At which campus can I study this program?
Begin Campus
Any Penn State Campus
End Campus
Erie
Program Description
This major offers courses in literary and cultural studies, and in various forms of writing. Students majoring in English may select the Literature or the Professional Writing Option. Both options share a common core of 13 credits and provide a sound foundation in the liberal arts and opportunities to develop creative and analytical skills. Students in the Literature Option select courses from three separate areas--The Canon and Its Critics, Cultural Studies, and Globality and Literature--and develop a broad understanding of the ways in which literature works in various critical and cultural contexts. Students in the Professional Writing Option follow a sequence of courses designed to develop and enhance writing skills in areas directly relevant to business and technical applications.
What is English?
English refers to a broad field of study related to the reading, writing, studying and analyzing of English literature and language. The field includes the many and varied forms and genres of literature, writing, and rhetoric, and often considers how value and meaning are created, and information communicated, through these various texts.
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:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have 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:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements | 24 |
| Requirements for the Major | 45 |
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 foreign 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.
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.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Knowledge Domains
- Arts (GA): 6 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 6 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 6 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 9 credits
Integrative Studies (may also complete a Knowledge Domain requirement)
- Inter-Domain or Approved Linked Courses: 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
Foreign Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one foreign language. See the Placement Policy for Penn State Foreign Language Courses.
B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; foreign language credits in this category must be in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language)
Other 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 General Education US/IL requirement.
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.
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescibed Courses | ||
| ENGL 200 | Introduction to Critical Reading | 3 |
| ENGL 312 | Globality and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 403 | Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 482W | Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| ENGL 443 | The English Renaissance | 3 |
| or ENGL 444 | Shakespeare | |
| Requirements for the Option | ||
| Select an option | 30 | |
Requirements for the Option
Literature, Film and Culture Option (30 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| CMLIT 453 | Narrative Theory: Film and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 420 | Writing for the Web | 3 |
| ENGL 494 | Senior Thesis in English 1 | 3-6 |
| PHIL 409 | Seminar in Aesthetics | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Art of the Cinema | ||
| Performing Arts | ||
| The Dramatic Arts in the Mass Media | ||
| Select 6 credits at the 200 level or below from CMLIT or ENGL (except ENGL 50) | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits at the 400 level CMLIT or ENGL courses (except 400-level creative writing workshops) | 6 | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Teaching Children's Literature | ||
| British Women Writers | ||
| Women Writers and Their Worlds | ||
| American Women Writers | ||
| 1 | If the 6-credit option is selected, 3 credits count toward the 400-level Additional Courses requirement. |
Professional Writing Option (30 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| ENGL 100 | English Language Analysis | 3 |
| ENGL 215 | Introduction to Article Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 417 | The Editorial Process | 3 |
| ENGL 495 | Internship | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| ENGL 418 | Advanced Technical Writing and Editing | 3 |
| or ENGL 419 | Advanced Business Writing | |
| Select four of the following, with at least 9 credits at the 400 level: | 12 | |
| News Writing and Reporting | ||
| Applications for Media Writing | ||
| Reading Fiction | ||
or ENGL 263 | Reading Poetry | |
or ENGL 265 | Reading Nonfiction | |
| Advanced Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Writing for the Web | ||
| Nonfiction Workshop | ||
| American Nonfiction Prose | ||
ENGL 479 | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | 3 | |
| Newspaper Practicum | ||
| Newspaper Editorial Staff | ||
| Introduction to Advertising | ||
| Public Relations | ||
| Electronic News Gathering and Editing | ||
| Reporting Methods | ||
| Public Relations Media and Methods | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
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
Sara Luttfring, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
146 Kochel
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6072
sdl164@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2020-21 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contain suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).
