English

Susan Wells, Department Chair
Michael Kaufmann, Undergraduate Chair
Undergraduate English Office: 1030 Anderson Hall
(215) 204 – 7561
engugrad@temple.edu

Note: Department chairs frequently change at the beginning of the academic year.  Students should contact departments for updated information.

Requirements for English Major
Requirements for English Minor
Writing Certificate

Description of Department and Major

The English major helps students develop as readers of interesting, complex texts, including literary texts. Majors read writing from a variety of historical contexts and cultures; this experience builds their understanding of the relation between society and language. English majors become critical and reflective readers, aware of the history and development of writing in English. They are also good, inventive writers, able to analyze problems, to do careful and inventive research, to argue and to evaluate the arguments of others.

The English major is good preparation for a career in writing or editing—of stories, speeches, legal documents, advertising, research projects, poems, grant proposals, essays, or letters. English majors also find careers in publishing and journalism, public relations, business, industry, management, marketing, social services, and government. English is a strong pre-professional major for law, medicine, library science, and teaching.

The English department has a distinguished faculty of nationally known critics, writers, and scholars who will teach you, usually in small classes. You will choose from a range of exciting courses (about forty English courses each semester), and from interdisciplinary programs such as the Five-year Program in English and Education, Temple’s special minor in Business, or a double major in English and any other department throughout the University. Internships are offered with area institutions such as the Temple Press, the University of Pennsylvania Press, the Urban League, WHYY public radio, Philadelphia Magazine, United Way, the Red Cross, Bread and Roses, J. B. Lippincott Publishers, First Union Bank, and the Academy of Natural Sciences. The department offers community-based projects, such as the New City Press and our Institute for the Study of Literature, Literacy, and Culture. There is an active program of readings by resident and visiting writers and artists. Students are active in writing and producing literary magazines: Hyphen is published on the main campus, and The Parable at Ambler.

 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENGLISH MAJOR

 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENGLISH MINOR

WRITING CERTIFICATE