What Can I Do with an English Degree

The English major offers flexibility and relevance. You’ll study diverse voices; the power of language; and traditions, and have opportunities to explore current issues and ideas and to connect them historically, culturally, and critically. English majors are trained to be solvers of complex, unstructured problems.

You will develop skills in listening, humanizing, navigating complex information, and the ability to shift focus from data to values. These skills prepare English majors for many professional fields, including journalism, teaching, marketing, law and public relations , to name a few.

Why Study English?

• Because skilled understanding of narrative in literature and writing is a key expertise: in the workplace, stories are what spark connection and motivate change.
• Because the Humanities train you to frame new questions, understand nuances of human expression, and illuminate other disciplines and fields with thoughtful reflection on human values and complexity.
• Because English majors are trained to be solvers of complex, unstructured problems. You will develop skills in listening, humanizing, navigating complex information, and the ability to shift focus from data to values.

What Can You Do with an English Degree?

The book publisher W. W. Norton & Company says it best: “What can you do with an English major? Better to ask what can’t you do with an English major.”

Below we’ve put together some of the core skills English majors learn along with a few of the many jobs they prepare you for.

Skills You’ll Learn as an English Major

Reading and Writing

As you can probably guess, English majors do a lot of reading and writing. And while this can be said for many degrees, English goes further with in-depth analysis of texts that span time periods and cultures. In addition to interpreting these works, English majors learn how to articulate their thoughts and craft compelling messaging through the written word. As an English major, you’ll have the opportunity practices many forms of writing such as academic essays, creative writing and poetry.

Research and Analysis

Section emphasizing the research aspect of an English major.

Empathy

Section emphasizing how English majors help you understand other points of view.

Communication

Section emphasizing general communication skills

Creativity

Section emphasizing creativity, crafting compelling narratives etc.

Job Opportunities after Earning Your English Degree

These skills work together to provide English majors with a holistic education that prepares them to excel in many professional fields such as:

Authorship

Business

Counseling

Education

Entertainment

Journalism

Law

Marketing and Advertising

Politics

Publishing

Science