What Can I Do With This Major

English

English is the study of composition, literature, written communication, and grammar. Coursework includes writing courses, reading various authors and writings, and analyzing works of fiction and nonfiction.

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Writing/Editing

Common Career Paths

  • Creative Writing
    • Fiction and nonfiction
    • Poetry, plays, screenplays, and scripts
    • Commercial writing (e.g. greeting cards, jingles)
  • Journalism:
    • Writing/Reporting
    • Podcast script writing
    • Editing
    • Critique
  • Professional writing
    • Copywriting and editing
    • Blogging
    • Speech writing
    • Column writing
    • Social media writing and management

Employers

  • Newspapers/Magazines
  • Broadcast media companies:
    • Television
    • Radio
    • Movie
  • Trade, professional, or consumer publications
  • Internet sites
  • Government agencies
  • Universities and university presses
  • Technical and gaming industries
  • Large corporations
  • Self-employed/Freelance

Strategies

  • Select elective coursework in a particular area of interest.
  • Write for campus publications such as college newspapers, magazines, or departmental or program newsletters.
  • Volunteer to assist or tutor students in a writing center.
  • Become familiar with the proposal writing and submission process involved in freelance writing.
  • Gain as much experience as possible through volunteer positions, internships, or part-time jobs.
  • Demonstrate patience and persistence in starting a career in creative writing.

Business/Industry

Common Career Paths

  • Writing/Editing
  • Corporate communication
  • Management
  • Customer service
  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Human resources
  • Consulting
  • Real Estate
  • Insurance

Employers

  • Financial institutions
  • Real estate agencies
  • Property management firms
  • Insurance companies
  • Large and small corporations
  • Print and electronic media
  • Consulting firms
  • Retailers:
    • Department stores
    • Grocery stores
    • Drug stores
    • Online retailers
    • Bookstores

Strategies

  • Obtain a business minor.
  • Gain relevant experience through part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer work.
  • Secure leadership roles in campus organizations and student professional associations.
  • Seek experience as a financial officer or treasurer of a campus organization.
  • Develop strong analytical and computer skills.

Public Relations/Advertising

Common Career Paths

  • Account coordination
  • Writing
  • Editing
  • Research
  • Media relations
  • Social media management
  • Account management
  • Fundraising

Employers

  • Public relations firms
  • Advertising agencies
  • In-house public relations departments
  • Trade associations
  • Colleges and universities
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Government agencies
  • In-house advertising departments
  • Sports and entertainment organizations
  • Educational institutions
  • Consulting firms
  • Hospitality and tourism industry
  • Private corporations
  • Freelance

Strategies

  • Obtain internship or other relevant work experience to break into this field.
  • Be prepared to start at the bottom and work for promotions.
  • Develop strong research, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.
  • Seek experiences being self-directed and a team player.
  • Volunteer to write publications for nonprofit or student organizations.
  • Supplement curriculum with business courses.

Technical Communication

Common Career Paths

  • Technical writing and editing
  • Science and medical writing
  • Grant and proposal writing
  • Content management
  • Software and hardware documentation
  • Information technology writing
  • Manual and tutorial writing
  • Human-computer interface design
  • Corporate communications and training
  • Mechanical communication

Employers

  • Management, scientific, and technical consulting companies
  • Technical industries
  • Retailers including electronics
  • Engineering firms
  • Healthcare industry
  • Computer systems design companies
  • Software publishers
  • Self-employed/Freelance

Strategies

  • Earn a bachelor’s degree with a focus in English, communication, or journalism. Complete coursework in technical communications.
  • Minor or take classes in science and/or computer science to learn about technical areas and trends.
  • Gain experience in a specialized field such as engineering, medicine, science, web design, or computer software.
  • Develop strong grammar and language skills; consider a second-language.
  • Obtain volunteer or internship experience as a research assistant in a technical information department.
  • Pursue a technical writing or editing internship.

Government

Common Career Paths

  • Administration
  • Research
  • Policy analysis
  • Lobbying
  • Legislative services
  • Program management
  • Cultural resources management

Employers

  • Federal government
  • State and local government
  • Public archives
  • Libraries

Strategies

  • Learn federal, state, and local government job application process. Seek assistance from the campus career center.
  • Take additional courses or earn a minor in area of interest.
  • Gain relevant work experience through government internship programs.
  • Earn a master’s or professional degree in a related field to qualify for the most job opportunities.
  • Get involved in campus leadership roles.
  • Develop excellent written and oral communication skills.

