Department of English & Visual Art
Experiences & Opportunities
Foster Art Gallery
The Foster Art Gallery, situated in Patterson Hall, exhibits our Westminster student art work through group shows, senior capstone exhibitions and we have hosted one solo honors exhibition.
We also host 4 to 6 other exhibitions during the academic year. Each of these exhibitions includes a gallery talk by the artist as part of the opening or closing reception, which offers students wonderful access to regional, national, and international artists.
Theatre Westminster
Theatre Westminster typically produces two major shows every academic year. Beeghly Theatre has an intimate 238-seat house and is also home to most of Westminster's theatre classes.
The combination of a low student/faculty ratio and dedicated theater facilities allow students to receive individual attention and care in the classroom and in our productions.
Internships
Professional experiences like internships provide a meaningful real-world component to your education and your resume. Internships can also lead to valuable networking opportunities and can even lead to full-time employment after graduation.
Our students have completed internships at sites that include Erie Times' News, Pittsburgh Magazine, Walt Disney World Resort, and The Beanpod Co-op.
Learn more about internships and the other opportunities available through our Office of Professional Development & Community Engagement .
Honors Program
Westminster College’s Honors Program believes that the life of the mind is best cultivated when students take what they have learned in the classroom and go out into the world. That’s why our program builds international travel into its sequence of interdisciplinary, global honors seminars with a trip to Greece.
The curriculum gives you the opportunity to learn about human history and nature from multiple perspectives, while also supporting the development of strong leadership, communication, and writing skills. It will also connect you to a vibrant community of students from across campus who are excited about learning.
Study Abroad
Studying abroad is a life-changing educational experience for many of our students. Our Office of Global Engagement developed different kinds of study abroad opportunities, designed to meet varying curricular and economic situations.
We offer traditional semester-long, individual study abroad opportunities in more than 30 countries. Also, students can elect to take short-term study abroad opportunities, such as a May travel course, or a Study Tour, which is a travel experience tied to a regular on-campus course or co-curricular program.
Professional Networking Symposium
Open to all majors, the Professional Networking Symposium is an annual event designed to help students and young alumni better understand potential paths after graduation, including career and graduate school options.
The Symposium includes a career fair, breakout sessions and the opportunity to learn to network. Sessions are designed to address specific topics and interests and are moderated by experienced professionals.
Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research
The Drinko Center supports student research and creative work in all majors and at all academic levels. Drinko provides financial grants that support student projects or travel to national conferences.
The Center also organizes the Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration (URAC), a day-long event showcasing the collaborative work between Westminster faculty and students.
Center for the Environment
The mission of the Center for the Environment is to connect people with each other and the natural world. CfE strives to create an understanding of the dynamic relationships among society, our environment, and the economy. Students from all majors benefit from the Center’s programming and resources, which are designed to foster critical thinking, creative expression, data collection and analysis, ethical judgements, entrepreneurial endeavors, and human wellbeing.
CfE initiatives include the Westminster Bee Company, a student-led business that hand-bottles and sells the honey produced in the almost 30 beehives that make up the Westminster College apiary.
Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC)
WEC offers students in any major the opportunity to be exposed to concept creation, innovation of ideas and business ownership strategies. These activities are nurtured through practiced entrepreneurial exposures, state-of-the-art facilities, leadership collaboration, dynamic entrepreneurial engagements, competitions and events designed to offer students an unparalleled exposure to real world practical experiences.
Student Media
WCN 24/7
WCN 24/7 is the central hub for all student media outlets, including The Holcad our student newspaper; WCN, our cable news network; and Titan Radio. WCN 24/7 showcases our students' journalistic work alongside national and regional news of interest.
SCRAWL
Our student-run literary journal published bi-annually. Students and faculty across campus submit their artwork, poetry, fictional stories, and creative writing twice yearly.
Student Organizations & Honor Societies
Film Club
The purpose of the Film Club is to regularly screen classic and contemporary films on campus for its members, thereby facilitating discussion and promoting a greater appreciation of cinema.
Sigma Tau Delta (English)
International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, was formed for literary and educational purposes. The society strives to confer a distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. It provides cultural stimulation on the campus of Westminster College and promotes interest in literature and the English language in our surrounding community. Exemplary character and fellowship and high standards of academic excellence are promoted among members. Each year, Sigma Tau Delta's members have the opportunity to attend the national Sigma Tau Delta conference to present their work, attend other sessions as audience members, and enjoy local cultural sites. This national conference has been hosted in Cincinnati, Louisville, Minneapolis, Albuquerque, Savannah, Portland, and New Orleans.