English Department

The Department of English offers undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students who graduate with a B.A. - Literary Studies, B.A. - Professional and Creative Writing, or a B.A. with Secondary Certification have learned to read critically and write effectively about literature and related fields. They will be familiar with works in drama, poetry, and prose and will understand the structures of the English language, the various literary genres, the historical and global contexts of literature, and the various methodologies that facilitate the analysis and understanding of literature. English Education 7-12 students seeking Pennsylvania certification should see requirements outlined in the College of Education and Human Services.

English Features

Students in English read deeply, think critically, and write extensively, and they learn to apply these skills outside the classroom. More than preparing for a profession, studying English allows students to work closely with accomplished faculty in a field that is at the heart of a liberal arts education. Shippensburg English majors visit historical archives; conduct independent research; attend and present their work at professional academic conferences; study abroad; hold internships; work with local schools; serve in leadership roles across campus; act as tutors and peer mentors; meet with distinguished visiting writers, editors, filmmakers, and scholars; and learn skills in publishing, editing, and digital media. The study of language and literature at Ship provides our students with skills that are always in demand.

English Career Opportunities

Few majors prepare students for a variety of careers as well as English does. Because success in every profession demands effective communication skills, the study of English is excellent preparation for careers in law, medicine, higher education, technical writing, journalism, Human Resources, marketing, management, administration, publishing, writing, and digital media. In addition, the Shippensburg University English Department is known for placing high-quality secondary teachers in English Language Arts classrooms throughout the region. Shippensburg University English majors have successful careers as book editors, technical writers, web content editors, and social media managers. English majors’ abilities to think creatively, to research, write, and edit complex documents, to work independently or in teams, to analyze and interpret information, and to present their analyses through clear and effective writing make them not only valuable employees but humane and thoughtful citizens.

Programs

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Courses

English