Education

Common Career Paths

  • Higher education administration:
    • Admissions, financial aid, academic advising and support services
    • Student affairs (e.g., residence life, student activities, orientation, leadership, Greek life, multicultural programs)
    • Development and alumni affairs
    • International education and study abroad
  • Information/Library Science
  • Developing educational products and services
  • Non-classroom teaching
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Research
  • K-12 teaching
  • University teaching
  • Teaching abroad
  • Tutoring
  • Educational consulting

Employers

  • Public and private K-12 schools
  • Colleges and universities
  • Language institutes, local and abroad
  • Educational companies
  • Libraries
  • Museums
  • Private learning centers
  • Test preparation organizations
  • Nonprofit organizations involved with literacy

Strategies

  • Obtain appropriate state certification for public school teaching. Gain certifications to teach multiple subjects or age groups for increased job opportunities.
  • Earn a master’s or doctorate degree for post-secondary teaching.
  • Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations for graduate school.
  • Plan to attend graduate school in college student personnel or information science for those fields.
  • Seek volunteer experiences working with children through Big Brother/Sister programs, tutoring, summer camps, YMCAs, etc.
  • Participate in activities such as debate or literary clubs, campus publications, or student government.
  • Pursue leadership roles such as resident advisor, peer mentor, student advisor, etc.

Publishing

Common Career Paths

  • Editing
  • Advertising
  • Sales
  • Self-publishing
  • Circulation
  • Production
  • Publicity
  • Marketing
  • Promotion
  • Administration

Employers

  • Trade publishers
  • Trade magazines
  • Special interest magazines
  • Association magazines
  • Sunday newspaper supplements
  • Educational publishers
  • Religious publishers
  • Professional and scholarly publishers
  • University presses
  • Independent publishers
  • Alternative media publishers (e.g., e-books, audiobooks)

Strategies

  • Obtain an internship in the publishing industry.
  • Participate in a summer publishing institute.
  • Develop proofreading, editing, and copy-editing skills; maintain current knowledge of digital production technology.
  • Gain experience by writing for student publications such as the newspaper, creative writing magazines, the yearbook, etc.
  • Conduct an informational interview with or shadow a professional in the publishing industry.
  • Look for positions with local dailies and alternative weeklies in the community.
  • Volunteer to write or edit publications with local nonprofit organizations to gain experience.
  • Be prepared to relocate to cities with a publishing presence. A large majority of opportunities exist in New York City.
  • Research the publishing industry to learn more about career ladders.

Law

Common Career Paths

  • Law assistance
  • Prosecution
  • Defense
  • Contractual
  • Corporate
  • Nonprofit or public interest
  • Government
  • Mediation
  • Lobbying

Employers

  • Law firms
  • State and local government
  • Federal government
  • Corporations
  • Public interest organizations
  • Private practice
  • Colleges and universities

Strategies

  • Participate in a debate or forensic team to hone communication skills.
  • Develop strong research skills and attention to detail.
  • Take courses in and gain experience with mediation and conflict resolution.
  • Get involved with pre-law organizations.
  • Obtain a summer or part-time job in a law firm.
  • Plan to shadow an attorney to learn more about the field and various specialties.
  • Complete special training requirements for paralegal positions.
  • Attend law school and earn a JD to become an attorney.
  • Maintain an excellent GPA and secure strong faculty recommendations to gain law
  • school admittance. Plan to take the LSAT.

Nonprofit

Common Career Paths

  • Administration
  • Research
  • Grant writing
  • Development/Fundraising
  • Programming
  • Volunteer coordination

Employers

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Social service organizations
  • Churches and religiously affiliated groups

Strategies

  • Volunteer or intern with social services organizations.
  • Learn to work well with people of diverse backgrounds.
  • Develop excellent communication skills.
  • Take a course in grant writing.
  • Join a service organization or get involved in community service projects

Getting Started and Advancing in Major

  • English majors develop skills – in written communication, editing, problem-solving, and working independently and in a team — that are valued by employers in nearly every profession. A bachelor’s degree in English is very broad and is sufficient for entry-level positions in business, industry, and nonprofits, as well as in areas such as entertainment, radio, television, and museum work. Because English can lead to many different career paths, it is important to identify an area of interest and plan to gain the right skills, experiences, and credentials to enter that field.
  • A major in English is also good preparation for continued graduate or professional training in areas such as English, law, political science/government, public administration, communications, medicine/medical humanities, and faith-based professions.
  • Be proactive, determined, assertive, and confident in order to secure freelance writing opportunities. Save samples of written work to be used for a portfolio. Cultivate other career opportunities in order to supplement a freelance writing income.
  • Seek out and engage in internships in business or government to demonstrate skills and interest in working in desired fields following graduation.
  • Get involved in organizations and gain experience in leadership roles that reflect interests in business or government roles.
  • Obtain additional areas of expertise such as journalism, broadcasting, technical writing, or politics for specialized positions.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow professionals in careers of interest to learn more about their jobs.
  • Join relevant professional associations. Attend their conferences and read journals.

Professional Associations

Related Resources

Occupational Outlook

Employment Opportunities