Requiem or Renaissance?Why the BA English Enrollment Slump Demands Radical Reimagining, Not Retreat

 

You’ve probably seen the headlines: BA English enrollments are plummeting. Some are calling it the death of a “soft” subject in a world that worships STEM and hustle. But this isn’t about English becoming irrelevant — it’s about the way we teach it becoming outdated.

    The problem isn’t with literature itself. It's with how we're still teaching it like it’s stuck in a dusty old time capsule. The typical English degree often feels like an endless archaeological dig through a very specific, very British slice of history. Students are trained to catalog authors, memorize dates, and rattle off literary “-isms” (Romanticism, Modernism, Postmodernism…) only to regurgitate them in high-pressure exams. It's less about thinking critically and more about playing literary trivia under stress. That’s not just unhelpful — it actively discourages original thought.

And here’s the thing: we live in a world overflowing with information but starving for meaning. Complex narratives shape politics, culture, and our daily lives. Empathy is more vital than ever. Literature isn’t some fragile artifact behind glass — it’s alive, messy, bold, and deeply human. We should be teaching it that way.

So, what does a real reinvention of the English degree look like?

1. Interpretation Over Inventory

Let’s move away from obsessing over what happened and when, and instead ask: what does it mean? How does a story challenge power, reflect trauma, explore joy, or tackle identity? Instead of grading students on how much they can cram, we should be rewarding insight, originality, and argument. Think vibrant seminars, group projects, multimedia essays, and portfolios that reflect evolving ideas — not just last-minute memorization.

2. Relevance, Always

What does Beowulf have to say about modern masculinity or hero culture? What can post-colonial novels teach us about today’s global inequalities? How does analyzing a story’s structure sharpen skills in UX design or policymaking? English degrees must connect directly to the big questions of today — and the real careers students will enter tomorrow. Literature isn’t an escape from reality; it’s a lens for understanding it.

3. Break the Canon Wide Open

A syllabus dominated by Dead White Dudes doesn’t just feel outdated — it limits imagination. We need a curriculum that includes global voices, Indigenous storytelling, diasporic experiences, graphic novels, speculative fiction, and bold local narratives. Not as a token gesture, but because they expand the way we think, empathize, and create. This is about honoring the full spectrum of human stories — not just a narrow slice.

4. Empathy and Imagination Are Not "Soft"

Reading deeply teaches us to step into other people’s shoes. Writing about it demands clarity, creativity, and emotional intelligence. These aren’t fringe skills — they’re the beating heart of leadership, innovation, and ethical decision-making. English programs should lean in to this and make these competencies a formal part of what they teach and value.

5. Time to Rethink Assessment

Ditch the high-stakes memory test as the main way to evaluate learning. Let’s assess students through essays that tie literature to current issues, creative projects that reimagine classic texts, podcasts that analyze pop culture, or storytelling projects rooted in community work. Let’s reward how students think, synthesize, and communicate — not how much they can recall under pressure.

This isn’t about watering down the study of literature — it’s about distilling its real power. We don’t need fewer students engaging with language and storytelling. We need a whole new kind of learning experience that shows just how essential English is for navigating today’s world — and shaping tomorrow’s.

Falling enrollments aren’t a funeral bell. They’re a challenge. A spark. A signal that it’s time for change. Not to bury English, but to rebuild it — boldly, imaginatively, and with purpose.