Students often minor in English for the broad background afforded by the study of literature and for the in-depth training in critical thinking and analytical writing the department provides. For students interested in law, the sciences, publishing, the arts, business, research, education, communications, and public service, a minor in English provides an excellent foundation for further study. Other students minor in English for the pleasure of reading and discussing texts in directed ways. The flexible minor allows students to enrich their majors with a variety of courses from Shakespeare to Non-Western Literature.