英语系关注语言和文学的研究，以及自古以来被认为是教育不可或缺的写作手法。尽管该部门专注于来自英国，爱尔兰和美国的作者用英语撰写的文本，但它也从其他文化角度研究了其他语言的文本翻译以及英语的新兴文学。学生可能还会遇到严格说来根本不是“写作”的练习，例如口头作文，超文本和民间艺术。在第一年，大学的所有学生都接受大学水平写作的基础知识和对文本进行理性分析的课程。构成核心课程一部分的其他英语课程为学生提供了学习世界文学或英国，美国和世界文学概览的机会。
English majors may concentrate in one of four areas: literature, rhetoric and composition, creative writing, and pre-education. Before choosing their concentrations, all English majors have the opportunity at the sophomore level to gain a broad foundation in British literature, American literature, and world languages and cultures. Then, with the help of their advisers, majors choose upper-division courses, which allow them to pursue their interests in more depth. Finally, students study within their chosen concentrations in seminars designed as capstones for the major.<br><br>In addition, the department's joint studies program with the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, England, offers Georgia State University English and history majors the opportunity to complete their degrees with a concentration in British and American Cultures.<br><br>In each concentration, English majors acquire a sensitivity to the written word and an appreciation for the creative process. At graduation, they will have developed their skills in organization, writing, and interpretation. English courses offer students diverse opportunities to discover their own insights and to articulate those insights with precision.