

Develop and refine your writing style; deepen your literary analysis, and gain the broad, flexible, and indispensable skills that prepare you for a wide variety of graduate programs and careers with the English bachelor’s degree program at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. The major in English consists of three concentrations: British and American literature, Western and World literature, and Writing. If electives permit, you can work on more than one concentration at a time. If you’re interested in teaching, you may also work in the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Literature program.
Deepen your insight into the human condition
Through your Franciscan University English degree, grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition, you’ll grow in your understanding of the human condition, the world, your Catholic faith, and God. You’ll search for truth, goodness, and beauty in works of both fiction and nonfiction from diverse cultures and literary traditions. You’ll learn from mentoring English degree faculty who stay current in their particular research fields, from contemporary Christian poetry to medieval literature.
Here are just a few other ways Franciscan’s English bachelor’s degree program stands out from the rest:
English majors may choose among three concentrations at Franciscan: British and American Literature, Western and World Literature, or Writing.
In British and American Literature you will be exposed to a broad range of styles, ideas, and authors, with authors ranging from the medieval world to the most current trends in English-language literature. Our students enrolled in this Literature Bachelor’s Degree Program usually take courses in classical mythology, Shakespearean works and more.
The Western and World Literature concentration looks at the British and American traditions, but moves beyond them to explore the traditions outside the English-speaking world. Students will be exposed to subjects such as Russian literature as well as modern world literature.
Students in the Writing concentration experience and develop the writing process through the reading of great literary models, through collaboration with real audiences, and through editing and incorporating writing techniques and strategies into their own styles. Students learn to appreciate not only content but also style. A variety of written discourses is presented for students to emulate and to analyze as they experience their own voice through writing. Within this concentration, students will engage in composition and creative writing courses, all while coming to understand their need as writers to present truth and beauty with concision and clarity.
Note that all English majors have specific graduation requirements. During senior year, you will develop and present a well-reasoned senior thesis as well as compile a collection of written work from your years of study to be put into a diverse portfolio.
No matter what your focus area, when you leave Franciscan’s English Bachelor’s Degree Program, you will possess a deeper understanding of the human person, the world, and God, equipped with the ability to think critically and write well—two of the most sought-after skills by today’s employers.
The possibilities for your future are seemingly endless when you major in English at Franciscan University. You can use your English degree to pursue graduate studies in a variety of areas, including law, education, and political science, or to go on to seminary. Writing, editing, and publishing jobs for English majors are plentiful. With the strong communication skills you gain through your English degree, you’ll also be in demand for jobs in nearly every industry. You’ll also find Franciscan English majors teaching in Catholic schools throughout the United States and all over the world.
Graduate Programs for English Majors
Potential Job Titles for English Majors
View the English Program on the Undergraduate Catalog
“I would encourage anyone to study literature with an open mind and open heart,” says Joseph Cunningham. “Regardless of the career path you choose, it will enrich you. ”Joseph earned…
read more
“At Franciscan, it’s possible to explore every side of a work of literature in a way other universities can’t — in the light of truth, in the full context of…
read more
In her senior year at Oxford University’s Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Victoria Bonutti studied in the city where J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Gerard Manley Hopkins, John Henry Newman…
read more
Study the medieval, Renaissance, and early modern periods at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford University in England. The semester-long opportunity is ideal for English majors.
Through Franciscan University’s Omicron Iota chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, you’ll make lasting connections with distinguished English majors on campus and nationally and internationally. Society members serve others through service projects right here in Steubenville, Ohio. You’ll also have opportunities to write for the Sigma Tau Delta literary magazine, which could lead to recognition and awards.
Study the great writers and walk the streets where they once walked through the Austria Program at Franciscan University. Take English, history, and other courses, taught by Franciscan faculty, in a 14th-century monastery that also serves as your home. Explore Europe during three-day weekends, spent with other English majors and students from Franciscan and other private and public universities and colleges.
Still undecided? You might also be interested in these other undergraduate degree programs at Franciscan that are similar to the English bachelor’s degree.