Contact us to learn more about the English program.
English faculty at an open mic event sponsored by the campus literary arts magazine.
Why Major in English?
Employers in all industries love to hire English majors. Why? Because they appreciate the fact that English majors know how to communicate effectively and think critically. Penn State Altoona English majors master these skills through courses in literature, writing, and rhetoric. By studying American, British, non-Anglo-American, and world literatures, you’ll learn how to synthesize and analyze information; formulate reasoned arguments and judgments; and develop perspectives on human nature, culture, and diversity. These skills prepare English majors for careers and postgraduate study in:
- business
- marketing
- education (K-12 and college-level teaching)
- law
- medicine
- creative writing
- social media management
- government
- nonprofit management
- publishing
- advertising
- professional and technical writing
- journalism
- various liberal arts disciplines
You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in career internships and in Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, and to learn from published faculty who have won University-wide teaching awards.
Minors and Concentrations Within the Major
The English major offers two minors—the minor in English and the minor in Professional Writing—and two concentrations, Creative Writing and Global Narratives. The English minor will allow you to take any combination of literature and writing courses to hone your critical reading and analytical skills. The Professional Writing minor will prepare you to write effectively in the workplace and in academic settings. The Creative Writing concentration will hone your skills in both practical and creative forms by providing you with instruction and intensive practice in writing. The Global Narratives concentration is designed for students who wish to expand their literary studies in English by exploring literatures and other narrative forms from a wide geographic and temporal scope.
More than sixty students, faculty, staff, and community members attended the spring Hard Freight Café open mic on Tuesday, March 29, in the Titelman Study of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. The event kicked off with readings by English professors Todd Davis and Erin Murphy who launched their new books of poetry. Attendees then read from their original poems and stories, performed music, and shared work by their favorite writers. The event was sponsored by Penn State Altoona's English program and Hard Freight, Penn State Altoona's literary arts magazine.
A student presents to the audience at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café
Image: Erin Murphy
A Penn State Altoona offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café
Image: Erin Murphy
Student perform at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
Todd Davis, professor of English and environmental studies, offers a reading of his work at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
Erin Murphy, professor of English, offers a reading of her work at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
Ian Marshal performs at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading to the audience at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
A student offers a reading at the spring 2022 Hard Freight Café.
Image: Erin Murphy
Writing and Publishing Opportunities
Interested in creative writing? Penn State Altoona students can take workshops in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and playwriting, as well as pursue a more focused study through the creative writing concentration. Want hands-on experience and practice of your professional skills? Consider writing for the Collegiate Review, the student newspaper, or Hard Freight, the college literary magazine. Outside of the classroom, engage with visiting writers and with the current Emerging Writer-in-Residence. Creative writing faculty have won national and international awards, have published dozens of books, and are excited to help you reach your potential.