English
What can you do with an English degree? Everything!
English is among the most versatile of degrees. Because English majors learn to reason critically, write cogently, construct and deconstruct ideas and arguments, and verbalize opinions and judgments, you’ll develop a diverse set of skills that prepare you to thrive in many career fields. These can include education, research, sales, advertising, marketing and online marketing, social media management, professional and technical writing, journalism, publishing, copywriting, public relations, medicine, and law.
Why Penn State Behrend?
Penn State Behrend encourages hands-on practice of your professional skills. You can write, edit, photograph, or sell advertising for The Behrend Beacon, the college’s weekly newspaper. You can write, produce, or host a show on BVZ Radio or PSB-TV, or contribute to their online and social media presences. You can join the editorial staff of Lake Effect, an award-winning international literary journal that publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that has been solicited, selected, and edited by Behrend students. Internships are encouraged for English majors; faculty and the Academic and Career Planning Center can help you find experiences that line up with your career goals.
If you’re drawn to leadership and events planning, take a seat in The Roundtable Society, a student-led organization dedicated to the arts, including film, theatre, and creative writing. The Society sponsors readings, discussions, theatre excursions, and literary events.
You will tailor your English degree by pursuing one of two options within program:
- Literature, Film, and Culture Option: Explore literature within its cultural and historical contexts. This option emphasizes 21st-century studies, including literary theory, gender studies, film studies, visual rhetoric, performance, aesthetics, philosophy, and digital humanities, and culminates in a senior project of your choosing. You’ll work closely with a faculty mentor as you select, research, and complete your project.
- Professional Writing Option: Prepare for writing and editing careers. Course work includes writing and editing for electronic media, and advanced business and technical writing; you’ll also complete a professional writing internship within the career field of your choosing.