Abstract：With the further development of the national strategies of “Chinese Culture Going Abroad”and “Innovation-driven Development”, more and more English talents are needed, especially the applied English talents. It is also the main melody of foreign language teaching in the 21 st century. The cultivation of English majors must adapt to the new situation and take into account the characteristics of the higher education, as well as the needs of students, regions and the country. In this paper, the crises and challenges facing current English major in the science and engineering universities are discussed. Based on the teaching and research practices of English major in Henan Polytechnic University, several suggestions are offered from the perspectives of educational objectives, curricula, teaching modes and methods.The applied English talents in the science and engineering universities should be linked with their key disciplines, advantages and positioning.

Keyword：universities of science and engineering;English major;applied talents;