These programs are designed to prepare students for careers requiring analytical, presentational, and communication skills, pre-professional preparation for a variety of positions in publishing, law, state and federal service, commerce, and graduate education. The Department embraces several language-centered disciplines which are concerned with human values and experiences and the oral and written interpretation of texts. Majors in the English and Humanities Department learn to ask questions, think critically, analyze data, synthesize information, and communicate ideas effectively. Disciplines represented here encourage versatility, flexibility, and the ability to learn new concepts.
Literary Studies
Students majoring in Literary Studies will develop a comprehensive knowledge of the major branches of Western Literature, their historical development, and the critical apparatus used to analyze that literature. The Literary Studies Major encourages students to form their own interpretations through close, critical readings and teaches them to respond to texts through effective written and oral communication. As part of their coursework, students learn the research techniques of literary studies, which include the evaluation, analysis, and synthesis of scholarly sources. The major is writing-intensive, providing students with the communication skills of reading, writing, research, and interpretation that are essential for success in both graduate school and in their careers. YCP graduates in Literary Studies have been accepted into diverse graduate programs, including law, literature, and technical writing, and they have gained employment in publishing, business, education, government, communications, and the arts.
More than simply a course of study, the Literary Studies Major provides students with a community in which to engage issues concerning the English and Humanistic studies: the Department regularly sponsors lectures, panels, film series, plays, and poetry readings, and hosts an annual creative writing contest. In addition, students may work on The York Review, a juried collection of student writing. York College students may also engage themselves with the larger academic community of literary studies by participating in regional or even national conferences, usually attending with faculty members from the Department.
English majors who want to apply their skills in the workplace have the opportunity to do semester-long internships for credit. Literary Studies students regularly do internships at businesses, PR firms, newspapers, magazine publishers, social service agencies, and in local government. In consultation with a faculty member, a student may also create a semester-long independent study that is individually tailored to the students interests and needs. The areas of expertise of our faculty range across many periods of literature, many theoretical approaches, and genres, including poetry, drama, theatre, fiction, and non-fiction.
Theatre
If you love theatre and want to be part of a vital performance program where you will get chances, even as a freshman, to work on and off stage, then a theatre major at York College may be what you want. With a major in theatre you will learn how to write and analyze texts and documents, solve problems quickly and effectively, speak energetically and dramatically to audiences of all kinds and sizes, and contribute significantly to any group or team. A background in theatre will prepare you for careers in education, management, marketing, advertising, law, and public policy, as well as professional and graduate theatre programs. You will offer to prospective employers the valuable skills of creativity, imagination, independence of thought and action, patience, self-discipline, flexibility, initiative, teamwork, and dedication. Your energy, enthusiasm, strong work ethic, self-confidence, versatility, responsibility, and commitment will identify you as a well-rounded liberal arts graduate who can speak articulately, give confident presentations, and thrive under pressure. So even if a career in professional theatre turns out to be a dream, you will have prepared yourself to compete happily for a wide variety of opportunities. And you will have had a college experience full of fun, great friends, excitements, challenges, and satisfactions.
Professional Writing
A major in Professional Writing provides an education firmly grounded in the liberal arts, preparing students for a wide range of careers as writers or communications specialists in fields such as publishing, government and non-governmental organization (NGOs), corporate communications, information technology, social service organizations, healthcare, finance, and the arts. A Professional Writing major is also excellent preparation for students who wish to pursue law school or graduate work in professional or technical writing, creative writing, rhetoric and composition, media studies, communication, and other fields.
We live in an Information Age, and the need for skilled writers and communicators in many different kinds of organizations continues to grow at the local, national, and international levels. As a result, Professional Writing has become one of the fastest growing areas of English studies. A major in Professional Writing combines the broad-based education of all of the English and Humanities Department's programs with the practical skills, web and document design skills, and career opportunities that can lead to a fulfilling and successful future.
Specifically, the Professional Writing major provides students with the following:
- Marketable communication skills such as editing, web design, and collaborative writing
- Experiential learning through an on-site internship in professional writing
- A wide range of critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- A professional portfolio of print- and web-based writing
- A liberal-arts based foundation in the history and theory of language
- Guided experience in writing for a wide range of situations using a variety of stylistic options
For more information on York College's writing programs, go here.
