English Major

Program Overview

Through its challenging and rewarding program of study, the Department of English, Writing & Journalism introduces students to the formative traditions of British, Irish, American, and Anglophone literature; supports students as they develop as creative and professional writers; and provides students with a wide array of news writing, reporting, editing and multimedia skills.

In the course of our program, students will integrate close reading and extensive writing. They will also present fundamentals of research in order to foster intellectual maturity and to prepare for more advanced study in literature and writing.

English majors can explore their particular interests through a variety of courses in literature, writing, theatre/drama, and journalism.

The English major thus equips our students to enter many careers, including teaching, publishing, editing, writing, and business. Current graduates include college professors, teachers, journalists, novelists, poets, lawyers, pharmacists, physicians, and public-relations specialists.

Goal 1: Acquire knowledge of significant texts in the British, Irish, American, and Anglophone literary traditions.

Outcome 1.1: Students will demonstrate a familiarity with British, Irish, American, and Anglophone key texts and an understanding of the historical continuities among literary conventions and imaginative traditions.

Goal 2: Develop rhetorical skills.

Outcome 2.1: Students will recognize and use various rhetorical modes, including (but not limited to) narrative, exposition, analysis, and argument.

Goal 3: Develop creative abilities.

Outcome 3.1: Students will exercise their imaginations in crafting their own creative works and performances, particularly through creative writing workshops and theatre courses.

Goal 4: Acquire knowledge of significant schools of literary theory.

Outcome 4.1: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of literary theory and draw upon these models for their own literary analyses.

Outcome 4.2: Students will formulate their own theories about what literature is and does.

Goal 5: Acquire knowledge of research fundamentals.

Outcome 5.1: Students will locate, assess, and incorporate primary and secondary sources into their writing to support their claims.

Goal 6: Develop revision strategies and editing skills.

Outcome 6.1: Students will demonstrate an understanding of revision.

Outcome 6.2: Students will practice editing skills through examining their own writing and the writing of their peers.

The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:

  1. Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
  2. Ethics Intensive
  3. Writing Intensive, and
  4. Diversity
1

Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements

General Education Signature Courses

See this page about Signature courses

General Education Variable Courses

See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses

General Education Overlays

See this page about Overlays.

General Education Integrative Learning Component

See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:

In consultation with, and with the approval of their faculty advisor, English Majors must complete three additional courses within the College of Arts & Sciences but outside the English major, with no more than two classes taken from the same department.

GEP Electives

Thirteen to sixteen courses, depending on how many courses are required in the variable core.

Major Requirements

CoursesCredits
Two Literature Courses 6
Two Writing Courses 6
One Literary/Writing Pedagogy Course 3
Two ENG Diversity Courses 16
Three ENG Electives 9
One Experiential Learning Overlay 2

These courses must be taken in addition to the GEP Diversity and DGNW requirements; they cannot double count for the GEP Diversity or Diversity/Globalization/non-Western studies overlays.

2  Majors must also take an Experiential Learning Overlay (i.e., service learning, study abroad, or internship course), either as one of the ten required ENG courses or as a course from a different subject area.

Independent Studies and Internships

English majors who have completed four regular semesters with an overall grade point average of 3.0 (or a cumulative average of 3.4 or higher for courses in English) may apply for credit in an independent study program, generally involving a topic that is not typically offered in the English curriculum and that will enrich the student’s study in the major. At the end of the sophomore or early in the junior year, interested students should submit a written proposal describing, with particulars, the planned study project. The minimum requirement for such a proposal is that it include a substantial critical or creative writing project. If the proposal is accepted, the student will be assigned a faculty mentor who will oversee the writing project, offer advice on readings, help with the selection of courses, and establish a timetable for the completion of the writing project. The project may extend over one or two semesters. Serious and satisfactory work for one semester will earn three credits. A student who successfully completes the two-semester project will receive six credits.

The English Internship course ENG 492  is designed to help guide students who wish to earn credit for professional work experience in areas such as writing, editing, social media management, or journalism. Possible venues include, but are not limited to, newspapers and magazines, academic journals, publishing companies, television stations, radio stations, public relations firms and communications departments, online media outlets, advertising agencies, governmental and university departments, nonprofit organizations, and private and public schools. Students must complete a minimum of 112 hours at the internship site during the semester. Course requirements include a statement of goals, a journal or field notes, a profile of an English alum for the English Department blog, attendance at a career-related panel or activity, a letter of assessment from an internship supervisor, a final Reflection Essay, and an updated resume or link to a web-based resume. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (or cumulative average of 3.4 or higher for courses in the major field), or permission of instructor is required.

