English Degrees: The Ultimate Career Path Guide

The study of the English language is the heart and soul of communication. Along with reading and writing, English programs focus heavily on proper grammar, language arts, linguistics, and more. However, the heart of studying English lies in analyzing great works of classic and modern literature.

Do you find yourself drawn to the great works of literature? Does the thought of studying works by William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald excite you? 

If you found yourself paying particular attention in English class, majoring in English could be your ticket to harnessing useful skills. More importantly, it can land you a fruitful career. Read on to learn more.

What Skills Do You Need for an English Degree?

To begin your English degree, you are going to need a wide range of different skills. You will need to bring a particular set of critical, soft skills to any degree program. Therefore, bringing them to an English program is vital. Some examples of valuable soft skills are:

• Hardworking
• Time management
• Organization
• Attention to detail
• Motivated

With these soft skills in your arsenal, harder skills, or those that are more specified toward your field, will become critical. These will become apparent after majoring in English.

• Reading and writing skills
• Great reading comprehension
• Proficiency with the English language

It is recommended you have a passion for literature, competent reading and writing skills, and enjoy studying the English language. Majoring in English requires you to break down significant works of literature and find symbolism, motifs, character analysis, and background information.

Where to Enroll in an English Degree Program

English degrees are offered at nearly every major American university. Both online and offline, full time and part-time, these degrees are extremely flexible options to earn an education.

Below are the absolute best English degree programs in terms in the United States.

University of California Berkeley

UC Berkeley is ranked #1 in English programs in the entire country by US News and World Report. UC Berkeley also possesses some of the most impressive curriculums found in the English department. It is ranked #1 in: 

• 18th Through 20th Century British Literature 
• African-American Literature
• Gender and Literature
• Medieval and Renaissance Literature programs. 

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago also comes in at #1, tying itself with UC Berkeley for the best English programs. It is ranked #1 in: 

• Literary Criticism and Theory 
• It is ranked #2 in American Literature After 1865 Programs. 
• Its 18th Through 20th Century British Literature Programs is also at a respectable #4. 

Columbia University

The famous Columbia University based in New York City comes in at a solid #3 in the nation. Columbia has a fantastic African-American literature program, tied with UC Berkeley for that honor. It has all of the rest of its curriculum coming in at comfortable positions on the top 10 list.

Best Career Paths With an English Degree

Earning an English degree allows you to enter the workforce with several valuable skills and insights. Many employers will find these extremely attractive. Some of these careers tie into majoring in English; others appear with the help of an English degree.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the most prominent jobs you can acquire with an English degree are: 

Teaching English

If you found inspiration in your English class, why not give teaching English a go? If you are committed to helping younger generations learn, teaching English may be a great fit. This is where valuable communication skills come in handy. You will parse out symbolism and themes in both classic and modern literature.

High School Teachers

High school teachers educate students in high school to prepare them for higher education positions.

• Median Pay: $61,660 per year
• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
• On-the-job Training: None
• Job Outlook: 4% (As fast as average)
• Highest-paying states: New York, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey

Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers teach students beyond a high school level. These include institutions of higher education, private colleges, community colleges, and professional schools.

• Median Pay: $79,540 per year
• On-the-job Training: None
• Number of Jobs, 2018: 1,350,700
• Job Outlook: 11% (Much faster than average)
• Highest-paying States: California, Washington, D.C., Idaho, New York, Rhode Island

Writer and Authors

Becoming a writer has embedded itself into the American ethos as a romantic and creative pursuit. While you may not be writing the next great American novel, you can still flex your reading and writing skills professionally. They can be involved in informative, academic, or creative writing.

• Median Pay: $63,200 per year
• $30.39 per hour
• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
• On-the-job Training: Long-term on-the-job training
• Job Outlook: 0% (Little or no change)
• Highest-paying States: Washington, D.C., New York, California, Connecticut, New Jersey

Technical Writers

Technical writers are masters of simplifying complex information. They are responsible for creating user manuals, how-to guides, and journal articles. Their talent lies in translating the esoteric and complex into a digestible medium for readers.

• Median Pay: $72,850 per year
• $35.03 per hour
• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Work Experience in a Related Occupation: Less than five years
• On-the-job Training: Short-term on-the-job training
• Job Outlook: 8% (Faster than average)
• Highest-paying States: Washington, D.C., California, Virginia, Washington, Massachusetts

Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist is one who creates and fosters a favorable image of a company or individual. PR specialists will need a strong command of the English language to execute their job successfully. Many PR specialist career paths require master’s degrees.

• Median Pay: $61,150 per year
• $29.40 per hour
• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
• On-the-job Training: None
• Job Outlook: 6% (As fast as average)
• Highest-paying States: Washington, D.C., New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington

Librarians

Librarians are the dependable, educated people in charge of helping people find information in libraries. They are also involved in research projects and can find jobs in the government, elementary schools, and higher education institutions.

• Median Pay: $59,050 per year
• $28.39 per hour
• Typical Entry-Level Education: Master’s degree
• Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
• On-the-job Training: None
• Job Outlook: 6% (As fast as average)
• Highest-paying States: Washington, D.C., California, Maryland, Washington, Connecticut

Social Media Manager

To be an effective social media manager, you need to have a strong command of the English language. Through good reading and writing skills, you can pull in large amounts of web traffic to your chosen platform and medium.

• Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree
• Job Skills: Computer skills, communication skills, social media skills, leadership skills, organizational skills, time management skills, analytical skills
• Median Salary: $52,027
• Job Outlook: 8% (marketing managers)

Interpreters and Translators

If you are fortunate enough to learn a second language, you can use your native English language skills to become a translator or interpreter. This is a useful hard skill that can allow you to work with communities where English is a second language.

It could even allow you to work on the international stage. This is an occupation that is growing at an alarming rate and promises to be extremely lucrative very shortly.

• Median Pay: $51,830 per year
• $24.92 per hour
• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
• On-the-job Training: None
• Job Outlook: 19% (Much faster than average)
• Highest-paying States: Maine, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Maryland

Ready to Pursue an English Degree?

There has never been a more convenient time to pursue a degree. Whether it’s an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in English, majoring in English can open your eyes to a rewarding curriculum of creative writing, reading, and examination of the human condition.

With a large number of career options, it’s clear that an English degree can be a handy tool. An English degree makes a career path bright and promising. It’s only a matter of finding a top English program, applying to it, and putting your skills to the test.