The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, an Ivy League school, offers the 4th-best English program in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. Students take a wide range of courses in both American and English literature where study critical approach, cultural studies and literary theory. Philadelphia's Temple University, ranked number 63 by U.S. News and World Report, offers a program that helps its students ease into the rigors of an English major program. The first required course, also known as "The Gateway," helps students learn about the foundation of the program and develop the skills they will need to thrive academically.
U.S. News and World Report ranks the University of Pittsburgh in the top 50 English departments in the nation. Students in the department can work on a Literature, Composition, Writing, or Film Studies concentration while studying on this urban campus. Also located in Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private institution that encourages its English majors to interpret the texts of numerous historical periods as well as the present. Ranked as one of the top 150 schools in the country by Forbes.com, Carnegie Mellon teaches its students to look at texts as a way to interpret history, and they read nonfiction documents to augment their understanding of the relationship between literature and history.
U.S. News and World Report ranks the Pennsylvania State University, a large public school in University Park, as one of the top 30 schools for English. By studying narrative fiction, drama and poetry, English majors at Penn State must answer the question: "What is Literature?" While University Park is located a few hours north of Harrisburg, Penn State also offers numerous satellite campuses throughout the state in places such as Abington, Hershey, Erie and Hazleton, allowing students to study closer to home at a smaller location if they prefer.
Located just outside Philadelphia, Swarthmore College is home to what Education-Portal ranks as one of the best English degree programs in the country. Not only do students study canonized works, but they also focus on Asian, African and other foreign works. Located nearby is Haverford College, ranked the 14th-best school in the country by Forbes.com. Like Swarthmore, Haverford's program focuses on traditional and international literature. Students at Haverford can focus their studies on topics such as media studies, queer theory or postcolonial theory.