Undergraduate programs

The study of English has long been considered one of the best ways to obtain a liberal education. Courses are designed to develop students’ critical capabilities, to deepen their understanding of diverse cultural issues, and to improve their abilities to analyze and produce complex texts. The department prepares its majors for careers in writing and teaching, as well as for a variety of professions in which high levels of literacy and critical thought are required.

Various concentrations in literature and writing allow students flexible ways to combine interests in the literary arts with personal and professional goals. Community-based learning courses encourage students to integrate their academic skills with experience in the metropolitan area. Indeed, the breadth of knowledge and the communication skills that English majors typically acquire make them attractive to many potential employers and prepare them for graduate work leading to professions such as law.

For those who wish to teach, the English Department prepares majors for graduate work leading to teaching certification or for entry into graduate master’s or doctoral programs in English. PSU graduates in English have gone on to succeed in advanced degree programs at many major universities.

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Admission requirements

English B.A.

Creative Writing B.F.A.

English Minor

Writing Minor

Film Studies Minor

Secondary Education Endorsement (GTEP)

English B.A.

Requirements

In addition to meeting the general University B.A. and University Studies or Honors requirements, the English major will meet the following requirements for the B. A. degree:

Lower-division courses

Total Credit Hours:8

Two courses selected from the following: (8 credits)

Eng 201Introduction to Shakespeare

4

Eng 204Survey of English Literature

4

Eng 205Survey of English Literature

4

Eng 253Survey of American Literature

4

Eng 254Survey of American Literature

4

Eng 260Introduction to Women?s Literature

4

Wr 200Writing About Literature

4

Upper-division courses

Total Credit Hours:52
English majors will be expected to choose their courses in consultation with their advisers. For upper-division coursework in the several groups, consult the following lists of acceptable courses:

Theory (Group A)

Eng 300Introduction to the English Major

4

Elective in criticism and practice (4 credits)
Eng 414Contemporary Composition Theories

4

Eng 416History of Rhetoric

4

Eng 491History of Literary Criticism and Theory I

4

Eng 492History of Literary Criticism and Theory II

4

Eng 493Advanced Topics in Feminist Literary Theory

4

Eng 494Topics in Critical Theory and Methods

4

Literatures of Ethnicity, Gender, Class, and Culture (Group B)

Electives (8 credits)
Eng 305UTopics in Film

4

Eng 309UAmerican Indian Literature

4

Eng 330UJewish and Israeli Literature

4

Eng 351U/BSt 351UAfrican American Literature

4

Eng 352U/BSt 352UAfrican American Literature

4

Eng 353UAfrican American Literature

4

Eng 367UAmerican Literature and Culture

4

Eng 372U/WS 372UTopics in Literature, Gender, and Sexuality

4

Eng 373UTopics in Literature, Race, and Ethnicity

4

Eng 387UWomen's Literature

4

Eng 420Caribbean Literature

4

Eng 421African Fiction

4

Eng 422African Fiction

4

Eng 441Advanced Topics in Renaissance Culture

4

Eng 443British Women Writers

4

Eng 444British Women Writers

4

Eng 445American Women Writers: 19th Century

4

Eng 446American Women Writers: 20th Century

4

Eng 467Advanced Topics: American Literature and Culture

4

Eng 469Advanced Topics in Asian-American Literature and Culture

4

Period Studies and British and American Literature (Group C)

12 credits, 3 courses total

One must be a Pre-1800 course and two courses must be 400-level
Pre-1800 courses
Eng 301UTopics: Shakespeare

