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Why English?

Megan headshot
Megan, Class of 2023
Previous Editor-in-Chief of The Reflector, pursuing a Master's in English and Sexuality and Gender Studies at the University of Chicago.
“I would not be here today without the support of my professors and there were so many that I would just list the whole English Department...Each one of them sees you as a person first and foremost... they were very, very caring and willing to listen to your needs and your interests.”
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At Shippensburg University, English majors and minors graduate with not only an appreciation for literature and the arts but also with the skills needed to advance into a variety of careers. Graduating with a degree in English enables students to engage in careers in publishing, journalism, web content writing and design, public relations, teaching, and marketing, among countless others. From small businesses to large corporations; from local newspapers to mass media outlets: with an English major, the job possibilities are endless. The English Department provides students with skills that consistently rank highest among attributes employers* want, including the ability to:

  • think outside the box
  • innovate and create
  • solve problems
  • work well as part of a team
  • apply their written and oral communication skills
  • appreciate diversity

Why English at Ship? You’ll Go Places!

At Ship, we strive to move our students out of the classroom so you can see your skills in action: through conferences, internships, tutoring opportunities, and undergraduate faculty-student research. With our small class sizes and close mentorship, you will learn, grow, and apply the skills you need and graduate with confidence!

Are you a current Ship student curious about switching majors or picking up an English minor?  Check out the Programs link and email our department chair, Dr. Michael Bibby.

Current Ship English major searching for a degree sheet?

* National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2019

Emily Testimonial

 

"Being an English major can really help you in all aspects of your future. You develop communicative, analytical, and writing skills that you won't necessarily find in any other major. We learn transferable skills that are really valuable in a lot of career fields."

- Emily Mitchell, ' 18. 

  • Students demonstrate that they can closely interact with, and effectively use, primary texts (either in part or in whole).

  • Students demonstrate insight into author, perspective, or tradition discussed; describe the relationship between compared texts; and analyze how details of the text contribute to its meaning.

  • Students produce rhetorically effective writing that illustrates content mastery and adheres to disciplinary conventions for organization, presentation, and formatting.

  • Students produce clear and grammatically consistent writing.

  • Students demonstrate the ability to read attentively and critically, and effectively interpret and draw conclusions about primary texts that move beyond summary.

  • Students learn how to revise their written work effectively, and they demonstrate skills in multi-modal writing tasks.

  • Students demonstrate understanding of the formal elements and conventions of literary genres and how they relate to a text’s meanings.

  • Students demonstrate accurate knowledge of historical periods and relevant historical contexts and interpret how elements of literature reflect these contexts.

  • Students demonstrate that they can evaluate, integrate, and document sources and develop authentic expression in relation to sources.

Contact the English Department

Dauphin Humanities Center 128   1871 Old Main Drive   Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-477-1495 Fax: (717) 477-4020