As a founding subject department of the college, since its inception in 1951, the Department of English has made key contributions to the institution’s academic, administrative and cultural growth. Its historical trajectory points to a wide array of academic specialisations ranging from Eighteenth Century Studies, American Literature to Modern Drama, Theatre Studies, Translation Studies, Sports Journalism, Disability Studies, Science Fiction Studies, Folklore Studies and Popular Literature. Over the years, its faculty has included internationally renowned researchers with award-winning publications (Prof. Suvir Kaul), doyens of theatre criticism (Dr. Javed Malick) and sports journalism (Novy Kapadia), one former Vice-Chancellor (Padma Bhushan Prof. G. S. Randhawa), and two former College Principals (Padma Bhushan Prof. G. S. Randhawa and Dr. N.S. Pradhan). Its former and current faculty have taught and guided research in the post-graduate (MA, M.Phil. and Ph.D) programmes offered by the PG Department of English, University of Delhi (Prof. Suvir Kaul, Prof. Raj Kumar, and Novy Kapadia). The Department also conducts tutorials for MA students enrolled through the college, on a weekly basis.

The main thrust of teaching-learning in the Department of English lies in the undergraduate BA, B.Sc., B.Com. and BBE courses (Honours Core and Elective, Interdisciplinary Electives, Skill-based courses and Value-Addition courses) offered by the SGTB Khalsa College. Through these courses, the Department offers instruction in language learning through literature, literary criticism and cultural analysis, critical modules on translation, creative writing, media literacy, gender and social empowerment, engaged perspectives on disability and inclusion, and introductory practice-based modules on filmmaking and film studies.

The Department puts its pedagogical emphasis on composite learning using multimedia resources and ICT-enabled Four Quadrants approach. This approach tests a range of skills that include thematic and contextual reading, attention to forms of literary production and adaptation, multilingual expression, descriptive, thematic and conceptual analysis and presentation skills. Tutorials play a crucial role in preparing students for oral and written academic presentations while modes of continuous assessment include Formative as well as Summative assignments. Through its Literary Society (Inkspire) student seminars and journal, Echo (estd. 2008), it gives a co-curricular platform to the creative and academic expressions of its students. The Department is committed to instilling the capacity for informed and socially sensitised cultural perspective, higher order thinking skills, and lateral creativity in students who are broadly engaged in the fields of cultural studies, literary analysis and language proficiency.