Bachelor's Degree in English
Concentration: English Literature (BA)
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English Language Concentration Overview
Purdue University Northwest’s bachelor’s degree in English paired with a concentration in English literature is one of our most flexible programs. This concentration focuses on the study of literature and is broadly defined allowing for customization with your literary interests! Whether you are interested in film, pop culture, classical or modern texts, this concentration teaches careful analysis and has opportunities for creative and professional writing.
Department of English and World Languages
Because the Literature concentration involves extensive training in writing and close attention to the meaning of texts, this option provides a flexible set of skills that can be applied to a variety of careers.
English Literature Concentration Curriculum
You’ll take a balance of general education courses, College of Humanities, Education and Social Science core courses and English courses. As a student in the English literature concentration, you’ll plan your future in our first-year experience course. Then work one-on-one with caring, accomplished faculty mentors. Along the way, you’ll network with alumni, employers and community members.
Our recently revised curriculum emphasizes project-based learning and experiences that employers value, including group work and hands-on projects.
Begin with the English first-year seminar, English composition, and general education courses, as well as your first literature course.
Sample Courses
- ENGL 11200 – First-Year Seminar For English Majors
- ENGL 10400 – English Composition I
Continue with a class in thematic cultural and literary study as well as a course in either digital media or creative writing.
Sample Courses
- ENGL 10500 – English Composition II
- COM 11400 – Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
Advance to higher-level courses in the humanities and social sciences alongside studies in diverse literatures and culture.
Sample Courses
- US Traditions
- Literature and the Arts
- Literature Elective
Complete your studies with project-based learning, working with regional employers and real-world clients.
Sample Courses
- Global Cultures – select from CHESS College Core List
- Theory Course – ENGL 40300 or ENGL 46900
- Author Course – ENGL 41100, ENGL 44100
English Literature Concentration Highlights
Why do employers want English majors?
With training in writing, reading, and critical thinking, our majors are creative and flexible. You’ll be well positioned to find opportunities in today’s economy. We specialize in storytelling — and in a world drowning in data, we need people who can find the story in the data.
English Literature Concentration Outcomes
Beyond writing, reading and critical thinking, our majors are also specialists in the crucial leadership skill of empathy –understanding how other people think and feel. We are also specialists in inspiration, through studying the most powerful and memorable cultural objects ever created. You’ll learn to use that power to inspire others.
English Literature Concentration Career Paths
You can do just about anything with an English major. It’s a versatile degree that can be applied to sectors as wide ranging as healthcare, law, social services and technology. Many of our graduates work in roles like:
- Marketing content writer
- Copy editor
- Social media manager
English Literature Concentration Beyond the Classroom
We encourage English majors to participate in activities like:
- “Furnace,” the student literary journal, which is edited and produced entirely by students
- Internships with local employers
- Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society
English Literature Concentration Employers
Graduates of this program are employed in organizations and companies like:
- Local and national corporations
- Libraries, educational institutions and nonprofits
- Publishers and arts/cultural institutions
English Literature Concentration Scholarships
A variety of scholarships support studying literature at PNW. Inquire with the university’s financial aid office for more information.
Having the opportunity to study [abroad] and work in Spain… The experience provided me with a great opportunity to ‘try out’ living and working abroad before I fully committed to a career in international journalism.
Meet the Faculty
Professor of English
I am a cultural historian with an expertise in modern British literature and culture. Prior to PNW, I have worked at St. Lawrence University, New York University, and Georgia Tech.
Associate Professor of English
Jesse Cohn teaches in the Department of English, publishing research on twentieth- and twenty-first-century literature, popular culture, theory, and the cultural history of anarchism.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree in English with a Concentration in English Literature at PNW
Purdue University Northwest’s English literature concentration enables you to analyze a variety of literature while building a path to your future!
To see how a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in literature from PNW opens doors, from corporate boardrooms to non-profit work, take the next step today!