The independent study and internship courses are:

ENG 370Independent Study:Jr. Level3
ENG 470Independent Study:Senior Level3
ENG 492English Internship3
ENG 493
ENG 494
Indep Research Project (Fall)
and Indep Research Project (SPR)
6-9
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallHours
ENG 101 Craft of Language (or ENG 102, if AP credit for ENG 101) 3
HIS 154 Forging the Modern World (or First Year Seminar) 3
PHL 154
Moral Foundations
or Catholic Theological Tradition
3
Non-Native Language 1 3
Math Beauty or Social/Behavioral Science 3
 Hours15
Spring
ENG 102 Texts & Contexts (or ENG Literary Theory/Writing Pedagogy Course for students with AP credit for ENG 101) 3
First Year Seminar or HIS 154 Forging the Modern World 3
THE 154
Catholic Theological Tradition
or Moral Foundations
3
Non-Native Language 2 3
Math Beauty or Social/Behavioral Science 3
 Hours15
Sophomore
Fall
ENG Literary Theory/Writing Pedagogy Course (or another ENG course) 3
Art/Lit or Integrative Learning Course 3
Philosophical Anthropology or Religious Difference 3
Integrative Learning Course 3
Free-Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring
ENG Literary Theory/Writing Pedagogy Course (or another ENG course) 3
Art/Lit or Integrative Learning Course 3
Philosophical Anthropology or Religious Difference 3
Free-Elective 3
Integrative Learning Course 3
 Hours15
Junior
Fall
English Course 6
Free-Elective 6
Natural Science or Faith & Reason 3
 Hours15
Spring
English Course 6
Free-Elective 6
Natural Science or Faith & Reason 3
 Hours15
Senior
Fall
English Course 6
Natural Science (2nd non-lab)/Elective 3
Free-Elective 6
 Hours15
Spring
English Course 6
Free-Elective 9
 Hours15
 Total Hours120

4+1 Program in Writing Studies

The Writing Studies M.A. program at Saint Joseph's University offers undergraduate students the option to take 3 courses (or 9 credits) toward a Master’s Degree in Writing Studies. Students may explore this option by enrolling in graduate classes during their junior and/or senior year. The credits can then be applied to the 30-credit M.A. in Writing Studies.

Who can apply: Students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher are encouraged to participate in this program in order to boost their writing skills before they apply for jobs. Interested students should contact the Graduate Director of Writing Studies, Cristina Hanganu-Bresch, in order to complete an application.

How it works: Our M.A. program typically requires full-time study for 15 months (2 summers + 2 semesters), but accepted undergraduate students can begin their coursework early with the goal of completing their M.A. in a single year after completing their B.A. in English.

English/Secondary Education Dual Major

The three Integrative Learning Courses for the English/Secondary Education Dual Major are as follows:

EDU 230Eval: Secondary Grades 7-123
SPE 160Intro to Special Education3
SPE 205Inclusive Classrooms w/ Field3

The following are recommended for satisfying both Education and GEP requirements1:  EDU 150 Schools in Society w/ Field for the first-year seminar, EDU 157 Adolescent Development w/ Field for the social and behavioral science requirement and SPE 160 for the Ethics-Intensive overlay.

Teacher Certification for Secondary Schools

Students majoring in English who complete the English/Secondary Education Dual Major may apply to obtain an Instructional I, Secondary Education (12) Teaching Certificate from the State of Pennsylvania. In addition to their English advisor, English/Secondary Education dual majors will also be assigned an advisor from the Education Department who will guide them through their required Education courses. The Education advisor will also assist students seeking teacher certification in formally applying for the teacher certification program, usually in the spring semester of their sophomore year. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to enroll in EDU 491 Secondary Student Teaching in their senior year. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to obtain teacher certification upon graduation.

Pennsylvania’s Secondary (referred to as "secondary" or "7-12") preparation program guidelines require a professional core of courses, early and varied field experiences, and student teaching. In addition to the subject-specific content requirements for secondary programs that are met by the student’s major, candidates for the 7-12 teaching certificate in Pennsylvania must complete a prescribed sequence of coursework, which includes the specific requirements for Accommodations and Adaptations for Diverse Learners in Inclusive Settings and Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners under §49.13(4)(i)).

Below is the required  program for students to  be eligible for a PA Level I Teaching  Certificate in Secondary Education.

 
EDU 150Schools in Society w/ Field3
EDU 157Adolescent Development w/Field3
EDU 230Eval: Secondary Grades 7-123
EDU 246Language and Culture w/ Field3
EDU 247Literacy in Cont Areas w/Field3
EDU 410Instr Techniq English w/Field3
EDU 491Secondary Student Teaching12
SPE 160Intro to Special Education3
SPE 205Inclusive Classrooms w/ Field3
1

In order to meet the certification requirements for the English/Secondary Education Dual Major, students are required to take an additional math class beyond the GEP Math Beauty requirement.