Degree Details
Offered as: Bachelor
Optional Concentrations & Specializations
- Secondary Education Specialization
- Theatre Concentration
Why Study English at Mount Aloysius College?
Study of the English language is, to some degree, fundamental to every academic and professional endeavor. As English speakers, our language shapes and populates even our thoughts. As career preparation, English may well be the singular academic pursuit which opens endless possibilities.
More than just reading classic and popular literature from Beowulf to Harry Potter, the study of English involves honing our use of the spoken and written word, and the ability to assess the validity of what we read and hear.
Students are invited into the world of research and literature; and the program provides excitement in honing abilities as writers, readers and critical thinkers. Therefore, the study of English is an exceptional platform from which to embark on careers as journalists, editors, librarians, professors, public relations professionals, marketers, actors, dramatists, or lawyers. A solid foundation in English can also provide entree’ into a variety of graduate school options.
What do English majors do?
Mount Aloysius students who graduate with their Bachelor’s degree in English can pursue many different career paths. English majors work in careers that emphasize communications skills and creative thinking, as well as knowledge of the overall English language, comprehension and creation of good and accurate writing.
Possible Careers
Graduating with a degree in English opens a world of possibilities. Some career paths include:
- Social Service Agencies at the state and local level.
- Law.
- Marketing Departments for small business and large corporations.
- Public Relations.
- Management positions in various business tracks.
- Writing and/or editing for newspapers and magazines.
- Academic and Public librarianship.
- English graduates also pursue graduate degrees in English, Business, Library Science, and more.
Recent Success Stories
- John Moist, Class of 2014, is a Graduate Fellow studying Rhetoric at Baylor University
- Pam Young, Class of 2014, is a Behavior Support Specialist (BSS) at Kaleidoscope Family Solutions, Inc. As an English major with a Theatre minor, Pam has also started her own drama therapy program in Cresson, Pennsylvania.
- Kalyn Blake, Class of 2016, is a Marketing Assistant at Advanced Regional Center for Ankle and Foot Care in Altoona, PA. Kalyn is also a Graduate Assistant in Communications who is pursuing her Master’s in Business at Mount Aloysius College.
Who will teach me?
The faculty of the English and Fine Arts Department all hold appropriate doctoral or terminal degrees. All faculty members take part in regular professional development, whether through research writing, conference presentations, or continuing education, which adds to their knowledge base pertaining to their areas of scholarly expertise. Furthermore, the faculty of the English and Fine Arts Department also regularly contribute service to the College community by overseeing service projects, working with student clubs, and supporting campus events, speakers, co-curricular and extracurricular programs that are valuable to students and a vital part of the campus culture.
Dig Deeper
Choral Performance Minor (Vox Nova)
This minor course of study focuses on performance, technique (vocal technique and singing technique), and music comprehension. Students will work in various genres of vocal music. Working with dedicated classmates in the Vox Nova Choir, participants gain valuable communication, organizational, and time management skills.
Visit the Vox Nova page for more information.
A distillation of the English Major, this minor course of study provides a focus on reading, writing, speaking, and listening, providing students pursuing other degrees an added focus on critical thinking. Students in this minor discuss a broad spectrum of literary works, cultures, and historical periods. In addition, these students are given a solid background in literary research.
This hands-on minor requires the student to understand and apply the A.R.T. (Access-Release-Transform) process for themselves and guide others in using the process for healing; students must work in various modalities (drawing, movement, sound, play/drama, storytelling, poetry, masking, and journaling). Students will study methodology of this therapeutic technique, as well as direct others, create lesson plans, and evaluate the process (for both client and agency). The counseling component of this minor requires the student to study the history of counseling, the need for advocacy, the legal and ethical issues in counseling (American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code), the various theories of human development, the various theories of counseling, and the diversity of client populations and treatment settings.
The Mount Aloysius Theatre produces three major plays during the course of each academic year. Through participation in the production process, as well as enrollment in theatre classes, students in this minor experience theater on the stage and the page. Theatre students develop a thorough understanding of theater history and tradition, as well as practice, method, and theory associated with acting, directing, and technical aspects of performance and production. The demands of each production foster time management, organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills that are invaluable for undergraduate students.
Visit the Theatre page for more information.
Visit the Theatre page for more information.
Students in this minor are able to analyze the impact of social structure and culture on gender, understand the interdisciplinary nature of women’s studies, acquire an understanding of women’s issues from multi-ethnic and multicultural perspectives, and develop an awareness of the current debates and issues in the field of women’s studies via an analysis of important texts by or about women.
Students may also pursue the English major, and at the sophomore level, enter into the Education certification track (at the secondary or elementary level). This instruction for future educators provides solid grounding in the English teaching specialty and also provides quality instruction on the latest pedagogical theory and technological tools needed in the classroom.
The Belltower Fellowships is available for majors, as well as non-majors, who hold an interest in journalistic writing. The Belltower is the online campus newspaper, written and produced by students. Students that wish to be involved with The Belltower have the option to be writers, editors, or designers. Upon graduation, students have an extensive writing/editing/design portfolio, which can be linked to an electronic resume.
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