English, B.A. (Behrend)

Program Code: ELISH_BA

Spring 2024 Curricular Update: The program description, entrance requirements, and program requirements detailed on this page are effective beginning Spring 2024. To learn more about what approved curricular changes take effect in Spring 2024, please visit the Changes to the UG Bulletin page. To view the requirements in effect for Fall 2023, please visit the 2023-24 Undergraduate Bulletin PDF.

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.

Spring 2024 Curricular Update: The program description, entrance requirements, and program requirements detailed on this page are effective beginning Spring 2024. To learn more about what approved curricular changes take effect in Spring 2024, please visit the Changes to the UG Bulletin page. To view the requirements in effect for Fall 2023, please visit the 2023-24 Undergraduate Bulletin PDF.

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

Spring 2024 Curricular Update: The program description, entrance requirements, and program requirements detailed on this page are effective beginning Spring 2024. To learn more about what approved curricular changes take effect in Spring 2024, please visit the Changes to the UG Bulletin page. To view the requirements in effect for Fall 2023, please visit the 2023-24 Undergraduate Bulletin PDF.

Degree Requirements

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

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 9-12
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements 24
Requirements for the Major 39-42

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.

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.

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 200Introduction to Critical Reading3
ENGL 312Globality and Literature3
ENGL 482WContemporary Literary and Cultural Theory3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 443The English Renaissance3
or ENGL 444 Shakespeare
ENGL 494Senior Thesis in English 13-6
or ENGL 495 Internship
Select 3 credits from the following:3
Global English Keystone/General Education Course
English Language Analysis
Foundations of Linguistics Keystone/General Education Course
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 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

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.​

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

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2023-24 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contains suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).

English Literature, Film and Culture Option: 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.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year Seminar1General Education3
ENGL 15 or 30H†‡3General Education3
General Education3200-level or lower ENGL or CMLIT (except ENGL 50)*3
General Education3General Education3
General Education1.5Foreign Language (Level Two)4
Foreign Language (Level One)4 
 15.5 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 200*3ENGL 403*3
ENGL 312*3ENGL 202B†‡3
CAS 100†‡3200-level or ENGL or CMLIT (except ENGL 50)*3
General Education3General Education3
Foreign Language (Level Three)4General Education3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 443 or 444*3ENGL 482W3
PHIL 4093Supporting Course3
COMM 150N, INART 5, or INART 1103BA Knowledge Domain3
General Education3General Education3
Other Cultures3ENGL 4203
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
400-Level ENGL Additional Course3ENGL 4943
400-Level ENGL Additional Course 3Elective3
BA Knowledge Domain3CMLIT 453 or COMM 4533
Elective3BA Knowledge Domains3
General Education1.5General Education3
 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 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 Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.

English Professional Writing Option: 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.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year Seminar1General Education3
ENGL 15 or 30H†‡3General Education3
General Education3ENGL 1003
General Education3General Education3
General Education1.5Foreign Language (Level Two)4
Foreign Language (Level One)4 
 15.5 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 200*3ENGL 403*3
ENGL 312*3ENGL 202C or 202D†‡3
CAS 100†‡3COMM or MKTG Support Course3
General Education3General Education3
Foreign Language (Level Three)4General Education3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 443 or 444*3ENGL 482W*3
ENGL 2153400-level ENGL Additional Course3
400-level ENGL Additional Course3200-300 level COMM or ENGL Additional Course3
General Education3General Education3
Other Cultures3BA Knowledge Domain3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 4173ENGL 4953
400-level ENGL Additional Course3ENGL 418 or 4193
BA Knowledge Domain3BA Knowledge Domain3
Electives3Elective3
General Education1.5General Education3
 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 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 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
HSSOffice@psu.edu

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