English, B.A. (University College)

Program Code: ENGUC_BA

Program Description

Majors explore the imaginative and practical uses of English through courses in literature, writing, rhetoric, and language. They develop perspectives on human nature and cultural values through American, British, and other English literatures; they learn how to gather, analyze, synthesize, and communicate information; they gain mastery over their language. These skills help English majors find careers in such fields as publishing, business, industry, government, and teaching. English majors often go on to postgraduate study not only in English but in such areas as law, business, education, or other liberal disciplines.

Majors can emphasize writing, literature, or rhetoric, or a mix of literature, writing, and rhetoric. All provide a liberal education and all develop analytic and writing skills. Qualified students may participate in the career internship and in the English honors program.

Students interested in earning certification in secondary education should contact the College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction. (See also Teacher Education Programs.)

Traditions of Innovation Option

Available at the following campuses: Brandywine, Scranton, University Park

This option allows students to explore the imaginative and practical uses of English language through a variety of courses in literature, writing, and rhetoric across historical periods. The flexibility of the English curriculum allows students to focus in literary and cultural studies, creative writing, professional and media writing, and/or rhetoric, according to individual interests and goals. In the process, students learn to gather, analyze, synthesize, and communicate information as they improve their language skills across diverse creative and critical scenarios. These skills prepare students for careers in a wide range of professional fields.

Writing and Literature in Context Option

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Altoona, Brandywine, Scranton, York

This option focuses on English as a foundation for strong critical thinking and distinctive communication skills, imaginative approaches to problem solving, and collaboration with aligned fields. The flexibility of the major allows students to study literature, creative writing, theatre, media studies, professional writing, and/or other disciplines, according to their individual interests and goals. These foundations prepare English majors for careers in a wide range of professional fields.

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 enjoy writing in different genres, styles, and media, e.g. videos, print or web magazine articles, critical essays, reviews, short stories, poems, etc.
  • You enjoy addressing social justice issues that give context to texts.
  • You want to use communication to help solve problems involving science, technology, medicine, law, business, or society.
  • You enjoy making connections between historical eras and current realities.
  • You want to a career in law, non-profit work, medicine, education, or writing/editing.

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 123 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 18
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements 24
Requirements for the Major 36

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 course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Requirements for the Major

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.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 200Introduction to Critical Reading3
or ENGL 201 What is Literature Keystone/General Education Course
ENGL 494HSenior Thesis in English3
or ENGL 487W Senior Seminar
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
In consultation with adviser, select 18 credits in literature, writing, or rhetoric. At least 9 credits must be at the 300/400 level. At least 3 of the 300/400 level credits must fulfill a departmental diversity requirement for a course related to race, gender, sexuality, disability, ethnicity, and/or postcolonial issues. 18
Requirements for the Option
Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better
Select an option12

Requirements for the Option

Traditions of Innovation Option (12 Credits)

Available at the following campuses: Brandywine, Scranton, University Park

Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits of 300/400 level course in each of the following areas:12
Medieval through Sixteenth Century
Sixteenth Century through Eighteenth Century
The Nineteenth Century
Twentieth Century to the Present
Writing and Literature in Context Option (12 Credits)

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Altoona, Brandywine, Scranton, York

Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits of 400-level pre-1800 courses3
Select 3 credits of 400-level post-1800 courses 3
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 6 credits of English courses at any level6

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 Keystone/General Education Course 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

Brandywine

Maureen Fielding, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English; Associate Professor, Women's Studies
Vairo Library, 123
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1439
mdf6@psu.edu

Scranton

Paul Perrone
Assistant Teaching Professor
13 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2660
pjp3@psu.edu

York

Noel Sloboda
Associate Professor of English
Grumbacher Information Sciences and Technology Center, Room 224
York, PA 17403
717-771-4082
njs16@psu.edu

Abington

Marissa Nicosia
Associate Professor of Renaissance Literature
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7300
mon4@psu.edu

Altoona

Erin C. Murphy
Professor of English
Hawthorn Building 212
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5625
ecm14@psu.edu

