FAQs

English and Philosophy

Get answers to the English and Philosophy questions most frequently asked by students at PennWest Edinboro.

General

Please note: Many of the questions below reference the University Course Catalogs, which can be accessed here.

English offices are located on the second floor of Dearborn Hall.

To find office hours and contact information for faculty, consult the syllabus or check the list posted in the department lobby. You can find professors’ phone numbers and email addresses using the Campus Directory on your myEdinboro page. You can also call the Department office at 732-2736. While you don’t need an appointment to see professors during their office hours, it’s a good idea to call or email so they know you’re coming. If you can’t make it to office hours, ask the faculty member to set up an appointment for another time.

Check S.C.O.T.S. for your advisor’s name or contact the department secretary (732-2736) or the Office of Records and Registration (732-3501). If your advisor is on leave, contact the department chairperson, Dr. Mary Paniccia Carden at mpcarden@edinbor.edu.

Watch S.C.O.T.S. for seats to open. There is quite a bit of movement in and out of classes before the semester begins and during the first week of classes. In some limited instances, professors might be able to allow overrides.

English and Philosophy Majors and Minors

All students should take ENGL 101: College Writing Skills during their first semester at Edinboro. Students should take ENGL 102: Research Writing during their second semester.

English majors and minors can find course requirements on Degree Works (click the icon on myEdinboro on the department webpage under the “Majors and Programs” tab, and in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Curriculum information for the Literature, Writing, and Secondary English Education Concentrations is available outside the Chair’s office (Dearborn 218), in the Department lobby, or here:

Click on the “Majors and Programs” tab on the Department of English and Philosophy webpage or check the Undergraduate catalog.

Curriculum information for the Literature, Writing, and Secondary English Education programs and for the Creative Writing, English, and Professional Writing minors is available outside the Chair’s office (Dearborn 218) and in the Department lobby. The Department Chairperson, Dr. Mary Paniccia Carden, is happy to talk with prospective majors and minors. Contact her at mpcarden@pennwest.edu or 814-732-1584.

Recent Edinboro graduates with English degrees have gone on to attend prestigious graduate and law schools. They work in publishing-related areas, and in marketing, communications, education, business, government, and sales fields. They have found jobs as reporters, editors, technical writers, information officers, college professors, lawyers, and internet consultants. Find information about potential careers on our webpage under the “Jobs and Internships” tab or pick up an English Career Development Guide from the Department lobby or the Chair’s office (Dearborn 218)

Information about the Philosophy minor is available on our webpage under “Majors and Programs” in the Undergraduate Catalog and outside the Department Chairperson’s office (Dearborn 218) and in the Department lobby.

You could also contact Dr. Stephen Sullivan at ssullivan@pennwest.edu to discuss the program.

Information about the Women’s Studies minor is available on our webpage under the “Majors and Programs” tab, in the Undergraduate Catalog, and outside the Department Chairperson’s office (Dearborn 218) and in the Department lobby. .

You could also contact Dr. Mary Paniccia Carden at mpcarden@pennwest.edu to discuss the program.

Course descriptions are available in PennWest Edinboro’s Undergraduate Catalog.

Course descriptions are available in PennWest Edinboro’s Undergraduate Catalog.

Contact your advisor right away to review your options; we will do everything we can to find a solution that will enable you to graduate on schedule.

Talk to your advisor about options for employment and/or graduate study in your areas of interest. You could also contact a counselor at the Career Development Center (814-732-2781).

English General Education Courses

Yes. ENGL 101: College Writing Skills and ENGL 102: Research Writing are required of all students as part of the General Education program. These courses prepare students for college-level writing. Many students also take English courses as electives or to fulfill General Education requirements.

All students should take ENGL 101: College Writing Skills during their first semester at Edinboro. Students should take ENGL 102: Research Writing during their second semester.

Students who want to take English classes to fulfill General Education requirements can find a list of appropriate courses in the Undergraduate Catalog or on Degree Works.

They can also check S.C.O.T.S. during registration to determine which courses fulfill which General Education categories. All students should confer with their advisors before registering for courses.

ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 must be taken in order. Many courses required for majors and minors list ENGL 101 or 102 as prerequisites. Check the Undergraduate catalog and be sure to consult with your advisor before registering.

Visit the English Placement page on our website for more information.

Troubleshooting

You should always talk to your professor first. If you are unable to resolve the problem, you should speak with the department chairperson.

See your professor during office hours. The University Writing Center is also a great resource. Staff are ready and willing to assist you at any step of the writing process, from brainstorming through proofreading.  For information, click here

Be sure to review the assignment and bring any notes, drafts or other materials. It’s also a good idea to come with specific questions.

 

Contact Us

English and Philosophy


131 Alexander Music Center
110 Kiltie Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Phone: 814-732-2736

William Hunter, PhD
Department Chair
127 Alexander Music Center
Email: whunter@pennwest.edu
Phone: 814-732-1552