Whatever profession you enter, a BA in English will provide you with not only the practical skills of communication, but also the imagination and vision that it takes for you to succeed and to empower others. By concentrating in Literature, one can easily pursue any career (including occupations in nursing, law, web design, activism, teaching or publishing) because the ability to interpret the complexity of human behavior and to interact with care and intelligence are necessary skills in our contemporary world. Because students become fluent with the multiple social, political, and religious perspectives offered by Multi-Ethnic, International, American, and European writing, they are able to appreciate and work with a diversity of individuals. In addition, the world is increasingly requiring teamwork, and thus the ability to take actions, listen carefully and speak intelligently are essential skills that students are trained to master in our department.

The answer is “almost anything.” There are some obvious answers to this question--teaching, writing, editing--and others that are not so obvious. An English major will help prepare you for any job that requires skill in writing and speaking, and which values knowledge of literature, history, culture, and human nature--and that applies to a wide range of careers. In many ways, an English degree is much like a perfect black dress or a tailored suit; it looks amazing in just about every kind of career. The skills you develop as an English major, such as writing, editing, problem solving, critical thinking, and analysis, are prized by employers in nearly every profession. Employers consistently cite writing, communication skills, organization skills, and adaptability at the top of their lists of desired candidate traits. The question for you is: Which direction will you choose? English majors can be found in every major career area, including communications, government, education, non-profits, the arts, human services, business, law, or technology. Some jump into full-time work with diploma in hand, while others decide to pursue graduate school or volunteer service for a few years. Knowing that you have all these options available to you can be empowering, but it can also make the process more daunting. English majors love to pick up on patterns in stories, to seek the meaning behind the words. As you consider where your English degree will take you, start looking for the patterns in your own story. What are your passions? What are you really good at? What do you value most? What kind of environment suits you best? This is where career planning begins. The good news is this: You won’t be in this process alone. Your advisors in the English Department can help you refine your career goals. Internships can help you gain practical experience to refine your career plans. The Office of Careers & Calling is available to all students to help them define career direction, prepare resumes and cover letters, and conduct internship and job searches to help ensure they’ll be ready for what’s next after graduation.