English, which in college is a long-accepted abbreviation for the study of English Literature, is a cornerstone of a traditional Liberal Arts education. People have been using creative forms of expression to communicate ideas, beliefs, and their understanding of their world for 40,000 thousand years, and writing as we would define it today developed around 5,500 years ago. So in effect, the study of literature is the study of human experience through the ages, straight from the minds and hearts of the writers. The fascinating thing about studying literature is that you’ll often find that once an archaic or regional language style has been decoded and the author’s intent revealed, the feelings, motivations, and experiences of people from other times and cultures are really not all that different from what we feel, are motivated by, and experience today. And that is the great value of the English degree.

How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
1806-1861

Students in an English degree curriculum decode, discuss, and debate works of literature and film originally written in English to develop and hone skills in analysis, critical thinking, logic, and rhetoric (using language as a means to persuade) in both public speaking and writing. Your English degree classes will include American and British literature, studies of poetry and drama, creative writing, academic writing and composition, and literary theory, in addition to related courses in the social sciences such as history, philosophy, sociology, and foreign languages. A bachelor’s degree is the lowest practical English degree and students who plan a career as a literature scholar or professor will need a Ph.D., or at least a master’s degree.

English Degree Careers

Due to its emphasis on critical thinking, rhetoric, and writing, an English degree can lead to many careers. Some of the most obvious are teacher, journalist, author, screenwriter, editor, librarian, publisher, book reviewer, documentary producer, advertising executive, communications or public relations specialist, and lawyer.

What’s the English Degree Job Outlook?

The job outlook for graduates with an English degree will depend on the industry you go into and the type of job you get. Here are a few possible English degree careers and 2008 - 2018 job growth rate projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Public relations specialist: 25%
• Librarian: 8%
• Teacher: 13%
• Writer or Author: 15%
• Technical writer: 18%
• Broadcast news analyst: 4%
• Sociologist: 22%
• Political scientist: 19%
• Lawyer: 13%
• Screenwriter: 17%
• Marketing manager: 12%

How Much Does an English Degree Pay?

Pay also depends on job and industry. Here are some midlevel salaries for careers in CareerCast.com’s January 2010 list of top 200 jobs:

• Teacher: $49,000
• Public relations executive: $89,000
• Book author: $53,000
• Technical writer: $62,000
• Sociologist: $69,000
• Publication editor: $50,000
• Librarian: $53,000
• Lawyer: $111,000