English, B.A. (Behrend)

Program Description

This major offers courses in literary and cultural studies, and in various forms of writing. It provides a sound foundation in the liberal arts and opportunities to develop creative and analytical skills, as well as to cultivate an appreciation for literary expression. Students will develop a broad understanding of the ways in which literature works in various critical and cultural contexts. Majors can concentrate on literary and cultural studies or professional and media writing based on their interests and career goals.

Students will learn to communicate in diverse ways, using different technologies and forms of writing to convey their ideas. English majors will be able to reason critically, write cogently, construct and deconstruct ideas and arguments, and verbalize opinions and judgments. In addition, students will become adept researchers, learning how to find information and assess its quality. They will also master skills that will prepare them for success in a variety of careers and graduate programs, including translating technical information into accessible English, managing teams and organizing teamwork, and collaborating efficiently with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. The English major provides an excellent foundation for a variety of postgraduate programs in the humanities and beyond, including law, marketing, administration, education, public relations, and publishing.

What is English?

English refers to a broad field of study related to literature, professional writing, creative writing, and rhetoric. Majors develop critical thinking skills and produce influential academic, creative, professional, and digital texts. They learn to analyze genres, texts, and contexts that involve, for instance, race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationality. They also learn how various texts communicate value, meaning, and social and cultural critique.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You like words.
• You enjoy reading, writing, and editing.
• You love a good argument, a good book, a good play, or a good film.
• You’re looking for a degree that can lead to many different career paths.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if world language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned.

Requirements for the Major

Each student must earn at least a grade of C or above in all courses required under Common Requirements, Prescribed, Additional, and Supporting courses.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 200	Introduction to Critical Reading	3
ENGL 312	Globality and Literature	3
ENGL 482W	Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 443	The English Renaissance	3
or ENGL 444	Shakespeare
ENGL 494	Senior Thesis in English 1	3-6
or ENGL 495	Internship
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
APLNG 210	Global English
ENGL 100	English Language Analysis
LING 100	Foundations of Linguistics
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
In consultation with adviser, select 6 credits from the Professional Writing course list. At least 3 credits must be at the 400 level.		6
In consultation with adviser, select 6 credits from the American Literature course list. At least 3 credits must be at the 400 level.		6
In consulation with adviser, select 3 credits from the Gender and Sexuality course list at the 300/400-level.		3
In consultation with adviser, select 3 credits from the Racial and Ethnic Diversity course list at the 400-level.		3
Select 3 credits at the 200 level or below from CMLIT or ENGL courses (except ENGL 50).		3

¹

A student may choose to take both ENGL 494 and ENGL 495 or take one or the other. 

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

World Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one world language in addition to English. This proficiency must be demonstrated by either examination or course work. See the Placement Policy for Penn State World Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, World Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; world language credits in this category must be in a second world language in addition to English or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language). Credits must be selected from the list of approved courses.

World Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the University Cultural Diversity (US/IL) requirement.​

Program Learning Objectives

• Apply critical, theoretical, and/or disciplinary approaches to the reading and analysis of texts in multiple genres and/or media.
• Analyze the aesthetic and/or cultural significance of the ideas, values, conventions, forms, and genres associated with texts.
• Gather, evaluate, and employ an array of research materials in support of critical studies, and/or creative activity, in ways consistent with standards of academic integrity.
• Demonstrate writing and rhetorical skills appropriate to critical and/or creative tasks in a variety of media and genres.
• Analyze representative literary, theoretical, and cultural texts within significant historical, geographical, and cultural contexts.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Erie

Janet Neigh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English; Program Chair of English
124 Kochel
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6447
jmn29@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

English, B.A. at Erie Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Advising Notes:

For the supporting courses in American Literature, Professional Writing, Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and Gender and Sexuality, students (with help from their advisors) will select courses from a list provided by the English program.

Career Paths

Penn State Behrend encourages practice of your professional skills. As an English major, you can write, edit, photograph, or sell advertising for The Behrend Beacon newspaper, or write, produce, or host a show on BVZ Radio or PSB-TV. Or join the editorial staff of Lake Effect, an international literary journal that publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Behrend has a comprehensive support system to help you identify and achieve your goals for college and beyond. Meet with your academic adviser often and take advantage of the services offered by the Academic and Career Planning Center beginning in your first semester.

Careers

An English degree fosters a diverse set of skills that prepare you to thrive in many career fields. These can include education, research, digital media planning, advertising, social media management, professional and technical writing, journalism, publishing, copywriting, public relations, medicine, and law. To help you tailor your degree to your career interests, you’ll pursue one of two options within the major: Literature, Film, and Culture or Professional Writing.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE ENGLISH PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

A B.A. in English can be the starting point for graduate-level education in … nearly everything! The critical thinking, research, and interpretive skills you’ll learn are valued in any type of post-graduate education. Frequently pursued graduate degrees are the M.F.A. in creative writing, Ph.D. in literature, and teaching certification, but your options are limited only by your imagination. Are you thinking about advanced education in law, advertising, public relations, finance, medicine, journalism, digital media, politics, nonprofit management, the fine arts, counseling, or social work? English can make that happen.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

• Modern Language Association
• Association of Departments of English
• National Council of Teachers of English
• Association of Writers and Writing Programs
• Electronic Literature Organization

Contact

Erie

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu

https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-humanities-social-sciences