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Careers for English Majors

Confused about how the study of English relates to the real world? Good news! Studying English prepares you for a wide variety of careers. Currently employed alumni of the English program have become respected professionals in their fields. Their job titles include:

Author
Communications consultant
Copywriter
Corporate correspondent
Grant writer
Journalist
Middle-school teacher
High-school teacher 		Human resources professional
Sports information director
Librarian
Public relations director
Community college instructor
High school administrator
Lawyer

Studying English can prepare you for many options that don’t immediately come to mind when you tell your family you’re studying literature at college. For instance, according to the Modern Language Association, English is a recommended Pre-Medical major because clear communication skills are necessary when lives are at stake. English majors across the nation also find careers in

Banking
Business
Advertising
Public Relations
Publishing
Editing

The skills you will develop as an English major help you analyze the facts and come up with innovative solutions. A talent for using language, writing and communicating with others, will prepare you for a whole world of careers.

For more information about careers for English majors, visit the Academic Advising and Career Exploration Center’s site or contact our department to speak with a faculty advisor. The world is at your fingertips. Are you ready?

FHSU English Graduates: Out in the World


 Jessie Irvin (2008)
MFA Student/GTA
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS
At FHSU, I was a member of the Society of Physics Students, serving as Secretary and Vice President, and was inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma and Sigma Tau Delta. During the summer after my sophomore year, I went to another university for an internship in condensed matter physics, through the Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (SUROP). My English and Physics backgrounds, as well as my interest in technical writing, helped me get a summer position at Brooks-City Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in 2007.  I worked in the Scientific and Technical Information Office. While all my English classes were invaluable to me, here is an example of a class that really made a difference: Writing for Publication and Writing for the Popular Press introduced me to the publishing world, and provided me with so much useful information about how to submit material, write cover letters, and ultimately get published (I'm still working on that last part).

Amanda K. Stinemetz (2006)
Assistant Director of ESL Program
FHSU
Hays, KS
Over the last two years, my English degree has proven to be substantially beneficial to me in my career endeavors. It provided me the opportunity to pursue careers in Library Science, Advertising and Editing, Education, and ESL (English as a Second Language), to name a few. In addition to these career opportunities, my degree in English also provided me with the option to work in the United States, or to work abroad in several different countries. My knowledge of the English language (understanding, applying, using, and teaching the language) was enhanced and sharpened by the FHSU English Department; the department successfully equipped me with the competitive edge required to obtain this position.