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English Literature and Communication

English Literature and Communication

The English Literature and Communication major combines literary analysis with an emphasis on professional speaking and writing. It offers students the opportunity to  hone the much-needed skills of analysis, clear thinking and writing while also providing them the chance to study the human condition through the words and wisdom of famous authors from varied cultures and backgrounds.

Major and Minor Requirements

For information about major and minor requirements, view the English Literature and Communication section of the Catalog.

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Class Experiences

When students choose to pursue the English literature and communication major at Chestnut Hill College, they will be providing themselves with a rich cultural background, in addition to developing the analytical and communication skills so important in today's job market. Majors will graduate with real-world experience attained outside of the classroom through internships and clubs/activities and in-class experience that helps the students to grow and develop professionally within the field. 

Students graduate with the research and writing skills needed to succeed in the real-world and do so while becoming a whole person, alert and atune to what is going on around them, as is emphasized in the College's mission and commitment to a holistic, liberal arts education.

Co-curricular Programs

There are several on-campus clubs and organizations that are especially of interest to English literature majors. These include:

  • The Grackle, A Literary Magazine - The Grackle is the on-campus magazine which features student work in a variety of fields. Students are encouraged to submit original works of poetry, short stories, photographs, comic strips or other artistic pieces. The magazine comes out once a year with the planning and submission stages occurring in the fall and the production and distribution happening in the spring. All students are welcome to assist with any or all of the stages.
  • The Griffin, Student Newspaper - The Griffin is the student-run newspaper which is distributed both on and off campus once a month. Students are invited to become writers, featured writers and editors for the paper, which is currently run in print and online. For more information and to read past issues, please visit the Griffin's website.
  • The Aurelian, The Yearbook - Each year, a team of students works together to write stories, take and format photographs and layout the campus yearbook. Because there is a lot to do in a little time, all students who have any interest in writing, layout or photography are interested to join and assist with production.

Additionally, students who qualify with a major GPA of 3.0, who rank in the top 35 percent of their graduating class and who have completed three semesters of coursework and two courses in English above ENGU 101, may be asked to join Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. Students who qualify with a 3.25 major GPA and who have completed at least 60 semester credits, 12 of which must be in communications, may also be invited to join Lambda Pi Eta, the National Honor Society of Communication Studies.

Departmental Honors are offered within this major. Outstanding students with a high scholastic standing may be invited in their sophomore year to stand for honors in their junior and senior years. The program provides the opportunity for independent study and research, culminating in an honors thesis submitted in the spring of senior year. All students who successfully complete this program will be recognized with honors as well as have the title of their thesis printed on their academic transcripts. For more information, contact department chair Barbara Lonnquist at lonnquistb@chc.edu

Internships

Centrally located to the country's fourth largest media market, opportunities for English majors are boundless. Through connections from faculty, internships are available in a wide range of areas and at some very noted companies. These places include:

  • Philadelphia Magazine
  • Magnet Magazine
  • WPVI-TV
  • Chesapeake Life Magazine
  • WXTU-FM
  • Global Education Motivators
  • Chestnut Hill Local Newspaper
  • WMMR-FM
  • Telemundo (Spanish Language Television)
After Graduation

The versatility of this degree does challenge the graduate to work harder to demonstrate the skills she or he has to contribute to a business. Over 10% of positions in the publishing world are held by English majors with a Bachelor's degree. These positions include writing, editing, promotional work and others. 

Additionally, teaching remains a significant marketing skill as it opens the door for higher administrative positions later in one's career. Finally, the business world is always looking to English majors to provide much needed communication skills.

Some broad areas of employment:

  • Print or Electronic Journalism
  • Publishing
  • Creative Writing
  • Advertising and Public Relations
  • Business and Law
  • Education
  • Editing
Contact Information

If you are interested in becoming an English Literature and Communication major at Chestnut Hill College, please contact Barbara Lonnquist, Chairperson of the English and Communications Dept. (LonnquistB@chc.edu). 

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