About the Program
Dive into global literature and cultural texts in the Literary Studies program. Explore diverse eras and genres while building skills in writing, analysis, and critical thinking. Prepare for careers in writing, media, publishing, or graduate study.
The Polytechnic Experience
Study modern dramas, classic mythologies, and epics across time. Prepare for your career through service and activity courses applying your knowledge. Analyze literature and texts in collaborative projects, engage with diverse media, and create interpretations through writing and research. Hands-on learning deepens your connection and prepares you for creative, analytical careers.
Career Outcomes
Courses
Cal Poly Pomona’s Literary Studies option in the Bachelor of Arts in English provides students with a diverse background in literature, creative writing, and linguistics. Students explore a decentered canon of literature across space and time, and cutting across genres as diverse as film, poetry, comics, drama, and novels. Over the course of the program, students complete a “polytechnic experience” course that provides hands-on experiences and professional development skills. Graduates are equipped with strong critical thinking, research, and communication skills that are suited for a variety of professions.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
CLASS Scholarships
Through the support of loyal alumni and donors, the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) is proud to offer several scholarships based on academic interest. While these scholarships vary in the award range, CLASS is committed to every student having the opportunity to pursue an exceptional and affordable education at Cal Poly Pomona.
Professor, English medieval literature Recipient of the 2014 Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Alison Baker
“I teach literature. More than that, I teach reading — reading for depth and understanding, reading for appreciation and enjoyment, reading that provides a way to take in the world and decide thoughtfully what, if anything, to do with it. Not only has this helped my students become readers, but also helped them become teachers of reading."
Scholarships and Contests
The Lillian Wilds Scholarship
The Lillian Wilds Scholarship honors Professor Lillian Wilds (1926-1985) and provides $1500 support to full-time English and Modern Languages majors in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. Applicants must be involved in Shakespeare. Professor Wilds was a deeply admired teacher who was especially noted for her work as a major proponent of using performance...