English

Why Iowa?

Immerse yourself in the world of literature, books, and creative writing–in a college and community obsessed with the written word.

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Build a Foundation

If you love reading and writing, you belong at Iowa. Declare the English or English and Creative Writing major, and join a community dedicated to exploring–and creating–great literature.

Build a Foundation

Develop your literary scholarship. Hone your creative writing. Delve into book studies. Harness the digital humanities. Prepare for success in the academy, public service, education, and the literary arts and professions.

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Learn from Experts

Our faculty are creating the future of the English disciplines, inspired by our storied past. They advance scholarship and artistry in a welcoming academic community internationally recognized for literary excellence.

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Top Public University for Writing

Iowa's strength in writing reaches new level in annual U.S. News & World Report ranking

Thomas Mira y Lopez and Kaveh Akbar awarded Discovery and Innovation Awards by the Office of the Vice President for Research

Monday, March 31, 2025

Kaveh Akbar in The Nation

Monday, March 31, 2025

photo of Kaveh Akbar in front of a bookshelf

Kaveh Akbar profiled in Iowa Now

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Kaveh Akbar, associate professor and director of the English and Creative Writing major at the University of Iowa, first drew acclaim for his poetry.

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Sydney Mayes english and creative writing student

"Iowa City is the place to be– specifically the University of Iowa–if you want to be a writer and if you want to have access to incredible resources around writing. The reputation is insane."

- Sydney Mayes, English and Creative Writing major

Hear Sydney's "Why Iowa"

Upcoming Events

Krause Series in Contemporary Nonfiction: William Callahan

Friday, April 4, 2025 3:00pm

Nonfiction Writing House

Literary Agent William Callahan will be giving a Publishing Q&A at the Nonfiction Writing House on Friday, April 4 at 3 p.m. William Callahan is an Inkwell Management agent and editor based in New York City. He is responsible for representing and managing the careers of a diverse roster of authors and literary talents. Prior to his current role, Callahan received his degree from the University of Iowa, where he honed his skills and passion for the publishing industry. Join us at the Nonfiction...

Nonfiction Writing Program Alumni Reading Series: Torrey Peters

Saturday, April 5, 2025 3:00pm

Prairie Lights Books

Torrey Peters, alum of the Nonfiction Writing Program will read from her new book Stag Dance at Prairie Lights Books on Saturday, April 5 at 3 p.m. Reception to follow - 4:30pm at The Nonfiction Writing House - 530 N. Clinton St., Iowa City. Torrey Peters, NWP 2009, will publish Stag Dance: A Novel and Stories, with Penguin Random House in March 2025.

Knowledge of Nothing: Apocalyptic Ekphrasis in The Flowers of Evil

Thursday, April 17, 2025 2:00pm to 3:30pm

English-Philosophy Building

Nathan Brown will be presenting. Nathan Brown is Professor of English and Canada Research Chair in Poetics at Concordia University, Montreal, where he directs the Centre for Expanded Poetics. He is the author of Baudelaire's Shadow: An Essay on Poetic Determination (MaMa, 2021); Rationalist Empiricism: A Theory of Speculative Critique (Fordham, 2021); and The Limits of Fabrication: Materials Science, Materialist Poetics (Fordham, 2017). His translation of Baudelaire's The Flowers of Evil was...

The Nonfiction Writing Program Presents: Austin Araujo

Friday, May 2, 2025 7:00pm

Prairie Lights Books

Austin Araujo, Grad Student at the Nonfiction Writing Program, will read from his new book At the Park on the Edge of the Country with Patrycja Humienik at Prairie Lights Books on Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m.

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