English Degrees
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Salaries For Degrees in English
People with a degree in English can be employed in a variety of occupations. It is impossible to say what you personally will do with a degree in English, our survey panel picked the following occupations as likely options:
- Writers and authors
- Technical writers (Best salary!)
- Editors
- Law clerks
- Speech-language pathologists
- Librarians
- Reporters and correspondents
- Archivists
- Court reporters
- Library technicians
Salaries are highly dependent on how skilled one is at negotiation, experience, your employer, region, and a host of other factors. The estimates we show on these pages are just that: estimates. Your individual experience will likely vary.
Where does this come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the US government, classifies all workers into some 800-odd occupational categories. We paid a army of freelancers to solicit their view on what type of degree a holder of each type of job would likely have majored in. For pairs which had a high degree of consensus, we created a link between the degree and the job.
From this, we calculated the average salary for English degrees and converted it into a lifetime value. We then compared it against other degrees at the same level of schooling (such as associate's, bachelor's, or master's), so that you can make informed educational and employment decisions.
What Can an English Student Expect to Learn?
Many options exist in today's world for the individual with a degree in English. Some obvious choices include that of editor or writer, as well as work in the field of journalism or publishing. Some English majors use their talents to write advertorials for marketing companies. Others use their writing skills in the business world to create press releases and newsletters for various corporations. Some journalists make a living writing content for websites or advertisements for online stores. Political speech-writing is also an option for those with a talent for public speaking and an interest in political science.
Of course, a career in teaching is always an option for someone who has majored in English. This is especially true when one takes into consideration the shortage of teachers that presently exists in almost all 50 states.
Most colleges and universities offer English degrees as a major, and online schools can be found which offer this curriculum as well. Various factors must be considered when choosing a school, such as
- Budget
- Location
- Courses offered
- Whether the student wishes to attend school full or part time
Comparing several different schools and what each has to offer is an excellent way for prospective students to narrow down the choices and find the ideal school for them. Those seeking an English degree will find the area of study to be somewhat flexible. Most universities do not require the student to complete courses in a rigid order, however, each college or university can advise the individual student of the course schedule which has proved to be the most effective.
Curriculum for those endeavoring to attain a degree in English may vary depending on the school one chooses, however, there will be many similarities, and a prospective student can expect to learn the following:
First year
English Composition American Civilization History of English Basic Study of Literature English Composition ll Social Sciences Creative Writing Survey of Mathematics Lifetime Fitness and Wellness
Second Year
Speech English Literature l Modern Drama Elementary Foreign Language l World Literature Introduction to General Psychology Linguistics Elementary Foreign Language ll World Literature ll Introduction to Shakespeare
Third Year
Global Societies Shakespeare Advanced Composition American Literature l Intermediate Foreign Language & Culture l American Literature ll Intermediate Foreign Language & Culture ll Fiction workshop
Fourth Year
Contemporary Literature Survey of American Literature Survey of British Literature Linguistics Analysis
Electives may include Natural Science, Humanities, African American Experience 1865, and Arts and Humanities.
Top Colleges & Universities Offering Campus-based English Degrees
According to the Princeton Review, there are various schools which offer excellent curriculum for English degrees, and a prospective student may wish to consider these schools when making a decision:
- Auburn University
- Bennington College
- Boston College
- Columbia University
- Duke University
- Fordham University
- Gettysburg College
- Pomona College
- Stanford University
- Syracuse University
- Taft University
- Vassar College
- Wellesley College
- Yale College
Online Schools Offering Accredited English Degree Programs
Although acquiring an English degree through traditional on campus studies may be the popular avenue, online schools have a lot to offer an aspiring student as well. Many people these days find that being able to pursue a degree through the venue of distance learning is an invaluable option. After making a decision to obtain a degree, some individuals may realize that it is simply not practical or affordable to attend a traditional college or university. They may, however, benefit greatly from a school that offers them the opportunity to study from home, and reach their goal of a college degree in a non-traditional format. Some schools which offer English degrees online include:
When searching for the right online school, students should look for schools which are accredited by reliable higher education agencies such as the Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, or The Higher Learning Commission.
Famous English Students 
Some celebrities have chosen to acquire a college education before or after pursuing their career in the entertainment business. Some notable individuals with various levels of education in English include Matt Damon (who majored in English at Harvard University), Reese Witherspoon (pictured right and who attended Stanford University majoring in English Literature), and Brad Pitt (who studied journalism at the University of Missouri).
Hugh Grant holds a Graduate of English from Oxford University and Tommy Lee Jones, a B.A. in English from Harvard University.
The education required to obtain an English degree also provides personal enrichment through the honing of communication and critical thinking skills, and social awareness.
A degree in English also provides a student with the foundation to pursue a degree in law, medicine, or liberal arts. Many rewarding options are available that make pursuing a degree in English a worthwhile endeavor.
