Earning a bachelor's degree in English can be rewarding.
A bachelor's degree in English is a versatile education. Acquiring a liberal arts degree will give you a broad intellectual background in a variety of subjects. You will gain valuable reading, writing and communications skills that can be applied to nearly every aspect of your life. Upon graduation, you will be qualified to work in many different fields, but you might have to spend a little extra time marketing yourself.
Requirements of a Bachelor's Degree in English
The degree will involve around 130 hours of coursework, approximately 36 of which will be specifically English courses. English departments are part of colleges of arts and science, which will require broad coursework across multiple areas including natural and physical sciences, social sciences and the arts.
There usually is a foreign language requirement of four semesters. A large number of electives also will be included in the degree. Most English degrees will also require a minor. This gives students an opportunity to select and focus on a sub-field that can be related to English or not.
The English portion of coursework will have further requirements in specific areas such as historical literature, culture, gender studies, rhetoric and writing. Students select a concentration within English from areas such as creative writing, literature studies or composition and rhetoric. Often students, in conjunction with faculty, can create their own specialization.
Professional Value of an English Degree
A bachelor's degree in English will prepare you for advanced studies in a variety of fields. It will also open doors to employment in writing, editing and reporting. Most jobs require communication of some type. Companies and organizations need written material produced and edited. They need people to do this work, and an English major is an excellent candidate. With a little extra effort, you can obtain a teaching certification, which will allow you to teach in elementary and secondary schools.
Intellectual Value of an English Degree
You will gain a broad understanding of the history and current state of human thought and inquiry with an English degree. You will learn to think logically, interpret complex information in a variety of subjects, evaluate ideas and form your own. In a sense, you will learn learn, acquiring the foundation to form your own opinions rather than deferring to the opinions of others.
Personal Value of an English Degree
In addition to professional and intellectual development, pursuing a bachelor's degree in English can be a personally rewarding experience. You will have the opportunity to interact regularly with other students and faculty who share a passion for literature and written words. You will cultivate a greater understanding and appreciation of literature. You will be exposed to a variety of different viewpoints and lenses through which to view the great works of literature.
These different viewpoints, even the ones you disagree with, inevitably will increase the sophistication of your own thinking and understanding. You will become much better at expressing yourself--an ability that can be applied to every aspect of life.
Potential Difficulties of an English Degree
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, writing and editing positions are expected to grow about as fast as most occupations from 2008 to 2018. Approximately 54,000 writing jobs will become available during that time period because of growth and replacement. In 2008 the annual median salary for writers was $53,070. Competition is expected to remain keen because many people are attracted to writing and editing positions, yet many employers are downsizing.
An English degree offers hundreds of additional potential career paths. That versatility can make job hunting difficult. You will need to know market yourself, and you might have a harder time finding entry level positions. You will need to take the initiative. The good news is that the independent thinking and research abilities you have acquired in pursuit of the degree will be of assistance in finding a career that suits you.
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