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English at UC Merced

The UC Merced Literatures in English Program teaches students the story of how stories are made, how they make a difference in the world, and how they form the foundation of knowledge itself.

Stories allow the marginalized to be heard by the powerful: they help humans understand each other’s past and present, and they help us imagine different futures.

At UC Merced, English majors take 24-person seminars throughout their time on campus. Our small class sizes, supportive professors, and brilliant, kind students make our program one of the most nurturing on campus, and in the UC system. There's a reason our English majors talk about our program as a "family"! (Hear from two of them in this recent panel about our program).

The skills of critical thinking, interpretation, and writing that are developed in English classes are valued by multiple professions, including law, education, medicine, business, technology,  journalism, politics, and social work.

Beginning in Fall 2023, the English program will offer two optional emphasis tracks within the major: one in Literature and Social Justice, and another in Literature and the Environment, and the major will be called Literatures in English.

Click to learn more about our programs! 

Students, prospective students, and alumni: follow us on Instagram @ucmercedenglish

Professor Mai-Linh Hong Wins Prestigious Fellowship
ACLS fellowship will allow her to spend a year researching refugee stories
Congratulations, class of 2023!
We are proud of the 23 students graduating with English majors in spring and summer 2023!
English program launches tracks in Lit & Social Justice and Lit & Environment
Career-focused tracks will be available beginning in Fall 2023 to all students.
UC Merced English major alumna Shavone Charles merges music, style and tech
VIBE cover story on the groundbreaking author and tech leader talks about her time as an English literature major at UC Merced, and love of books and poetry.
English Majors star in Shakespeare in Yosemite, and work behind the scenes
The April 2023 production of Romeo and Juliet featured several English majors and alums in starring roles, and several contributing as designers, songwriters, and more

Upcoming Events

Apr
20
Shakespeare in Yosemite returns to the Curry Village Amphitheater in 2023 for live performances of a new 90-minute adaptation of Romeo...
Apr
16
You won’t want to miss this one-night only one-woman show by Lisa Wolpe, who has performed more male Shakespearean roles professionally than...
Mar
21

Zoom

Poetry Reading by Daniel W.K. Lee, author of Anatomy of Want (2019) Please direct questions to Professor. Mai-Linh Hong at hongm@ucmerced.edu...
Mar
10
Talks by Trisha Remetir, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Media and Cultural Studies at UC Riverside, and Julio Vega-Payne,...
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Featured News

May 15, 2023
The UC Merced English faculty congratulate the class of 2023 on their successful graduation from UC Merced--we will miss you!
October 12, 2022
Career-oriented tracks focus coursework on the most pressing contemporary issues.
May 16, 2022
Cat Flores spoke of her time in the UC Merced English program and her work with Merced Shakespearefest, Shakespeare in Yosemite, and Grammy U during her commencement address to the Class of 2022 on...