What Does the English Major Help You Do?
You will use the skills you develop as an English major every day in whatever environment you decide to work. When asked about the skills developed in the major, alumni/ae and faculty consistently name writing, critical thinking, reading, oral communication, and research skills. As one faculty member put it, "English is an excellent choice because it trains one carefully in, and gives one considerable practice at, writing, a skill that is highly regarded outside of academic life. English as a discipline teaches the student how to read thoughtfully, develop an idea, organize ideas to a purpose, and write with accuracy and precision. By virtue of the fact that most English classes are centered in discussion, our major can also give one confidence as a speaker."
What Careers Do English Majors Select?
English majors have selected a wide variety of careers from editor to marketing director, from teacher to writer. As you can see from the following list of alumni/ae job titles of English majors, you are not your major!
Alumni/ae Job Titles
Attorney
Pastor
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Professor of English
Producer, Minnesota Public Radio
Vice President, Edelman Worldwide
Systems Engineer
Program Director, Indiana Department of Commerce
Editor, W.W. Norton and Company
Teacher
Freelance Writer
Vice President Marketing and Sales, Miracles Exclusives, Inc.
Copy Editor, Bureau of Environmental News
TV/Video Producer
Associate Professor of American Studies
Director, Price Waterhouse Coopers Investigations LLC
Senior Editor, Encyclopedia Britannica
Director of Sales and Marketing, EarthWeb Inc.
Assistant Professor of English
Playwright
Freelance Copy Editor, Proofreader, Writer
Senior Vice President, Sony Online Entertainment
Acquisitions Editor, F and W Publications/North Light Books
Managing Director, Ensemble Company for the Performing Arts
Marketing Director, Second Stage Theatre
Associate Creative Director, Leo Burnett Co. Advertising Agency
Senior Real Estate Portfolio Manager, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Publishing Operations Manager, Online, Noggin
Education Project Director
Director of CCCnet
Professor of Religion
Research Associate, Rockefeller Institute of Government at SUNY Albany
President, Kamber Management, Inc.
Coordinator of Clinical Services, Children's Hospital, Psychiatric Out-Patient Clinic
Account Group Supervisor, Golin/Harris International
President, Peter Mayer Advertising
Communications Manager, Medical Center Marketing, University of Illinois at Chicago
Northwest Regional Development Officer, The Student Conservation Association
President, Words, Ink
Ceramic Artist
Development Director, Chatham Baroque
President, Hubbell Electro-Mechanical
Principal, Independent Career Life Planning Consulting
Assistant Professor of Economics and Policy
Early Childhood Education Specialist
Publications Specialist, Washington State University Cooperative Extension
President, Macay Publishing and Masonic Supply Co., Inc.
Chancellor, University of Minnesota, Morris
Assistant Director of Career Services, Georgetown Law School
Technical Writer
Librarian
Senior Research Manager, Angus Reid Group
Deputy Public Defender
Equities Trader/Manager
Workshop Facilitator, Lighthouse Writers
Vice President, Hospice Foundation of America
Associate Creative Director, Dailey and Associates Advertising
Assistant Director, Editorial Production, PP/FA Inc.
Training Supervisor, Andersen Consulting
Partner/General Manager, The Winds
