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• What Can I Do With a Major In?
• Focus with Self-Assessments
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Try It

• Resumes
• Cover Letters/Career Letters
• Get an Internship/Volunteer!
• Interviewing

Become It

• Find a Job/ Network
• Go To Graduate School
• Obtain References/Salary
• Mentor Advice/Hall of Fame

Additional Resources

English Major

• Possible Job Titles
• Typical Places of Employment
• Employment Links
• Typical Work Activities
• Additional Info in Career Services
• Alumni Resources (To contact alums, go to SU's Mentor Network)
• Related Links

Career Information

• Occupational Outlook Hand Book
• America's Career Info Net

Possible Job Titles

ADVERTISING COPYWRITER

Writes advertising copy for display in all media: newspaper, magazine, billboard, packaging, television, radio.

COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER

Writes instructional and tutorial manuals and course materials for internal and customer training. Works for manufacturers of computer hardware and software. May require coursework or experience in teaching, as well as some technical background.

COMPUTER MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Writes brochures, data sheets, and other marketing materials to promote a computer product. May include video scripting. Works for manufacturers of computer hardware and software. Typically requires some technical knowledge.

CONTINUITY WRITER

Writes and edits scripts for broadcast announcers, noting the sequence and length of each segment and charting the inclusion of commercials. Works for radio and television producers.

COPY EDITOR/ COPY READER

Edits printed copy for grammatical and stylistic errors. Works in a variety of settings: book and magazine publishers, newspapers, advertising agencies, in-house publications of business and agency newsletters and releases.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Writes press releases, speeches, annual reports, and other material to promote a corporation and its image. Works for all corporations in all fields.

CORRESPONDENT/STRINGER

Writes freelance reports for one or more publications. Usually has special knowledge of the subject or geographic area covered. Works as an independent contractor.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Evaluates manuscripts; reviews and edits copy; coordinates photography, illustrations, and graphics; secures copyrights and permissions to quote copyrighted material. Works for
book publishers.

EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Writes for and edits an employee newsletter. Works for employers in all fields. Requires skills in graphic design and layout.

FILM RESEARCHER/COPYWRITER

Reviews scripts, checks for factual and technical accuracy, rewrites copy, assists in creating storyboard representations of scenes. Relevant coursework or prior experience preferred.
Works for entertainment, documentary, educational, and industrial film producers.

FREELANCE WRITER

Writes for publications on an assignment basis for a negotiated fee, usually after submittal of a query letter proposing ideas for articles or stories. Typically works as an independent contractor.

POLICY AND PROCEDURES ANALYST

Writes manuals on internal operating procedures and policies. Works for employers in all fields.

PUBLICATIONS RESEARCHER

Researches story and script ideas; maintains research files on topics and people, checks stories for accuracy. Works for newspaper, magazine, or book publishers.

RADIO/TELEVISION COPYWRITER

Writes and rewrites scripts for broadcast media. Entry-level posts are available in news departments.

RADIO/TELEVISION RESEARCHER

Researches story and script ideas for broadcast media. Maintains research files on topics and people; checks stories for accuracy. Works for radio and television producers.

REPORTER/STAFF WRITER

Works and writes for a publication on a regular basis. Usually works under pressure of deadlines on general assignments before specializing in a particular area. In addition to newspapers and magazines, employers include corporations and agencies with in-house newsletters.

SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER

Instructs high school and junior high school students in specialized subject areas. Most secondary school teachers teach several courses in a single subject area. Public schools
generally require certification; private schools typically do not.

SPECIAL PROGRAM TEACHERS

Instructs students enrolled in special education programs. Settings (e.g., churches, social service agencies) and topics (e.g., vocational training, preschool Head Start, drug-abuse prevention) vary widely.

TECHNICAL EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Edits and proofreads material prepared by technical writers. Typically requires less technical expertise than technical writing does. Primarily employed by high-tech companies.

TECHNICAL WRITER

Researches, writes and edits publications that communicate scientific technical information to readers with no technical background. Employers include corporations, professional associations, and government agencies.

