, the Department of English offers a rich curriculum in British, American, and world literatures, creative writing, cinema, and literary theory. Specific courses treat literary periods, genres, major authors, and literary and cultural topics. The department is home to the Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, one of the oldest continuously-published poetry journals in the country, and the Garnet, a student-published magazine of poetry, prose, and photography. Hampden-Sydney English majors have enjoyed success in graduate programs, business, law, journalism, teaching, and public service. Our curriculum helps both majors and non-majors develop essential skills in analytic and abstract thinking, cultural analysis, and written communication-all in addition to a love of reading that extends well beyond graduation.
As part of our teaching, we want students to see us making literature an important part of our lives -- reading it because we love it, discussing it with colleagues, writing about it for peers, and generally sharing its richness. Thus through instruction and example, we hope that our students, too, will enjoy literature as an important part of their lives and will incorporate it into their thinking about the modern world and human possibility.
Degree Offerings
- English Major
- Creative Writing Minor
The Virginia Program at Oxford is a Hampden-Sydney sponsored, interdisciplinary summer school program based in St. Anne's College, Oxford University. The six-week program examines the literature, history and society of late-16th and early-17th century England. Instruction follows the English system of higher education, which combines daily lectures by renowned, British scholars with small, weekly tutorials.
"The Virginia Program at Oxford taught me how to think on my feet, both in and out of the classroom. The work is hard, but the experience is unforgettable." — Max Dash '18
They say, "You can do anything with a degree from Hampden-Sydney." This is especially true for alumni who majored in English. From teaching and marketing to public policy and editing and beyond, alumni with English degrees have led diverse and successful professional journeys. Find out how their English major played a significant role in the path they took to their current position, and enjoy some of their favorite moments while in the English department at Hampden-Sydney.
English Internships
Drew Dickerson '17
Internship at Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce
"As an intern, I promoted various businesses around Farmville. Whenever we got a new member, I would write up a press release welcoming them to the Chamber. I was involved in the preparation of a wine-tasting event held at Longwood where business could come and network with people of Farmville. I think my experience as an English major helped me in communicating with these businesses and writing about them. It was a combination of research and writing, something that majoring in English has taught me well."
Campus Jobs
Chris Morales '17
Editor and Chief: The Garnet Literary Magazine
As Editor and Chief of the Hampden-Sydney literary magazine, Chris Morales is responsible for overseeing the staff and the process of creating a magazine. As an English major, Chris has learned important skills that have enabled him to succeed in his work at The Garnet.
"There's more to the job than just putting a magazine together. It's important to reach out to the college community to encourage students to submit their best artistic work. My experience as an English major has assisted me in figuring out and organizing the submissions as well as deciding what order they will go in the magazine. As a leader, you have to know how to communicate with other students. I am in charge of the staff and I oversee and organize staff meetings. "
The Virginia Program at Oxford
Max Dash '18
"The Virginia Program at Oxford taught me how to think on my feet, both in and out of the classroom. The work is hard, but the experience is unforgettable."
At Oxford, the classroom model is set up in a tutorial format: "Different tutorial groups studied different texts depending on the tutor. In my English tutorial, we studied Thomas More's Utopia, Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, and the poetry of Andrew Marvell and John Donne."
Andrew Madison '17
"Studying the Renaissance time period in England is as key to understanding modern society as the English Civil War is to understanding both English and American history. Being in the ancient landscape of England yields wondrous amounts of imaginative fuel and made studying works by Milton, Shakespeare, Johnson, and Sir Philip Sydney more enjoyable. The lecturers at Oxford carry with them knowledge and experience as educators at the most prestigious universities in Great Britain.
"The architecture in Oxford is wonderful. Gothic churches with beautifully decorated interiors adorn the city. History is literally around every corner, and once you see the gigantic beech tree on Trinity College's campus lawn, you realize just how young the United States is as a nation. This trip made me think about how we got to where we are now from the past and what my motivation was as an English major. It inspired me to try my hand at poetry, a decision which I have come to stand behind with immense happiness."
An international honorary society in English, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 and chartered at Hampden-Sydney in 1990. It recognizes excellence and encourages further achievement in English language and literature studies, and it seeks to foster creative and critical writing. A member must have a B or greater average in at least three English courses, one of which can be a creative writing course, and a GPA of 3.0 or better.
English Department
Dr. Sarah Hardy, Chair
Elliott Professor of English
Morton Hall, 111 | Hampden Sydney, VA 23943
(434) 223-6239
shardy@hsc.edu
English Professors
Elliott Professor of English and Editor of The Poetry Review
Gilmer Hall, 109A
(434) 223-6315
nperry@hsc.edu
Hampden-Sydney College has several competitive writing contests for students.
The Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, published annually, has been a respected journal in the world of poetry for over fifty years.
Courses Blend Biology and Literature
10/30/2025
Poetry Review Celebrates 50th Anniversary
10/23/2025
As editor of North American Whitetail, the first publication devoted solely to the whitetail deer, Haynes Shelton ’15 is shaping public opinion and promoting ethical hunting practices.