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English
The study of the English language can ultimately lead to careers in a wide variety of fields that go far beyond the teaching and writing careers generally associated with the English major.
Studying literature and language teaches the student to write effectively, to think critically, to see all sides of an issue, question generally accepted conventions, and to communicate ideas. These skills are valued by employers in communications, business and industry, government, education and advertising. Also through the study of English, students learn such practical and career-transferable skills as research, rewriting and editing, information gathering and analysis.
English is also a wise choice of major for those considering law or graduate school. Masters programs in business administration, communications, English and education, and other programs are often the next step for undergraduate English majors. Some students obtain licensure for Adolescent and Young Adult Education to teach in secondary education.
OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Advertising copywriter
Biographer
College/university relations officer
Columnist
Copy editor
Editor
Fiction writer
Foreign service officer
Journalist
Lawyer
Librarian
Linguist
Lobbyist
Magazine writer
Management trainee
Media specialist
Press representative for elected officials
Proofreader
Public relations specialist
Reporter for newspaper or radio
Sales representative
Speech writer
Teacher
Technical writer
TV reporter/anchor
Writer for in-house publications (business, industry, and non-profits)
*Some positions may require additional education and/or training.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
Information on employment outlook for the occupations listed above may be found at America’s Career InfoNet, http://www.acinet.org, the Occupational Information Network, http://online.onetcenter.org, or the Occupational Outlook Handbook, http://www.bls.gov/oco.
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
Advertising agencies
Business and industry
Colleges and universities
Local, state & federal government
Magazines
Newspapers
Public relations firms
Publishing houses
Radio and television
Schools
SOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Books (* denotes books available in the Career Center Library)
- Bly, Robert W. Careers for Writers & Others Who Have a Way with Words, Lincolnwood, IIL: VGM Career
Horizons, 2003.
- Camenson, Blythe. Careers in Publishing, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Books, 2002.
- Camenson, Blythe. Great Jobs for Communications Majors, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Books, 2002.
- DeGalan, Julie & Lambert, Stephen. Great Jobs for English Majors, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
- Eberts, Marjorie. Careers for Bookworms and Other Literary Types, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Books, 2003.
- Foote-Smith, Elizabeth. Opportunities in Writing Careers, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
- Gould, Jay. Opportunities in Technical Writing Careers, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons, 2000.
- *Gurvis, Sandra. Careers for Non-Conformists, New York, NY: Marlowe and Company, 2000.
- *Morkes, Andrew, editor. Ferguson's Careers in Focus: Writing, Chicago, IL: Ferguson Publishing Co., 2003.
- Paradis, Adrian A. Careers for Caring People and Other Sensitive Types, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Books,
2003.
- Paradis, Adrian A. Opportunities in Nonprofit Organization Careers, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Series, 1994.
- Rotman, Morris B. Opportunities in Public Relations Careers, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Series, 2001.
Professional Associations
- American Society of Journalists and Authors, 1501 Broadway, Suite 302, New York, NY 10036, http://www.asja.org.
- American Society of Magazine Editors, 810 7th Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10019, http://www.magazine.org/editorial/.
- International Association of Business Communicators, One Hallidie Plaza, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94102,
http://www.iabc.com.
- National Council of Teachers of English, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096, http://www.ncte.org.
- Society of Professional Journalists, 3909 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208, http://www.spj.org.
Web sites
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