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English Major


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, and 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.) For the B.A. degree in English, a minimum of 123 credits is required.

View the English Minor


General Education:45 credits
(See description of General Education in front of Bulletin.)

United States Cultures and International Competence: (Included in ELECTIVES, GENERAL EDUCATION course selection, or REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

Writng Across the Curriculum: (Included in ELECTIVES, GENERAL EDUCATION course selection, or REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

Electives: 18 credits

Bachelor Of Arts Degree Requirement: 24 credits
(3 of these 24 credits 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. (See description of Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements in front of Bulletin.)

Requirements for the Major: 36 credits [1]

Prescribed Courses (6 credits) ENGL 200(3), ENGL 201 GH(3) (Sem: 1-6)

Additional Courses (9 credits) Select 3 credits from ENGL 221(3) or ENGL 221W(3) (Sem: 1-6)

Select 3 credits from ENGL 222(3), ENGL 222W(3), ENGL 231(3), ENGL 231W(3), ENGL 232(3), ENGL 232W(3), or ENGL 235 DF(3) (Sem: 1-6)

Select 3 credits from ENGL 310H(3) or ENGL 487W(3) (Sem: 5-8)

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (21 credits)

Select 6 credits in literature, writing, or rhetoric (Sem: 1-8)

Select 3 credits at the 300 or 400 level in literature primarily before 1800 from department list (Sem: 5-8)

Select 3 credits at the 300 or 400 level in post-1800 multiculteral/minority subject matter or in post-1800 sex and gender studies or in post-1800 postcolonial studies (Sem: 5-8)

Select 9 credits at the 300 or 400 level in literature, writing, or rhetoric (Sem: 5-8)

[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.

The University reserves the right to change the requirements and regulations listed here and to determine whether a student has satisfactorily met its requirements for admission or graduation, and to reject any applicant for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant's qualifications to pursue higher education. Nothing in this material should be considered a guarantee that completion of a program and graduation from the University will result in employment.

This electronic Undergraduate Bulletin is a version of the official bulletin of The Pennsylvania State University. It is suggested that users refer to this electronic bulletin when seeking the latest information about the University's academic programs and courses. Printed versions of the Bulletin are also official copies of the programs, courses, and policies in effect at the time of printing. Programmatic expectations for general education are those in effect at the time of admission to degree candidacy, and college and major requirements are those in effect at the time of entry to college and major. These are accurately indicated in each student's degree audit.