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Brandywine Campus

English, B.A. at Brandywine 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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ 3CAS 100, CAS 100A, CAS 100B, or CAS 100C‡ 0-3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course (GHW)1.5
World Language Level 14-6World Language Level 24-6
 16-18 11.5-16.5
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 221*3ENGL 201*†3
General Education Course3ENGL 222, 231, or 232*3
General Education Course3ENGL 202B‡ 3
General Education Course (GHW)1.5General Education Course3
World Language Level 3 or General Education Course3-4General Education Course3
Elective3 
 16.5-17.5 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 200*3ENGL Course Any-level *3
ENGL Course 400-level/Pre-1800 Literature*3ENGL Course 400-level*3
BA Fields Course3BA Fields Course3
BA World Cultures Course3General Education Course3
General Education Courses3Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL Course 400-level*3ENGL 487W or ENGL 310H*3
ENGL Course 400-level/Post-1800: Race, Gender, Ethnic, Minority, Postcolonial Lit*3ENGL Course 400-level*3
ENGL Course Any-level*3BA Fields Course3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits 119-127
*

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.

Scranton Campus

Traditions of Innovation Option: English, B.A. at Scranton 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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 15 (or honors dquivalent (GWS))‡3CAS 100 (or honors equivalent (GWS))‡3
ENGL 111 (or BA requirement)†3Concentration Course*3
Quantification (GQ)‡3General Education Course†3
First-Year Seminar or General Education Course†3General Education Course†3
World Language I4World Language II4
 16 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 200 or 201*3Concentration Course*3
Quantification (GQ)‡3Elective3
ENGL 111 (or BA requirement)†3General Education Course†3
Concentration Course*3General Education Course†3
World Language III4BA Requirement3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Concentration Course*3English 4XX*3
English 4XX*3Concentration Course*3
General Education Course3ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D‡3
BA Requirement3General Education Course3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
English 4XX*3ENGL 4XX*3
Concentration Course*3ENGL 487W*3
BA World Cultures3General Education Health and Wellness1.5
BA Requirement3Elective3
General Education Health and Wellness1.5Elective3
Elective3 
 16.5 13.5
Total Credits 123
*

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.

Program Notes:

  • General Education courses are interchangeable; students may choose the General Education courses they wish to take in any given semester based on preference, availability, and academic goals.
  • Scheduling patterns vary according to course offerings.
  • Both US (United States Cultures) and IL (International Cultures) courses must be completed within the degree requirements; these courses may not be used to fulfill the World Cultures requirements.

Writing and Literature in Context Option: English, B.A. at Scranton 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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 15 or 30H (GWS)3ENGL literature, writing, or rhetoric*3
General Education Course3CAS 100#*†3
General Education Course†3General Education Course†3
World Language (level 001)4World Language (level 002)4
Quantification (GQ)†3General Education Course†3
PSU 81 
 17 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
General Education Course†3ENGL literature, writing, or rhetoric*3
ENGL 200 or 201*3Elective3
ENGL literature, writing, or rhetoric*3General Education Course†3
World Language (level 003)4BA Requirement: Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Science, Quantification or World Language3
Quantification (GQ)†3General Education Course†3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL literature, writing, or rhetoric*3400-level ENGL from period selection*3
400-level ENGL from period selection*3ENGL literature, writing, or rhetoric*3
General Education Course†3ENGL 202 (GWS)3
BA Requirement: Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Quantification, or World Language3General Education Course†3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
400-level ENGL from period selection*3400-level ENGL from period selection*3
ENGL literature, writing, or rhetoric*3ENGL 487W*3
World Cultures3General Education Course (GHW)1.5
BA Requirement: Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Quantification or World Language3Elective3
General Education Course (GHW)1.5Elective3
Elective3 
 16.5 13.5
Total Credits 124
*

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:

  • This document is only for planning purposes and cannot replace working with an academic adviser. Each student pursues their own path and campuses differ in their ENGL offerings. Most students are "off the plan" after one semester.
  • One 400-level course must meet the diversity requirement for the major.
  • Two general education courses (GQ, GN, GA, GH, GS) must be integrative studies courses - Interdomain or linked.
  • Depending on placement and proficiency, world language courses may need to be replaced with elective credits.
  • Students are required to take one Writing across the Curriculum course.
  • "World Cultures" courses may overlap with a general education requirement.

