What Can You Do With an English Degree?

Flexible, Impactful, and In-Demand

English majors understand the power of language, developing skills that apply to many industries, roles, and career paths. Students learn to write clearly and communicate effectively, developing an understanding of logic, nuance, and structure. That combination prepares English majors to pursue careers across fields and disciplines.

At Willamette, you will study the art of language as both a reader and a writer. Explore historic documents, poetry, plays, and contemporary fiction to broaden your skills and knowledge. You will engage with these texts to develop your mastery of the English language and set yourself up for a variety of career paths.

What is an English Major?

English majors study language and literature while strengthening their reasoning and writing skills. They develop expertise in close reading, critical analysis, and research, and learn to write clearly for academic, creative, or professional audiences.

A professor talking to students outside on the lawn

What Skills Do You Learn?

English majors gain versatile skills in writing, research, and analysis that matter in the real world.

Writing and editing skills. Learn how to perfect your communication skills. Develop your ability to write, reason, persuade, and comprehend effectively while working with a diverse range of audiences.
Research skills. Find and evaluate credible sources, spot patterns, and present clear conclusions. Develop the ability to ask questions, think critically, and adapt research for different contexts.
Critical thinking skills. Learn to analyze complex thought and written text, evaluate arguments, and understand how persuasion and rhetoric shape ideas and conclusions.
Creative skills. Develop imagination, storytelling, and the ability to turn ideas into meaningful, engaging narratives.
Problem-solving skills. Understand problems from multiple perspectives. Gain skills in time management, organization, and independent thought to solve problems.
Emotional intelligence skills. Learn how to handle criticism, give feedback, and work with others on deeply personal projects.

A student with red nail polish writing in a notebook with a pencil

What Jobs Can You Get With an English Degree?

From teaching English abroad to a career in technical writing, an English degree offers a valuable skill set that employers appreciate. While students can pursue a variety of roles and industries, common career paths for English majors include:

Writing, Editing, and Publishing
Copywriter

Editor

Grant Writer

Lexicographer

Medical Writer

Publisher

Technical Writer

UX Writer

Web Content Manager

Writer
Journalism and Media
Book Critic

Columnist

Communications Researcher

Journalist

Media Researcher

Producer

Reporter
Marketing, Advertising, and Communications
Advertising Executive

Brand Strategist

Corporate Communications Specialist

Marketing Executive

Public Relations Specialist

Social Media Manager
Law, Policy, and Public Service
Consultant

Lawyer

Paralegal

Policy Analyst
Education and Academia
Archivist

Librarian

Professor

Teacher
Healthcare and Science Communication
Health Communications Specialist

Medical Doctor

Medical Writer
Business and Management
Arts Administrator

HR Director

Nonprofit Director

Project Manager

Sales Executive
Global Communication
Interpreter

Translator

Keep in mind that some of these career paths may require additional education. Speak to a career advisor to create a personalized plan.

Is English a Good Major?

Absolutely! An English degree leads to a wide range of career paths, offering powerful skills that are adaptable and flexible. Whether you enjoy reading or writing, you'll walk away with the ability to persuade, comprehend, and collaborate.

English majors are great at synthesizing information, understanding audiences, and perceiving patterns. They learn how to receive feedback, tailor communication, and navigate situations with self-awareness. While it is a great major on its own, students can choose to pair it with another major to help pursue a specific career path.

A guest speaker talking to a classroom of students while sitting down

Is an English Degree Worth It?

An English degree is worth it when you turn strong communication skills into demonstrable experience. Students can apply their skills and adapt to a variety of roles within fields that include business, law, education, publishing, and art. In fact, English majors have around a 79% acceptance rate into law schools, and often have higher acceptance rates to medical school than science students.

