English Major

Related Links:  Declare a Minor Visit SU English Department Academic Requirements (Checklists) for English Possible Job Titles Typical Places of Employment Required Skills and Abilities Typical Work Activities Employment Links Additional Info in Career Services Alumni Resources (To contact alums, go to SU's Mentor Network)Mentor Network Default Related Links

Career Information
Occupational Outlook HandBook
America's Career Info Net

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.

The skills and abilities one learns as an English major can be more generally applied to any career requiring expertise in the use of language as a means of communication. For example, despite their differing responsibilities, journalists, teachers, sales representatives, and politicians all use their skill with language to perform their jobs. Representative skills and abilities of holders of degrees in English are listed below. 

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.

 

Related Links: Further Explore this Career Field

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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
Read a "Day in the Life of an Editorial Assistant" -by Vault (SU ID required)

Careers in Technical Writing
A Guide to Careers in 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 
The Career Profile of a Freelance Writer-From Vault (SU log-in required)
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
Sample Resumes for English Students at SU
Writing and Editing Careers, Jobs
 

Graduate School In English-Helpful Sites
English Language & Literature Graduate Programs

*Examples of (local) Internships that  English majors have had. 

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