What can I do with a major in...

What can I do with a major in English?

The primary focus of an English major is the study and appreciation of literature. A traditional liberal arts major, English has always offered its students opportunities for self-knowledge and growth as they explore the ideas of great writers of the past and the present. However, the English major is also a practical choice. Because English choices encourage critical thinking, clear writing, and effective communication, students electing this major often choose careers in teaching, law, management, journalism, library science, government service, and other fields. The English program also offers students the opportunity to prepare for graduate study.

Strategies

• Enroll in a wide variety of classes
• Write for campus publications
• Join a debating team
• Work in library or bookstore
• Obtain a job typing for writer
• Enhance computer skills
• Work for a publisher (internship or summer employment)
• Enhance knowledge of media
• Consider completing a business minor for advertising, business, PR, or publishing

Career Titles

Account Executive Actor/Actress Administrator Advertising Copywriter Advertising Worker Analyst Announcer (Radio/TV) Archivist Art Librarian Artist Assistant Scientific Writer Author - Fiction/Non-Fiction Bank Officer Bibliographer Biographer Book Critic Bookstore Manager Business Manager Circulation Assistant City Manager Columnist/Commentator Comedy Writer Communications Manager Congressional Aide Copywriter Creative Writer Critic Curator Desktop Publisher Documentation Specialist Editor Editorial Assistant Entertainment Agent ESL Teacher Fashion Merchandiser

Film/Video Editor, Foreign Correspondent Freelance Writer Fundraiser Greeting Card Writer Hearing Officer Hotel & Motel Manager Human Resource Specialist Human Service Practitioner Humorist/Comedian Information Abstractor Information Indexer Insurance Agent Interpreter & Translator Investment Counselor/Manager Journalist, Newspaper/Magazine/Broadcast Lawyer Librarian Library Technical Assistant Linguist Literary Loan Officer Lobbyist Magazine Writer Management Trainee Manuscript Reader Market Research Analyst Marketing Specialist Marketing Writer Media Planner Media Specialist Medical Records Worker Narrator Novelist Paralegal Paralegal Assistant Personnel Manager

Playwright Poet Politician Probation Officer Program Manager Proofreader Property Manager Public Administrator Public Relations Director Public Relations Specialist Publicity Assistant Publisher Radio, TV Commentator Radio, TV Newscaster Reading Consultant Reading Specialist Receptionist Reporter Research Assistant Researcher/Pollster Retail Sales Analyst Sales Representative Sales Manager Script Reader Social Worker Special Events Coordinator Speech Writer Sports Writer Talent Agent Teacher (all levels) Technical Consultant Technical Writer Training Specialist Translator Underwriter Video Scriptwriter/Writer

Professional Organizations

American Society of Magazine Editors
810 7th Avenue, 24th floor
New York, NY 10019

Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
234 Outlet Pointe Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29210-5667

Society for Technical Communication, Inc.
901 N. Stuart St., Suite 300
Fairfax, VA 22031

The Dow Jones News Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 300
Princeton, NJ 08543-0300

Web sites

Career Sites

American Copy Editors Society: mentors online; discuss journalism education, tips on training and internships, and editing
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Writers and Editors
The Chronicle of Higher Education Career Network: Careers in higher education

General Information Sites

Authorlink: Information Services for Writers, Editors, Literary Agents and Publishers
Advertising and Media Jobs Page
Creative Freelancers
Trends in Writing and Editing Make English a Marketable Degree


Journalism Sites

Investigative Reporters & Editors
TV Jobs: Broadcast Employment Services