Bachelor’s Degree in English & Humanities
Read closely. Write clearly. Think hard about what language and literature actually do — and walk away with the skills employers say they want most.
Program Overview
A degree in English & Humanities develops a student’s skills in thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of how the relationship of language and literature lives within cultural issues. Emphasizing critical thinking and communication skills, the degree is often combined with a number of minors – business, communication, Spanish – to enhance a students’ attractiveness to employers.
In the English & Humanities Generalist program, you will complete a core set of English courses designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of linguistics, foreign language, and theory and practice in composition, with an overview of literature from around the world.
With 34 hours of elective coursework, you have the opportunity to build your degree to be tailored to your interests while fine-tuning your written and oral communication skills through hands-on learning opportunities. The English & Humanities department also provides experiences of other cultures through the Hodgden Travel Grant, allowing students to develop a wider understanding of humanities throughout the world.
Providing students with a baseline of education in English & Humanities while also allowing students to develop their degree through electives, students also gain critical sought-after communication skills for future employment.
join Sigma Tau Delta, the prestigious international English honor society
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
At A Glance
Bachelor’s Degree in English & Humanities
Degree
B.A.
Format
On Campus
Length
4 years (full-time)
Class Size
12:1
Location
Main Campus
Why Study Bachelor’s Degree in English & Humanities at Shawnee University
You get a strong English & Humanities core — linguistics, foreign language, composition theory and practice, and a wide view of world literature — and then 34 elective hours to shape the degree around your own interests.
Communication and analytical writing skills travel. The same degree feeds careers in publishing, public relations, library science, marketing, teaching, law, and nonprofit work.
Travel-based learning is on the table through the Hodgden Travel Grant, which funds student experiences with other cultures.
Top students are eligible for Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society.
Hands-on writing and editing on The Chronicle (student newspaper) and The Silhouette (literary journal) give you a real portfolio.
The Generalist track gives you a strong foundation in linguistics, composition theory and practice, world literature, Shakespeare, and British, American, and contemporary literature, then a wide selection of electives so you can build the degree around what you care about. A required 3-credit capstone lets you turn your studies into a focused, public-facing project.
- Core coursework in linguistics, composition theory, and major literary traditions
- 34 credit hours of electives to focus the degree on your interests
- Required 3-credit capstone project
- Frequent pairing with minors in business, communication, or Spanish to broaden your job options
Small classes mean you actually get faculty feedback on your writing. You can publish on The Chronicle (the student newspaper) and The Silhouette (the literary journal), and use the Hodgden Travel Grant to study cultures and writers in context.
Students who complete the English & Humanities core will be able to:
- situate texts within a historical and cultural context;
- analyze texts through the lens of literary, cultural, rhetorical, and/or linguistic theory; and
- compose effective arguments supported by relevant evidence from primary and secondary sources.
On campus in Portsmouth, Ohio, in the Department of English & Humanities.
Employers hire English & Humanities graduates for the same skills they say are hardest to find: clear writing, careful reading, and the ability to make sense of complicated information.
- Editor, writer, or content strategist
- Public relations or communications specialist
- Grant writer or development associate
- Library or museum professional
- Marketing or technical writer
- Teacher, paralegal, or policy analyst (with the right add-on credentials)
Common industries include publishing, public relations, marketing, business and finance, library science, museums, education, law and public policy, and nonprofits.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State’s tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
Bachelor’s Degree in English & Humanities Frequently Asked Questions
All over the map — publishing, public relations, grant writing, library science, marketing, business, teaching, law, public policy, journalism, museums, and technical communication. The skills (writing, reading, analysis) are what most of these jobs are hiring for.
Most generalist students do. Pairing English & Humanities with a minor in business, communication, marketing, or Spanish tends to widen the job pool quickly. Your advisor can help you sequence it without adding extra semesters.
Yes. The Hodgden Travel Grant supports student travel tied to humanities study, so you can study other cultures and literatures on the ground.
Program handbook
Contact the Department of English & Humanities for the current program handbook and course rotation.
Accreditation
Shawnee State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
