BA in English Literature
Selinsgrove, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* November 1 — Early Action 1. November 15 — Early Decision. December 1 — Early Action 2. February 1 — Regular Decision admission application deadline; late applications welcome as space permits. March 1 — International Students
Key Summary
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Competitive edge
Studying literature gives you the analytical tools and writing skills employers in any industry covet.
Words matter
At Susquehanna, you’ll harness the power of language while learning to express yourself with style and grace.
From studying forms of writing to analyzing Shakespeare, every class you take builds toward a senior capstone project modeled on grad school programs-that challenges you to think more deeply about your past four years.
You’ll have ample opportunities to publish your own work and contribute to eight department-focused student publications. Creative outlets on campus for literature majors include the Literature Club and the Comic Book Club.
Double major in publishing & editing
Adding publishing and editing major to a literature major is smart. Susquehanna offers one of the only publishing and editing majors in the country. It gives you a breadth of skills to analyze and create — to choose any path you desire.
Minor options
Our interdisciplinary minors, like women’s studies and public policy, help you gain a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.
Gallery
Curriculum
Requirements for Major
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
English and Creative Writing Studies
Students in English and Creative Writing study literature from three different perspectives: as writers, readers, and editor-entrepreneurs. Foundational courses taken by all students in the first and second years show how literary history, literary theory, and literary diversity are integral to formal concerns and to emerging digital contexts. These provide a common learning experience. After the foundational courses, English-Literature and English-Secondary Education majors take advanced seminars in literary history and theory; English-Publishing & Editing majors take advanced courses in literary criticism and professional skills, and Creative Writing majors take advanced writing workshops. Coursework in each major is completed through a capstone experience. English-Literature and English- Secondary Education majors, pursue an independent research project; English-Publishing & Editing majors take a course in which they reflect on the cultural, political, and commercial functions of publishing; and Creative Writing majors prepare a portfolio of their original work.
Students in the English and Creative Writing Department may, with department head approval, complete more than one major and/or minor in the department.
English Literature
The English Major - Literature is designed to prepare students for a successful, fulfilling life and career in the 21st century by training them to understand the theoretical implications and historical context of all forms of writing and become expert writers. A graduate from this program will have superb analytic and problem-solving skills, powerful methods to understand cultural context and meaning, and the ability to perform advanced research in any text- based field, such as law, education, government, library science, publishing, editing, marketing and public advocacy.
Requirements for the English Major - Literature
40-42 semester hours with grades of C- or better.
- 4 ENGL-240 Literary Themes
- 4 One course chosen from:
- ENGL-245 Studies in Comparative Literature of the Americas
- ENGL-250 World Literature
- ENGL-255 Jewish Literature
- ENGL-240 Literary Themes.
- NOTE: Students cannot repeat a course with the same content.
- ENGL-245 Studies in Comparative Literature of the Americas
- ENGL-250 World Literature
- ENGL-255 Jewish Literature
- ENGL-240 Literary Themes.
- NOTE: Students cannot repeat a course with the same content.
- 4 ENGL-265 Forms of Writing
- 4 ENGL-290 Aesthetics and Interpretation
- 4 Mid-level writing courses chosen from:
- ENGL-295 Voice and Audience
- WRIT-250 Topics in Creative Writing
- WRIT-251 Introduction to Fiction
- WRIT-252 Introduction to Poetry
- ENGL-295 Voice and Audience
- WRIT-250 Topics in Creative Writing
- WRIT-251 Introduction to Fiction
- WRIT-252 Introduction to Poetry
- WRIT-253 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
16 Advanced study: To be chosen from among courses in the ENGL-300 to ENGL-390 range.
- 4 semester hours of this work must be in an early period course.
2-4 ENGL-540 Internship in the field related to likely career
4 ENGL-440 Applied Knowledge in the Discipline
Of the semester hours listed above, 4 semester hours taken at the 200 or 300 level must be early period, defined as pre-1865 America or pre-1789 British. 4 semester hours taken at either the 200 or 300 level must be multicultural/non-western.
Secondary Teaching Certification
The English-secondary education major is designed to prepare students to teach English in grades 7-12 and be successful on standard exams required of teaching candidates. This major is offered by the Department of English and Creative Writing in conjunction with the Department of Education. It is designed to be a program leading to teacher certification, and students formally apply to the teacher education program by February of their sophomore year or as soon after that as possible. At the time of application, the candidate must have at least a 3.00 overall GPA and a 3.00 English GPA.
Coursework required by the state of Pennsylvania for admission to the teacher certification program includes successful completion of ENGL-100 Writing and Thinking or equivalent course, at least 3 semester hours in British or American Literature, at least 6 semester hours of mathematics coursework (or other courses which satisfy the Central Curriculum Analytical Thought requirement), and at least one 40-hour externship.
