The English major at Seton Hill University comprises three programs:
- Literature
- Creative Writing
- New Media Journalism
All three programs share a common core that focuses on developing advanced reading, interpretive, and writing skills.
- LA100: Basic Composition (students may test out of this)
- LA101: Seminar in Thinking and Writing (all SHU students take)
- EL150: Intro to Literary Studies (reading and interpretive skills; writing literary essays; basic research; entrepreneurial/professional skills)
A book professors often use in this class: So You’re an English Major… Now What? - EL237: Writing about Literature (including prose and verse, fiction and nonfiction; the researched essay; intro to theory)
- English Capstone (create a portfolio and a formal presentation to showcase your learning)
All students, regardless of major, are encouraged to participate in, and hold leadership positions in
- Eye Contact (literary magazine; participation is open to all. Motto: “Anything creative. Anyone creative enough.”)
- A recent Eye Contact editor is now working as a graphic designer, writing plays, sketches, and radio programs that have been produced in the Pittsburgh area.
- Other recent Eye Contact staff members are working as freelance writers, technical writers, and teachers, or attending grad school.
Setonian (student newspaper; participation is open to all. Motto: “The student voice of the hill.”) - A recent Setonian editor went to grad school at New York University, and is now working as a blogger for CBS News in Manhattan.
- Other recent Setonian staff members went on to the following: local journalism, public relations, technical writing, graduate school (library science, creative writing, law).
An active English Club hosts poetry readings, literacy events, and guest speakers.
All students benefit from the faculty members who are accomplished poets, novelists, essayists, scholars, bloggers, and teachers.
Courses regularly cover a range of traditional and cutting-edge topics such as literature and nonfiction, today’s literature and culture and the classics, and how to write for online readers.