Program Notes:

  • General Education courses are interchangeable; students may choose the General Education courses they wish to take in any given semester based on preference, availability, and academic goals.
  • Scheduling patterns vary according to course offerings.
  • Both US (United States Cultures) and IL (International Cultures) courses must be completed within the degree requirements; these courses may not be used to fulfill the World Cultures requirements.

York Campus

Writing and Literature in Context Option: English, B.A. at York 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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 15 (or honors equivalent (GWS))‡3CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C (or honors equivalent (GWS))‡3
General Education Course or BA Requirement3English Elective (100-200 level)*3
Quantification (GQ)‡3General Education Course3
First-Year Seminar or General Education Course3Natural Sciences (GN)3
World Language I4World Language II4
 16 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantification (GQ)‡3ENGL 200, 200W, or 201*3
General Education Course or BA Requirement3ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D‡3
BA Fields3Natural Sciences (GN)3
World Language III4General Education Course3
 English Elective (100-200 level)*3
 Health and Wellness3
 13 18
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 400-level course (work with adviser)3ENGL 400-level course (work with adviser)3
English Elective/Concentration Course (any level)3English Elective/Concentration Course (any level)3
General Education Course/BA Requirement/Elective3BA Fields3
Arts (GA)3General Education Course3
English Supporting Course3English Supporting Course3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 487W*3ENGL 400-level course (work with adviser)*3
ENGL 400-level course (work with adviser)*3ENGL 400-level course (work with adviser)*3
English Elective/Concentration Course (any level)*3General Education Course3
BA World Cultures3English Supporting Course3
English Supporting Course3English Supporting Course3
 15 15
Total Credits 123
*

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:

  • This document is only for planning purposes and cannot replace working with an academic adviser. Each student pursues their own path and campuses differ in their ENGL offerings. Most students are "off the plan" after one semester.
  • One 400-level course must meet the diversity requirement for the major.
  • Two general education courses (GQ, GN, GA, GH, GS) must be integrative studies courses - Interdomain or linked.
  • Depending on placement and proficiency, world language courses may need to be replaced with elective credits.
  • Students are required to take one Writing across the Curriculum course.
  • "World Cultures" courses may overlap with a general education requirement.

Program Notes:

  • General Education courses are interchangeable; students may choose the General Education courses they wish to take in any given semester based on preference, availability, and academic goals.
  • Scheduling patterns vary according to course offerings.
  • Both US (United States Cultures) and IL (International Cultures) courses must be completed within the degree requirements; these courses may not be used to fulfill the World Cultures requirements.

Career Paths

Careers

Our graduates use their training in careers as attorneys, publishers, professional writers, editors, public relations directors, non-profit professionals, foreign service specialists, entrepreneurs, teachers, and education professionals.

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

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

English majors often go on to postgraduate study not only in English but in areas such as law, medicine, business, education, or liberal arts disciplines.

More information about opportunities for graduate studies can be found through the following websites:

Professional Resources

Contact

Brandywine

Vairo Library, 123
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1439
mdf6@psu.edu

https://www.brandywine.psu.edu/academics/bachelors-degrees/english

Scranton

13 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2660
pjp3@psu.edu

https://scranton.psu.edu/academics/degrees/bachelors/english-degree

York

Grumbacher Information Sciences and Technology Center, Room 224
York, PA 17403
717-771-4082
njs16@psu.edu

https://www.york.psu.edu/academics/baccalaureate/english

Abington

DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7300
mon4@psu.edu

https://www.abington.psu.edu/academics/majors-at-abington/english

Altoona

DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Hawthorn Building 212
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5625
ecm14@psu.edu

https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/bachelors-degrees/english

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
434 Burrowes Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-0258
kkj1@psu.edu

https://english.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/