What Can You Do with an English Degree?

If you feel that an English degree might be limiting in terms of career prospects, think again. The subject opens the door to a wide array of professions, ranging from journalism to public relations. This is thanks to the transferable skills gained from those than earn a degree in English.

However, is an English degree the right option for you? The following guide will further explain what you can gain from an English major, the type of jobs on offer, and what needs to be considered when selecting a college.

Is English the right degree option?

If you have a passion for writing and literature, English is already a strong option when deciding on what subject to study. This is only further enhanced by the type of skills you can acquire while earning your degree. These skills include:

• Verbal communication
• Critical reading
• Argumentation
• Analytical thinking
• Organization

This is down to the subjects encompassed by an English program. While programs differ on a college-by-college basis, they will all cover the study of literature. Literature assists with introducing new perspectives and ideas on major topics like religion, gender, and history.

What can I do with an English degree?

When it comes to jobs with an English degree, you’re certainly not limited in the type of positions you can apply for. English majors often find themselves in roles that demand analysis, involved communication, and deep thinking.

To help illustrate the type of English careers available, below are a few of the most common careers for those in possession of an English degree.

Writer

It is a role that probably makes the most sense for those with a degree in English, but that doesn’t make it any less viable. A writer can craft content across a wide assortment of media, whether it is blog posts, magazine editorials, or even as a book. Due to many working on a self-employed basis, writers often benefit from freedom, flexibility, and the ability to improve and refine their skills continually.

For ‘writers and authors’, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average wage as $63,200 annually. In terms of job outlook, the position is expected to make a minor 2% drop in opportunities across 2019 and 2029.

Journalist

Journalism is another common route taken by those with an English major. A journalist can cover a seemingly endless selection of subjects, whether it is sport or politics. Their role tends to be based around covering current events and informing their audiences about them in a swift yet entertaining way.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics references that ‘reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts’ earn an average annual pay of $46,270. Sadly, the job outlook is on an 11% decline between 2019 and 2029.

Public relations specialist

A public relations specialist is focused on crafting and maintaining a positive public image for the individuals and organizations they represent. A PR specialist can do everything from producing press releases to directly interacting with media, all with the main aim of controlling the narrative about what information reaches the public.

The median pay for a PR specialist is $61,150 annually. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also expects this occupation to grow by 7% between 2019 and 2029.

Teacher

If you’re interested in teaching, you don’t necessarily need an education degree. In fact, with an English major, you have the opportunity to teach at either middle school or high school. While your teaching will typically revolve around English and literature, this can develop into other roles. For example, you could move into an elementary school role where you educate students on a general collection of subjects.

As an example of an English salary in education, a high school teacher earns $61,660 per year on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job outlook is anticipated to grow by 4% between 2019 and 2029.

Which college should I pick?

Each college offers a different curriculum, concentrations, and program delivery format. As a result, take the time to research each prospective college to find out which provides the best overall package in terms of education.

However, this isn’t the only aspect to ponder – obviously. One of the biggest points to think about is the actual campus. What facilities are offered? What is the condition of the dorms? What type of culture does it feature? Sadly, getting an answer to these questions can be difficult if you’re only using a college’s own resources as research.

This is why CampusReel was created. CampusReel is a platform with over 15,000 student-made videos that detail everything you could want to know about a particular campus. There’s nobody better than students to ask when it comes to student life, so they’re the perfect people to produce these detail-rich videos.

If you want to start watching these videos immediately, sign up for a CampusReel account today – it’s free.