Undergraduate English

About the English Program

Whether selecting the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in English, students will prepare themselves for their futures by becoming articulate writers and high-level readers and thinkers capable of bringing together both academic and hands-on experiences in their professional and personal futures. English at SRU is an integrated program where professional writing students also try their hand at creative writing and publication design, creative writers formalize their training in grant and health care writing, and literature majors engage in professional internships. This premier program cultivates research and scholarship grounded in the expectations and needs of daily life.

What Can I Do With an English Degree?

You can work as a grant writer, technical writer, editor, web-content strategist, librarian or teacher; or take up additional career options in publishing, law, government, business and higher education. According to national research on employer demands for employees, being fluent in writing, communication, collaboration, organization and critical thinking are in the top ten most desired skills in both non-profit and for-profit businesses. Recent research also reveals that many medical and law schools prefer English majors who complement their studies with pre-med and pre-law preparation. Powerful writers, readers, speakers and thinkers will always have the edge in professional and personal work in a global community.

Why Choose an English Degree?

• Experiences in Print and Digital Publication and Design
  Students may work as editors and staff members on one of several magazines to learn about manuscript selection, organizational management, copy editing, proofreading, layout and design. Students can work for the national literary magazine SLAB, The Roxy, and RockScissorsPaper. SLAB publishes creative writing from well-known and emerging artists, The Roxy celebrates student work in film studies; RockScissorsPaper includes student academic work and gives students digital writing publication experience.
• Travel-Abroad Experiences
  Life-changing academic travel opportunities are offered to students by faculty in the department. Students may choose to travel to Japan, Canada (Stratford Festival), or England (London).
• Online Writing Portfolio
  All students are asked to develop a writing portfolio. Students are encouraged to work with their advisers in selecting manuscripts to be included.
• Professional Experiences
  The department annually sends students to showcase work as the international Sigma Tau Delta conference in cities like Portland, Minneapolis, and Louisville, as well as supports student networking at AWP, the national creative writing convention. Students are also supported in their statewide presentations at the English Association of Pennsylvania State Universities Conference. Students can also present their work at The SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity. Faculty guide students in presentation preparation through mentorship, direct instruction, and abstract writing sessions.
• Scholarships and Internships
  The department offers monetary support through several scholarship opportunities, and advisers also work closely with students to acquire applied internships.