Education course requirements for secondary education
- EDUC-101 Introduction to Education and Society
- EDUC-250 Educational Psychology
- EDUC-260 Introduction to Special Education
- EDUC-270 Instruction of Exceptional Students
- EDUC-330 Technology in Education
- EDUC-350 English Language Learners
- EDUC-380 Instructional Design
- EDUC-421 Methods of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Teaching English
- EDUC-479 Principles of Learning and Teaching in Secondary Education
- EDUC-483 Differentiated Instruction and Classroom Management in Secondary Education
- EDUC-500 Student Teaching Package (EDUC-501, EDUC-502, EDUC-503, and EDUC-600)
In addition, secondary education English students complete all of the usual requirements for the English Literature major with grades of C- or better.
Requirements for Minor in English
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Minor in English
English minors complete, with grades of C- or better, four semester hours from ENGL-265 Forms of Writing courses, four semester hours from Multicultural/200-Level Choice courses (chosen from ENGL-245, ENGL-250, and ENGL-255), and 12 semester hours from Advanced Study courses (chosen from any ENGL course 300-399). Courses are chosen by the student with the guidance of a departmental adviser.
Course Options
English Courses
- ENGL 090 College Writing, Credits: 4
- ENGL 100 Writing and Thinking, Credits: 4
- ENGL 190 Introduction to Modern Publishing, Credits: 4
- ENGL 205 Literature Studies, Credits: 4
- ENGL 240 Literary Themes, Credits: 4
- ENGL 245 Comparative Literature of the Americas, Credits: 4
- ENGL 250 World Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 255 Jewish Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 265 Critical Surveys in Forms of Writing, Credits: 4
- ENGL 269 English Grammar & Writing Process, Credits: 2
- ENGL 290 Aesthetics and Interpretation, Credits: 4
- ENGL 295 Voice and Audience, Credits: 4
- ENGL 297 Writing and Editing Podcasts, Credits: 4
- ENGL 298 Book Reviewing, Credits: 4
- ENGL 299 Professional & Civic Writing, Credits: 4
- ENGL 300 History of the English Language, Credits: 4
- ENGL 305 Themes in Early British Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 315 Themes in Early Modern British Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 325 Themes in Modern British Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 335 Themes in Early American Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 345 Themes in Modern American Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 350 Studies in Major Authors, Credits: 4
- ENGL 355 Studies in Anglophone Literature, Credits: 4
- ENGL 361 Studies in Literary Forms, Credits: 4
- ENGL 365 Studies in Literature and Gender, Credits: 4
- ENGL 375 History of the Book, Credits: 4
- ENGL 381 Advanced Composition: Rhetoric & the Environment, Credits: 4
- ENGL 382 Reading/Writing/Teaching Difference, Credits: 4
- ENGL 385 Making Democracy Work, Credits: 4
- ENGL 388 Publishing: Ethics/Art/Politics, Credits: 4
- ENGL 390 Special Themes and Topics, Credits: 1–4
- ENGL 440 Applied Knowledge in the Discipline, Credits: 4
- ENGL 500 Directed Reading and Research, Credits: 1–4
- ENGL 505 Independent Study, Credits: 1–4
- ENGL 520 Practicum, Credits: 1–6
- ENGL 540 Internship, Credits: 1–4
Creative Writing Courses
- WRIT 195 Experimental Writing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 196 Black, Brown, and Boisterous, Credits: 4
- WRIT 200 Introduction to Creative Writing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 240 Introduction to Genre Writing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 241 Environmental Writing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 250 Topics in Creative Writing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 251 Introduction to Fiction, Credits: 4
- WRIT 252 Introduction to Poetry, Credits: 4
- WRIT 253 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction, Credits: 4
- WRIT 260 The Choreopoem, Credits: 4
- WRIT 270 Small Press Publishing and Editing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 350 Intermediate Creative Writing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 351 Intermediate Fiction, Credits: 4
- WRIT 352 Intermediate Poetry, Credits: 4
- WRIT 353 Intermediate Nonfiction, Credits: 4
- WRIT 450 Advanced Creative Writing, Credits: 4
- WRIT 451 Advanced Fiction, Credits: 4
- WRIT 452 Advanced Poetry, Credits: 4
- WRIT 453 Advanced Creative Nonfiction, Credits: 4
- WRIT 500 Independent Study, Credits: 1–4
- WRIT 520 Practicum, Credits: 2–4
- WRIT 540 Internship, Credits: 1–4
- WRIT 550 Senior Seminar, Credits: 4
- WRIT 590 Departmental Honors, Credits: 4
Program Outcome
Learning Goals
- Critical thinking: originality and appreciation of nuance
- Interpretation: history, theory, and criticism
- Literacy: reading, intertextuality, and cosmopolitanism
- Style: rhetoric, genre, and audience
Career Opportunities
Career options
An English Literature degree from Susquehanna prepares you to make a difference and work for nonprofits, government entities, or international relations.
Our graduates work for literary agencies, as social media gurus, and for Fortune 500 companies. Some do advanced research in education, library, and information science or public advocacy. Double majors with a literature background stand out on medical and law school applications.
We encourage teaching assistantships for insight into curriculum development and classroom management. Combined with an education degree, you’ll be ready to step right into the classroom and teach.
Graduate School Opportunities
Recent graduates have enrolled in programs at:
- Rutgers University
- Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law
- Towson University
- Lehigh University
- Kutztown University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- West Chester University
- Catholic University
- Kent State University