Washington, D.C. — A Modern City with Rich Literary History

Pursuing a degree in English at Catholic University provides a unique opportunity to study literature in the nation’s capital, a vibrant city for literature and the arts. As part of a class, you might walk the same streets that Walt Whitman did during the Civil War, catch a performance of Hamlet at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, or take the Metro to hear Marilynne Robinson read from her latest book.

Our location in Washington, D.C. is ideal for any student of literature who wants to be fully immersed not only in literary history, but also in what is currently being discussed in the worlds of literature, theater, and the arts. The Library of Congress and Folger Shakespeare Library are just a quick Metro ride from campus, as are a number of independent bookstores that feature frequent readings by established and rising authors, and numerous theaters that produce award-winning plays. 

  • Students in class

    Undergraduate Programs

    Core courses for the major provide extensive reading in the history of English and American literature, at least two literary genres, and in the work of a major author.

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  • Graduate English class

    Graduate Programs

    The Catholic University Department of English grants the M.A. and Ph.D. in English and American Literature, offering training in all major historical periods.

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  • Students riding scooters on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol building

    Discover D.C. with CatholicU

    Washington, D.C., is a city of politics, parades, festivals, museums (did we mention most of them are free?), professional sports, theatres, concerts, shopping, parks, restaurants, monuments, waterways, and trendy neighborhoods.

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