Why Choose Russell Sage’s English, Writing & Culture Bachelor’s Program

English majors encounter diverse voices, engage with the stories of others and shape the world through critical thinking, reading and writing.

View Program Catalog for Course Requirements

You’ll have a wealth of resources to support your overall well-being, including 

Many students choose to minor in English. At 18 credits, it pairs well with almost any undergraduate degree, allowing you to develop communication, reading and writing skills, which will serve you well in whatever profession you choose.

If you know teaching is for you, you can earn a double-major bachelor’s degree in English and Childhood Education.

Learning to read, listen and think critically is essential to being able to help others in the health care setting. Explore our Health Sciences graduate program opportunities.

“A degree in English, Writing and Culture prepare students to go out into the world and do a lot of different things … to communicate effectively, to think critically and creatively …”

Shealeen Meaney, Associate Professor and Program Director

Natoria Carey

“It feels important to be on the front lines of all the action and all the breaking news [at The New York Times]”

Natoria Carey
Operations Manager, Politics and Metro Desks, The New York Times
Read about Natoria

Graduate Pathways and Professional Experiences

Direct Routes to Graduate Study

English majors can pursue pathways that connect undergrad study to graduate programs, including:

  • Education-track programs:
    English majors have gone on to complete master’s degrees at Sage’s Esteves School of Education, as well as MFAs, library science degrees, doctorates in the Humanities or law degrees.
  • Pre-PT and Pre-OT pathways:
    Sage students can also complete a bachelor’s degree in English, Writing & Culture in conjunction with our Occupational Therapy master’s or Occupational Therapy doctorate programs.
  • Law pathways:
    If you think you are interested in law school, we recommend you pursue an 18-credit minor in Pre-Law Studies. Russell Sage College offers an accelerated 3+3 bachelor’s degree/juris doctorate degree program with Albany Law School and Suffolk University Law School, which enables qualified students to earn a bachelor’s degree and law degree in six years instead of seven years.

Learn Through Real-World Experiences

  • Experiential Learning
    English majors have partnered with WikiEdu to improve online content; worked with The Sanctuary for Independent Media to write and record radio shows; and tutored students in local schools.
  • Internships
    English majors have interned at Cengage Publishing, the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office, the Arts Center of the Capital Region, the Albany Institute of History and Art and more.
  • Conference Presentation Opportunities
    You’ll also have opportunities to present at conferences, such as the National Conference of Undergraduate Research and the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference.
  • Undergraduate Research
    Contribute to faculty-mentored research, and present your work at national and regional conferences, as well as at Russell Sage College’s Undergraduate Research Day.
The Rev 2025 Cover artwork by Jayli Capasso from New Visions.

Connect with the Community

Sage has a vibrant literary community that’s easy to get involved in. Community dinners, visiting writers and poetry open-mic events allow you to spend time outside the classroom with other English majors.

Publications such as The Rev allow students to create and share their work. The project is produced by a creative arts charity in London,  called CreativityUnleashed. This organization is run by young people with an aim of linking communities across oceans. Work with students from a diverse range of cultures as we curate a magazine to share with people in and out of Russell Sage College.

Service Learning and Engaged Learning 

Live out the college’s Be. Know. Do. motto through service learning and engaged learning. 

  • Support English-language learners at the Intercultural Café
  • Become a student-ambassador for The Women’s Institute 
  • Volunteer with St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services on a 24-hour confidential hotline
  • Build professional and leadership skills through opportunities such as AmeriCorps VISTA and student government

Affordability, Admissions, and Transferring

Affording an English, Writing & Culture Degree

We understand that cost and value are top concerns when choosing a college. You have to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid — or FAFSA — to receive a complete financial aid package from any college. For now, we can tell you:

What to Know:

  • Russell Sage prioritizes college access and affordability. We have been included on U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges for Social Mobility list for seven consecutive years.
  • 100% of incoming, full-time undergraduates at Russell Sage receive financial aid.
  • Transfer merit scholarships are generous compared to other colleges – starting at $20,000 to $22,000 a year.
  • In many cases, Russell Sage is more affordable than SUNY or other private schools.
  • We want to make every transfer students’ credits count, just one of the reasons we’ve been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll for seven straight years.

Don’t forget! You have to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid — or FAFSA — to receive a complete financial aid package from any college. 

Apply to Russell Sage’s English, Writing & Culture Program

Full application details and next steps are available through the Admissions Office.

Start Your Application

Transfer to Russell Sage’s English, Writing & Culture Program

Russell Sage welcomes transfer students and provides a supportive and straightforward transfer process. Students may also transfer through established articulation agreements with select colleges.

Explore Transfer Experience

What Can I Do with an English, Writing & Culture Degree?

Check Out Our Student and Alumni Success Stories

Explore Career Pathways for English Majors

A bachelor’s degree in English is valuable in any field that requires not only intellectual ability and specific skills training, but also sensitivity, flexibility, cultural awareness and creative thinking.

Individuals with an English degree from Russell Sage College are working as elementary and high school teachers and university professors; in nonprofit administration and fundraising; in communication agencies; and as paralegals and attorneys.

Jennifer Nissley

“It can be so intimidating sitting in a room full of talented writers waiting to dissect your story or poem, but thanks to Sage, I never doubted that I deserved to be among them.”

Jennifer Nissley
Author, The Mythic Koda Rose
Read about Jennifer

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Russell Sage’s English, Writing & Culture bachelor’s program accepts transfer students. Also good to know: Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, has named Russell Sage to its Transfer Honor Roll for four-year colleges that provide an exceptionally smooth transfer experience, for seven years in a row!

Literature and writing provide the foundation of our English, Writing & Culture program. You’ll study different periods of literature, and you’ll focus not only on British and American literature, but on the diverse literatures written in English.

Many courses focus on lesser-heard voices, including courses on Native American literature, African American literature, post-colonial literature and culture, travel writing and women writers.

Everyone will find opportunities to challenge themselves as thinkers and writers. For some, this will mean stepping into new genres such as fiction and poetry. For others, this will mean making forays into creative nonfiction, web content and cultural criticism.

English majors develop a facility with clear communication that is recognized by employers as essential and provides a foundation for meaningful, engaged career.

Have Questions about a Degree in English, Writing & Culture?

Dr. Tonya Moutray
Dr. Tonya J. Moutray, Ph.D.
Professor of English & Director
Shealeen Meaney
Shealeen A. Meaney, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English; Program Director, English, Writing & Culture and English for Education
Nathanael Green
Nathanael Green
Associate Professor of the Practice of Writing; Director of the Honors Program
Maureen Gokey
Maureen M. Gokey
Associate Professor of Writing

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