You might be thinking, “Sure, I love reading and writing.

I even love grammar. But what do I tell my parents and friends when they ask what I can expect to do with an English major or minor?”

You tell them you can do quite a lot! An English major is one of the most flexible courses of study. It equips you to do things like think, analyze, imagine, and communicate in ways that are valuable in a wide range of professions. It gives you a strong intellectual foundation for understanding and conveying complex ideas. Successful English majors have abilities that are highly sought after in today’s world. Even though a lot of people assume that a degree in English means you’re going to be a teacher, and while teaching is a fine and noble profession, it’s certainly not the only option available to you.

A list of possibilities follows, but you should also check out what our English department alumni have gone on to do as well as contact PC’s Career and Professional Development Office for additional information.

A Small List of Career Options for an English Major

GRADUATE SCHOOLS

English or Education
Master of Arts or Fine Arts
Doctorate of Philosophy

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

Professional schools will require some appropriate preparation, but they love English majors:

Business School
Divinity School
Law School
Medical School

THE BUSINESS WORLD

Advertising (Copywriter, Executive)
Corporate Communications
Customer Service
Fashion Merchandising
Human Resources
Management
Marketing
Public Relations
Software Design and Testing
Technical Writing (Editor, User Documentation Writer)
Television and Film (Agent, Director or Producer, Publicist, Screenwriter)
Technical Consultation (Training Specialist)
Translation
Web Design and Management

EDUCATION

Education Administration/Resource (Curriculum Planning, Educational Program Specialist, Educational Research, Reading Specialist, Tutor)
Library Science
Museum Curatorship
Teaching

PROFESSIONAL FIELDS

Law (Attorney, Paralegal, Judge, Judicial Clerk)
Medicine (Biomedical Researcher, Dentist, Doctor, Health-Care Consultant)
Ministry

PUBLIC SERVICE

Environmental researcher
Fundraiser (For Charities, Education, Political Candidates, Social Causes)
Government (Congressional Researcher, Lobbyist, Foreign Service Officer)
Public Administration (City Manager, Urban Planner)
Social Work

WRITING and EDITING

Creative Writing (Poet, Playwright, Novelist)
Documentation Specialist
Print Journalism (Columnist, Editor, Reporter)
Radio and Television Journalism (Commercial Writer, Continuity Writer, Editor, Newscaster, Reporter)
Publishing (Editor, Literary Agent, Publicist, Publisher)
Publications Research
Technical Writing (For Grants, Law or Medical Journals, Public Relations, Speeches)