English Literature, Film and Culture Option 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.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| First Year Seminar | 1 | General Education | 3 |
| ENGL 15 or ENGL 30†‡ | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | 200-level or lower ENGL or CMLIT (except ENGL 50)* | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 1.5 | Foreign Language (Level Two) | 4 |
| Foreign Language (Level One) | 4 | ||
| 15.5 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 200* | 3 | ENGL 403* | 3 |
| ENGL 312* | 3 | ENGL 202B†‡ | 3 |
| CAS 100†‡ | 3 | 200-level or ENGL or CMLIT (except ENGL 50)* | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Foreign Language (Level Three) | 4 | General Education | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 443 or 444* | 3 | ENGL 482W | 3 |
| PHIL 409 | 3 | Supporting Course | 3 |
| COMM 150N, INART 5, or INART 110 | 3 | BA Knowledge Domain | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Other Cultures | 3 | ENGL 420 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| 400-Level ENGL Additional Course | 3 | ENGL 494 | 3 |
| 400-Level ENGL Additional Course | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| BA Knowledge Domain | 3 | CMLIT 453 or COMM 453 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | BA Knowledge Domains | 3 |
| General Education | 1.5 | General Education | 3 |
| 13.5 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 121 | |||
| * | 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 University 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.
GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
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 Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.
English Professional Writing Option 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.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| First Year Seminar | 1 | General Education | 3 |
| ENGL 15 or ENGL 30†‡ | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | ENGL 100 | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 1.5 | Foreign Language (Level Two) | 4 |
| Foreign Language (Level One) | 4 | ||
| 15.5 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 200* | 3 | ENGL 403* | 3 |
| ENGL 312* | 3 | ENGL 202C or 202D†‡ | 3 |
| CAS 100†‡ | 3 | COMM or MKTG Support Course | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Foreign Language (Level Three) | 4 | General Education | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 443 or 444* | 3 | ENGL 482W* | 3 |
| ENGL 215 | 3 | 400-level ENGL Additional Course | 3 |
| 400-level ENGL Additional Course | 3 | 200-300 level COMM or ENGL Additional Course | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Other Cultures | 3 | BA Knowledge Domain | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 417 | 3 | ENGL 495 | 3 |
| 400-level ENGL Additional Course | 3 | ENGL 418 or 419 | 3 |
| BA Knowledge Domain | 3 | BA Knowledge Domain | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| General Education | 1.5 | General Education | 3 |
| 13.5 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 121 | |||
| * | 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 University 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.
GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL/CAS 137 in the fall semester and ENGL/CAS 138 in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and replace both ENGL 30 and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits.
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 Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.
| 1 | Arts, Humanities, or Social and and Behavioral Science |
| 2 | Student need 6 credits on GA, 6 credits in GH, and 6 credits in GA. Course may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major |
| 3 | Quantification or Natural Science |
| 4 | Student need 6 credits in GQ and 9 credits in GH, one Natural Science (GN) course must include a laboratory component. |
| 5 | Foreign Language (Level One) |
| 6 | This requirement is governed by a placement policy dictated by the number of levels of foreign language completed prior to admission to college. |
| 7 | 400-level ENGL Additional Course |
| 8 | Additional Courses: Select 12 credits from the following, with at least 9 credits at the 400 level: COMM 260W (3), COMM 315 (3), ENGL 262 (3), ENGL 263 (3), ENGL265 (3), ENGL 415 (3), ENGL 420 (3), ENGL 425 (3), ENGL 439 (3), ENGL 479 (1-3) |
| 9 | ENGL 482W |
| 10 | W and Y are codes used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirements. |
| 11 | BA Knowledge Domains |
| 12 | Students are permitted to complete all 9 credits in an one of the six domains or a combination thereof, but courses may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major. the six domains are Arts (GA), Humanities (GH), Social & Behavioral Sciences (GS), Natural Sciences (GN), Quantification (GQ), and Foreign Language if the coursework is in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit proficiency of the first foreign language. |
Additional Notes
- GWS, GHW, GQ, GN, GA, GH, and GS are codes used to identify General Education requirements.
- US, IL, and US;IL are codes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements.
- Both US (United States Cultures) and IL (International Cultures) must be completed within the degree requirements.
Scheduling patterns for courses not taught each semester: ENGL 200, 312, 443/444 & 417 are only offered in the fall; ENGL 403, 420, 418/9, & 482W are only offered in the spring.
Program Notes: Students can double count US & IL requirements for general education courses but not for the Other Cultures requirement.
Academic Advising Notes: The course series listed above is only one of many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The number of electives required varies per student. Please be sure to consult with an adviser about your intended plan.
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
Contact
Erie
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HumSocSci@psu.edu