A student talking to other students during a classroom discussion

Consider Graduate Degree Programs

Considering a career in law, medicine, or education? Consider an MBA, a Master of Fine Arts degree, a JD program, or even an MAT. Willamette English graduates have earned additional degrees at:

Brigham Young University
Emerson College
Hawaii Pacific University
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Sarah Lawrence College
Sonoma State University
Syracuse University
University of California, Davis
University of Colorado
University of Edinburgh
University of San Diego
University of Washington
Vanderbilt University
Western Washington University
Willamette University

Real-World Examples

From PR firms and publishing houses to education, journalism, consulting, and medicine, students apply their skills across a wide range of fields. Willamette English students have secured impactful internships and career opportunities with a variety of institutions.

Internships
Breakthrough Collaborative

Bush House Museum

Cultural Heritage Agency of The Netherlands

Hawthorne Books

Literary Arts

Oregon State Library

Pacific Sun Newspaper

Salem-Keizer School District

UCLA Department Of Bioengineering
Employers
Accenture

American Express

Care Oregon

Fulcrum PR & Communications Group

Grand Central Publishing

Pixelberry Studios

Pacific University Library

Portland Public Schools

State of Hawaii

The Portland Observer

Willamette Week

Why Choose Willamette for English?

Tap into Oregon’s literary ecosystem. Join in-person writing workshops and programs hosted by Oregon Literary Arts, including the Portland Book Festival. Participate in a FisherPoets Gathering event or visit the iconic Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Make connections with local publishers, bookstore owners, and even editors throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks to a partnership with Pacific Northwest College of Art, Willamette students also have a unique opportunity to network with artists and writers. Students can even join PNCA community events or consider a master's degree in creative writing.

MFA in Creative Writing

BA/MFA Joint Degree

Earn highly transferable skills through a liberal arts program. At Willamette, students thrive in small class sizes, learning from accomplished writers and scholars. Through these close-knit environments, students receive feedback and career advice from professors who personally know them. These professors can help craft powerful recommendation letters for graduate programs and provide tailored career advice.

Within our English department, students can also choose a concentration in creative writing or English literature. This enables students to develop skills that align with their career goals. Students can choose from a wide range of specialized courses to build skills in comprehension, professional writing, and analysis. Popular courses include:

Medieval Literature
Feminist Film Criticism
Latinx Literature and Culture

English Courses

English Faculty

Academics at Willamette

Receive personalized tutoring on your writing projects through the Writing Center. Along the way, students also learn how to give, receive, and apply feedback effectively.

You can also choose to connect with other students who share your passion for literature, writing, and related fields. Join the English Honors Society (Sigma Tau Delta) or write for The Collegian, Willamette’s campus newspaper, to engage with your studies beyond the classroom. Consider student-run clubs such as:

Art Club
Cult Cinema Club
Millstream Adventurer’s Guild
Philosophy Club
Poetry Club
Queer Literary Society
Sigma Tau Delta
The Collegian
The Mill

Student Clubs

Writing Center

At Willamette, students apply what they learn in the classroom through hands-on experiences that help them grow and build their resumes. Our students have published in journals, presented at conferences, and engaged in experiences typically reserved for the graduate level.

Students can build experience by working as writing consultants at the Writing Center, helping others improve their skills. They can also connect with visiting writers through the Literary Series or study unique documents and texts in the library archives and Hallie Ford Museum of Art.

Students can earn academic credit through internships, create a substantial body of work, conduct intensive research in the Senior Seminar, or study abroad to explore English from a new perspective.

Writing Center

English Courses

Study Abroad

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What Can You Do With an English Degree?

Flexible, Impactful, and In-Demand

What is an English Major?

What Skills Do You Learn?

What Jobs Can You Get With an English Degree?

Writing, Editing, and Publishing

Journalism and Media

Marketing, Advertising, and Communications

Law, Policy, and Public Service

Education and Academia

Healthcare and Science Communication

Business and Management

Global Communication

Is English a Good Major?

Is an English Degree Worth It?

Consider Graduate Degree Programs

Real-World Examples

Internships

Employers

Why Choose Willamette for English?

Request Information

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