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Earn An English Degree And Dive Into Different Careers   by Natasha Bright

Some students might have goals of becoming the next Oscar Wilde, Charlotte Bronte, Agatha Christie or Ernest Hemingway. Others might have ambitions more akin to Jann Wenner, the founder of Outside and Rolling Stone magazines and an editor who is considered the youngest to be inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame. College and university graduates don’t have to have English degrees to pursue careers as a writer, author or editor, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, but candidates often require some type of degree in order to enter these fields and, in terms of strategy, an English degree might, for some, be a strategic option.

One thing to keep in mind is that many people set their sights on becoming writers and editors, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes. So competition could be intense, according to the agency. Also according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job candidates with journalism, communication and English degrees often are preferred by employers.

Writers might work as biographers, journalists textbook authors or novelists. They might also work as songwriters, scriptwriters, playwrights, screenwriters or television and radio broadcast content producers. With technology being more advanced, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes, there are more writers these days who write scripts for high-tech communications that include the Internet. Writers and editors who have experience with the Internet and multimedia offerings are seeing increased demand as the number of online services and publications grows, according to the agency. Some students pursuing English degrees, then, might be advised to choose a digital communications minor or concentration.

In English degree programs, students might expect their language and critical thinking skills to improve. With critical thinking, students are often able to assess information and come to conclusions as a result. Gaining an appreciation for the power of language is among the goals that a New York City university’s English degree program has for its students, along with the ability to read with imagination and be more sensitive to literature, according to the website for the English degree program.

Writers and authors sometimes develop their own story ideas and at other times are assigned certain projects. They build upon their reputations by taking on more difficult assignments and getting published in markets that are more prestigious, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Students in the New York institution’s English degree program might take courses where they can explore the works of 19th century novelists Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, or 20th century playwrights such Henrik Ibsen as well as work, war and sex as they are portrayed in literature. In a course known as Writing Across Media, students in the New York college’s English degree program explore the innovative ways that writing and other forms of media