The study of English is no longer a field only for teachers and scholars. Students with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in English have studied far more than literature and authors. English degrees can strengthen your analytical and critical thinking skills, improve your oral and written communication abilities, and expand your knowledge of humanities subjects.
What Is a Bachelor’s in English Degree?
An undergraduate degree in English can prepare students to enter journalism, law, public relations, technical and creative writing positions, social media, and, of course, teaching. Simply put, careers for English majors are more diverse than many may think.
Skills developed while studying English serve students well. Most English curricula include studies in criticism, critical thinking, analysis, grammar, communications, and more. Perhaps, the best way to explain the breadth of professions English majors have entered is to recognize some of the successful and famous English majors. Included in the category are Barbara Walters, filmmaker Stephen Spielberg, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, Senator Mitt Romney, and Pulitzer Prize Winner Journalist Bob Woodward.
How Much Can You Earn With a Bachelor’s in English Degree?
Salaries for English majors will depend on what career path they choose. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates salaries for middle and high school teachers to range between $54,000-$61,000 per year, while postsecondary teachers bring in around $66,700 per year. Journalists can earn $64,600 per year, and public relations managers bring in between $55,800-$64,500 annually. In short, what career you pursue with an English degree and what salary you can receive will be up to your interests and ambition.
What Is Required for a Bachelor’s in English Degree?
English is typically a course included in general education requirements for most undergraduate degrees from liberal arts to science. Bachelor of Arts in English will delve further into the subject. English majors will typically study American and British literature, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, to name just a few of the topics covered. English degree programs frequently include studies in oral and written communications, critical thinking, creative composition, linguistics, and analysis.
If you intend to teach English at the secondary level, you’ll need teacher certification, which will usually require coursework in education. Additionally, college and university English professors will need a master’s or doctoral degree.
What Are the Best Bachelor’s in English Degrees?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.