Philosophy
Students pursuing a major in philosophy critically study the abiding questions facing humankind: What is the nature of God? Why be moral? Is there an afterlife? What is beauty? What is truth? What is justice? What does it mean to know? Philosophy majors at York College develop a comprehensive knowledge of the history of philosophy and the representative philosophical problems and issues of the discipline. They study some of the worlds greatest literature, including masterpieces by such diverse thinkers as Plato, Augustine, Descartes, Marx, Nietzsche, Derrida, and Foucault. Along the way, they come to understand the extent to which philosophers have influenced and shaped the development of science, art, literature, politics, education, and theology. The study of philosophy develops analytical, critical, and interpretive abilities, cultivating a students capacities for reflection and self-expression. The study of philosophy further enhances the students capacity to apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems across academic fields of study.
Philosophy is excellent preparation for careers that demand careful reading, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities. A major in philosophy provides a solid foundation for students planning careers in medicine, law, education, and business. Philosophy majors receive some of the highest scores on such admissions tests as the Law School Aptitude Test and the Medical College Aptitude Test. Admissions officers find philosophy majors particularly well prepared to master the difficult subject matter they will encounter in professional school. Philosophy majors from York College have successfully gone on to pursue graduate degrees in philosophy. Major employers are also discovering that philosophy majors have finely honed analytic skills and problem solving abilities that make them extremely effective in a variety of professional careers. As the Times of London reported in 1998, "The great virtue of philosophy is that it teaches not what to think, but how to think." Philosophy majors succeed in executive and management sectors of business that require the ability to assimilate information, analyze situations, and produce effective solutions to complex problems. For more information on studying Philosophy at York College, go here.
Spanish
The Spanish major at York College is an applied language major that allows the student the opportunity to become proficient in the language and to select a minor from a wide range of disciplines. This curriculum recognizes the demand in practically every work setting for individuals who are competent in Spanish. The primary emphasis in this major is the acquisition of Spanish language proficiency, the appreciation of Spanish and Spanish-American literature, and the understanding of the many cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The secondary emphasis is on the application of this knowledge to an area in the curriculum in which the student plans to use Spanish in the future. Through their choices in courses, Spanish majors have the flexibility to construct a unique program that best suits their needs and interests.
There are three features that make the Spanish major at York College unique. The first is the emphasis given to the application of Spanish skills to a career filed. By completing the requirements of a minor in another field, students gain knowledge and skills in a discipline in which they may apply their language skills. The second unique feature is the required study abroad component. We recognize that the best way for students to improve their language skills and appreciation of another culture is to be immersed in that culture. The study abroad requirement is an essential component to experiencing the Spanish language and culture first hand. While a full semester abroad is recommended, participation in a brief, intensive immersion program abroad is also an option. Finally, as a capstone experience, each of our Spanish majors is required to participate in an internship or to conduct independent research on a topic of interest.
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Spanish major, the career direction of graduates from this program varies considerably. Students may wish to pursue graduate studies or enter a career in international relations, human services, or public relations, just to name a few. Regardless of the students career interests, the skills and knowledge acquired as a Spanish major will prove to be a valuable asset. Not only will you be equipped to communicate in a second language; you will also gain insights into another culture that facilitates building bridges rather than barriers.
Secondary Education--English or Communications
The Secondary Education-English or Communications program is designed to prepare students for a career in teaching English at the Secondary school level. The program includes coursework in the following areas: General Education requirements, English and Humanities Department requirements, specialization courses or English elective courses, professional preparation courses, and a professional semester of student teaching. This program provides instruction and practical experiences in determining effective instructional approaches in the teaching of particular components of the secondary school curriculum: language study, reading, literature, writing, listening, and speaking. Students develop an awareness of the many responsibilities faced by secondary English teachers and learn how to work within today's school environment to improve instructional effectiveness and efficiency. The education courses focus on the effectiveness of the teacher's methods and on the value of the students' learning experiences.
Coursework for the Secondary Education-English program includes 9 credit hours of English electives, with one course chosen from a selection of multicultural literature offerings. The Secondary Education-Communications program requires students to select a specialization area of either speech, media, or drama.
Students must apply for admission into the teacher education program according to the Education Department's guidelines. In addition, students must complete the Observation and Participation Program and pass the National Teacher exam (see Department of Education for a complete description of teacher preparation requirements).
In addition to its major programs, the English and Humanities Major also has minors in each of its major programs as well as in French, German, Creative Writing, Religious Studies, and Film Studies.
Women's and Gender Studies Minor