USER DOCUMENTATION WRITER

Writes instructional manuals for computer users. Works for manufacturers of computer hardware and software. May require limited technical background.

Places of Employment

Typical Work Activities

Additional Info in Career Services

These publications must be used in the "Browsing" Library of Career Services. There are also many brochures and magazines such as Resume Writing, Interviewing and Job Choices that you may take with you.

To see a complete list of career books located at the Career Services Office click here.

Related Links: Further Explore this Career Field

What can you do with an English Degree-from CNN

Careers in Journalism

• What Do Newspaper Journalists Do?
• Becoming a Journalist

Careers in Editing

• American Copy Editors Society- Includes Internship and "Ask and Expert" sections
• Become a Book editor
• Editors and Writers from the Occupational Outlook Handbook

Careers in Technical Writing

• A Guide to Careers in Technical Writing
• Definition of Technical Writing
• Society for Technical Communication - their career center

Careers in English as a Second Language (ESL)

• ESL/EFL Career Guide
• Linguistic Funland-a bevy of ESL Links!

Careers in Writing and other English Pursuits

• Glossary of Writing Careers
• Interview with a Literary Agent
• Check this out: A major-- to career-- converter from Monster.
• College and University Faculty from the Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Job Sites for English
• National Council for Teachers of English
• Poets & Writers, Inc. is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers
• Sample Resumes for English Students at SU
• Writing and Editing Careers, Jobs

Graduate School In English-Helpful Sites

• English Language & Literature Graduate Programs

Interesting facts: Famous English Majors

Compiled by Mississippi State University English Department

As might be expected, a large number of writers hold degrees in English. The list includes:

Douglas Adams: SciFi writer; wrote "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series; Dirk Gently series

Gwendolyn Brooks: poems include "We Real Cool"

Tom Clancy: suspense writer; "Clear and Present Danger "

Allen Ginsberg: Beat Generation poet; poems include "Howl "

Joseph Heller: author of "Catch-22"

David Henry Hwang: author of "Madame Butterfly"

Stephen King: extraordinarily successful and prolific author of horror fiction; writings range from "Carrie" through "The Green Mile" and "The Stand" to the short story on which the movie "Stand by Me" is based

Bobbie Ann Mason: short story writer; collections include Shiloh

Arthur Miller: playwright most noted for "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible"

Toni Morrison: author of "Beloved"

Joyce Carol Oates: prolific author

Philip Roth: esteemed Jewish author

Amy Tan: author of "The Joy Luck Club"

John Updike: most noted for the "Rabbit" books, from "Run, Rabbit, Run" to "Rabbit at Rest"

Then there are those English majors who have made non-traditional use of their degrees, including:

Russell Baker--journalist

Dave Barry--humorist writer, actor

Linda Bloodworth-Thomason--television writer/producer (Designing Women, Evening Shade)

Carol Browner--former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency

Chevy Chase--comedian, actor, writer

Mario Cuomo--former Governor of New York

John Cuzack -- actor

David Duchovny -- actor

Michael Eisner--Walt Disney CEO (former)

Jodie Foster--actor, filmmaker

Kathryn Fuller--World Wildlife Fund CEO

Cathy Guisewite--cartoonist (Cathy)

Tommy Lee Jones -- actor

Kris Kristofferson -- songwriter, actor

Paul Newman--actor, food entrepreneur

Joe Paterno--football coach (Penn State University)

Sally Ride--astronaut

Joan Rivers--comedienne

Diane Sawyer--broadcast journalist

Herb Scannell -- President, Nickolodeon Networks, MTV Networks Group President

Paul Simon--songwriter, singer

Steven Spielberg--filmmaker

Marty Schottenheimer--Coach of San Diego Chargers

Christopher Reeve--late actor, activist for the disabled

Clarence Thomas--U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Emma Thompson -- actor

Grant Tinker--TV Executive and Producer

Harold Varmus--Nobel laureate in medicine, former Director of National Institutes of Health

Barbara Walters--broadcast journalist

Sigourney Weaver--actress

Pete Wilson--former Governor of California

Bob Woodward--journalist, wrote All the President's Men

Renee Zellweger -- actress