Contact the English Program Coordinator to learn more
I can’t stress this enough: an English major provides you with the critical thinking and communication skills that are seriously valued in many fields. I have heard from several of my employers that my writing and research skills, creative problem-solving ability, and capacity for observing patterns and connecting those to ‘the bigger picture’ (learned through a lot of close reading in literature classes) made me a stand-out employee.
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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 three concentrations, Creative Writing, Technical 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 Technical Writing concentration is designed for students who enjoy writing, problem-solving, and engaging with technology. 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.
Hard Freight Café Spring 2023
The spring 2023 Hard Freight Café open mic event was held on Tuesday, March 28, in the Titelman Study of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. Students and faculty performed music and shared poems, stories, essays, and visual art. Kicking off the evening were readings by Ian Marshall, professor emeritus of English and environmental studies, and Lee Peterson, associate professor of English. The event was sponsored by Hard Freight, Penn State Altoona's student literary arts magazine.
The crowd listens to Ian Marshall reading from his novel.
Ian Marshall, professor emeritus of English and environmental studies, reads from his new novel, Adventures of Ordinary Man!
Ian Marshall's new novel.
Lee Peterson's new book of poetry.
Lee Peterson reads from her new book of poetry, In the Hall of North American Mammals.
The crowd listens to Lee Peterson read her poetry.
Aidan Pellegrino, Editor-in-Chief of Hard Freight, welcomes the audience.
Student Madison Eisaman reads a poem.
Student Yeyya Wane reads a poem.
Student Emera Gregor reads a poem.
Student Lydia Guttshall reads a short story.
Student Logan Wertz reads her work.
Student Nia Hubbard reads a poem.
Student Abbie Woods reads her work.
Student Talon McKendree shares his artwork.
Student Maddy Colello performs a song.
Tom Liszka, professor emeritus of English, reads a poem.
Brittany Shroeder reads a creative nonfiction essay.
Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, professor of English, reads a poem.
Student Danni West-Habjanetz reads a poem.
Student Maya Connell performs a song.
Student Makaylah Bangura performs a song a cappella.
Student Emma Moniz reads a short story.
Student Rose Ried reads a poem.
Fall 2022 English Senior Seminar Presentations
English Senior Seminar participants presented their projects on Monday, Dec. 5, in the Mountain View Room of Port-Sky Café. Their presentations were based on the work they did in ENGL 487W taught by Professor Laura Rotunno. This year's theme was “Widening the Stories, Widening our Worlds."
English faculty are shown with senior seminar participants.
Attendees listen to a student present his project on August Wilson.
Jordan Morral presents “’We might be the only living creatures in the whole world’: The Rock and British Imperialism on Joan Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock."
Danni West-Habjanetz presents "'Identity in the Substance Abuse Epidemic: Origin and Recovery': A Poetry Collection Conception inspired by Natalie Diaz’s When My Brother Was an Aztec."
Jim Miller presents “John Kane: Marginalization and Identity in Working Class Society.”
Katerina Poulos (right) is inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta English national honor society by Jeannette Lang, assistant teaching professor of English.
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.
