Overview of major
Potential job titles 
Examples of internships
Possible career fields
Possible work settings
Important skills and abilities
Sample web resources
Print resources
Sample graduate programs pursued by English majors  

Overview of major

The English major introduces students to a wide variety of literature written by men and women, past and present. It trains you to read accurately and imaginatively, to write clearly and forcefully, and to enjoy the potential for creative play afforded by rich and complex language. Graduates have pursued careers in journalism, business, library science, education, and technical writing, as well as within business and law.

Resources

• English Department Site
• Course Catalogue
• Academic Advising and Support Center

Potential job titles

• English Teacher (K-12)
• Reporter
• Legal Assistant/Paralegal
• Community Outreach Worker
• Marketing Assistant
• Proofreader
• Assistant Editor
• Communications Editor
• Publications Editor
• Underwriting Assistant
• Copywriter
• Librarian
• Public Relations Specialist
• Admission Counselor
• Market Research Analyst
• Campus Minister
• Freelance Writer
• Scholarship Associate

Examples of internships

• Comcast
• Milby Associates, Inc.
• Girls’ Life Magazine
• Cosmopolitan Magazine
• Agora Publishing, Inc.
• Virgin & Capitol
• Baltimore County Public Schools
• The Travel Channel
• MediaCom
• Lansdowne Middle School
• Group Designs
• Baltimore City Public Defender
• Lawyers Without Borders
• Mercy High School
• Martin-Lauer Associates LLC
• The Rosen Group, NICHE Magazine

Possible career fields

Writing/Editing

• Creative writing
• Journalism
• Freelance
• Technical writing

Education 

Publishing

• Editing
• Advertising
• Sales
• Circulation
• Production
• Publicity

Advertising

• Creative
• Media
• Research

Public relations

• Research
• Writing
• Editing
• Media

Law 

Business/Industry

• Management
• Sales
• Marketing
• Human resources
• Insurance

Possible work settings

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Internet sites
• Large corporations
• Private schools
• Trade magazines
• Advertising agencies
• Public relations firms
• Law firms
• Government agencies
• Banks
• Real estate agencies
• Insurance firms
• Bookstores
• Colleges & universities
• Private learning center

Important skills and abilities

• Speaking & debating
• Computer
• Deadline oriented
• Initiative
• Word processing & editing
• Persistence
• Assertiveness
• Research
• Public speaking
• Analytical
• Creative
• Attention to detail
• Work well under pressure

Sample web resources

• American Academy of Political & Social Science
• American Bar Association
• American Society of Journalists and Authors
• American Society of News Editors
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication
• National Writers Union
• Newspaper Association of America Foundation

Print resources

(All available in the Career Resource Library in The Career Center)

• Careers for Book Worms (EN/WR Category)
• Careers in Writing (EN/WR Category)
• Great Jobs for English Majors (EN/WR Category)
• Opportunities in Publishing Careers (EN/WR Section)
• Money Making Writing Jobs (EN/WR Section)
• Opportunities in Journalism Careers (EN/WR Section)
• Career Opportunities in The Publishing Industry (COM Section)
• How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School (Grad Section)
• Graduate Programs in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (Grad Section)

Sample graduate programs pursued by English majors

• PhD, Comparative Literature
• MA/MEd/PhD, Education or Educational Administration
• JD
• MA, English, Library Science or Journalism
• Master of Psychology
• Occupational Therapy
• MFA, Creative Writing
• School Psychology
• MA, Bookmaking
• MA, Professional Writing
• MA/PhD, Literature