4

Eng 311Tragedy

4

Eng 312Comedy and Satire

4

Eng 314The Epic

4

Eng 320UThe English Novel

4

Eng 340UMedieval Literature

4

Eng 341URenaissance Literature

4

Eng 342URestoration and Eighteenth Century Literature

4

Eng 343URomanticism

4

Eng 360UAmerican Literature to 1865

4

Eng 411English Drama

4

Eng 426Advanced Topics in Medieval Literature

4

Eng 430Sixteenth Century Literature

4

Eng 440Advanced Topics in Seventeenth Century Literature

4

Eng 441Advanced Topics in Renaissance Culture

4

Eng 450Advanced Topics in Eighteenth Century Literature

4

Eng 458Advanced Topics in Romanticism

4

Eng 460Advanced Topics in American Literature to 1800

4

Other Group C courses
Eng 313UThe American Short Story

4

Eng 321English Novel

4

Eng 344UVictorian Literature

4

Eng 345UModern British Literature

4

Eng 351U/BSt 351UAfrican American Literature

4

Eng 352U/BSt 352UAfrican American Literature

4

Eng 353UAfrican American Literature

4

Eng 363UAmerican Literature 1865-1965

4

Eng 364American Fiction I

4

Eng 365UAmerican Fiction II

4

Eng 366American Fiction

4

Eng 367UAmerican Literature and Culture

4

Eng 384Contemporary Literature

4

Eng 385Contemporary Literature

4

Eng 412English Drama

4

Eng 461Topics: American Literature to 1900

4

Eng 464American Literature: 20th Century

4

Eng 467Advanced Topics: American Literature and Culture

4

Eng 475Advanced Topics in Victorian Literature

4

Eng 477American Poetry

4

Eng 478American Poetry

4

Eng 480Advanced Topics in Twentieth Century British Literature

4

Eng 484Modern Drama

4

Eng 485Contemporary Drama

4

Eng 486Contemporary American Novel

4

Eng 487Contemporary American Short Story

4

Eng 488Contemporary American Poetry

4

Writing, Rhetoric, Composition, and Linguistics (Group D)

One upper-division writing course elective (4)
Eng 331UIntroduction to Rhetoric and Composition Studies

4

Eng 413Teaching and Tutoring Writing

4

Eng 414Contemporary Composition Theories

4

Eng 415Research Methods in Rhetoric and Composition

4

Eng 416History of Rhetoric

4

Eng 425Practical Grammar

4

Eng 490Advanced Topics in Rhetoric and Composition Studies

4

Ling 390Introduction to Linguistics

4

Wr 300Topics in Composition

4

Wr 312Intermediate Fiction Writing

4

Wr 313Intermediate Poetry Writing

4

Wr 323Writing as Critical Inquiry

4

Wr 324Advanced Writing About Literature

4

Wr 327Technical Report Writing

4

Wr 328Media Editing

4

Wr 330Desktop Publishing I

4

Wr 333Advanced Composition

4

Wr 394Writing Careers for English Majors

4

Wr 400Advanced Topics in Composition

4

Wr 412Advanced Fiction Writing

4

Wr 413Advanced Poetry Writing

4

Wr 416Screenwriting

4

Wr 420Writing: Process and Response

4

Wr 425Advanced Technical Writing

4

Wr 426Document Design

4

Wr 427Technical Editing

4

Wr 428Advanced Media Writing

4

Wr 429Writing Computer Documentation

4

Wr 430Desktop Publishing II

4

Wr 456Forms of Nonfiction

4

Wr 457Personal Essay Writing

4

Wr 458Magazine Writing

4

Wr 459Memoir Writing

4

Wr 460Introduction to Book Publishing

4

Wr 461Book Editing

4

Wr 462Book Design Software

4

Wr 463Book Marketing

4

Wr 464Business of Book Publishing

4

Wr 465Intellectual Property and Copyright

4

appropriate adviser-approved, upper-division course

4

Wr 312, Wr 313, Wr 412, Wr 413, Wr 416, Wr 420, Wr 425, Wr 427 may be taken twice for credit.

Electives (Group E)

Any 300 or 400 level English or Writing Course (16 credits)

Courses to be selected from any upper-division English or writing course.

Alternate Courses

The following courses, depending on their content, may fulfill major requirements in Groups A, B, C, and D. Students should consult specific offerings each term and meet with their adviser to have them approved:

Courses

Eng 305UTopics in Film

4

Eng 399Special Studies

1-5

Eng 404Cooperative Education/Internship

0-12

Eng 407Seminar

1-6

Eng 410Selected Topics

1-6

Eng 447Major Forces in Literature

4

Eng 448Major Figures in Literature

4

Total Credit Hours: 60

  • Eng 300 Introduction to the English Major is the expected preparation for all 400-level courses in the English major.
  • English majors in upper-division English courses are expected to be able to write a library research paper when required. The department recommends that majors without prior training in research paper writing enroll in Wr 222. Wr 222 does not count toward the English major.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a C or above can count for the English major.
  • No more than 12 credits taken for the Minor in Writing may be applied to the English major.
  • No more that 8 credits taken for the Minor in Film Studies may be applied to the English major.
  • A minimum of 24 credits in English and/or writing at PSU is required to graduate from PSU with a major in English.
  • Only courses taken for a letter grade can count toward English major.
  • One upper-division WLL Literature in Translation course may be used in English with adviser approval.
  • Chiron courses will not count toward the English major or the Minors in English, Writing or Film Studies.