Benefits of an English Degree
There are many benefits of going to school and obtaining an English degree. A degree can serve as a broad base for many careers. The fields of teaching, writing, editing, law, marketing, and communications are all fields that welcome candidates with an English degree. This is because of all the practical qualities an English major obtains in the process of completing his degree.
Through literature, an English major provides strong skills in logic and reasoning and in understanding and analyzing complex materials. Individuals capable of thinking in complex, logical sequences make better employees.
Beyond that, studying literature can also help to explore other cultures and beliefs and teach us to see individual bias. It expands our vocabularies and explores ethical complexities. It can help us to learn better ways to behave, and it also encourages us to question "accepted" knowledge. By studying literature, we learn to support and trust our own viewpoints and interpretations. It also expands our grasp of history as history and literature are indisputably linked. All of these skills transfer across the board of professions as valuable assets.
The study of grammar, composition, and speech makes one an effective communicator in both written and oral contexts. Strong written and oral communication skills are a must for many professions, and many employers across the career spectrum are very interested in applicants who have these communication skills.
With the skills and qualities you gain through earning an English degree, you will have an effective base for many different career paths.
Earn a Good Salary
There are many benefits to having an English degree. One specific benefit to
having an English degree is that you will be qualified to earn a good salary.
When a person sets out to choose a career path, he usually considers many things. For example, he may
consider whether he will enjoy the job, or how he will experience personal growth, or even how he might
make a difference to society in general. However, one of the main things that every individual is
thinking about when he chooses a career path is the earning potential of that job. The earning potential
is very important, especially when a person is thinking of his future and the future of the family he
will support.
If you compare the kinds of jobs that you are qualified to do with an English
degree as opposed to without an English degree, you will see that an English degree affords you a much
greater potential to earn money. An average salary for a high school teacher is $50,200. An average
salary for a technical writer is $68,900. An average salary for a legal secretary is $52,200. Keep in
mind that the word average indicates that there were some professionals earning more than the given
dollar amount as well as some who earned less.
Wherever your English degree leads you, the
bottom line is that you will be earning a good salary.
Very Marketable
One of the benefits of having an English degree and going to English school
is that you are very marketable. Your background and skills will qualify you for a broad range of
careers. In many other majors you prepare for one specific field, but with an English major you will
have many fields from which to choose. English majors often find writing and editing jobs, but there are
many other fields as well. Careers in fields such as teaching, politics, journalism, communications, the
law profession, and non-profit work often welcome English graduates.
As a writer, you could
become a technical writer, copy writer, online marketing content writer, or freelance writer. As an
editor, you could become a copy editor, editorial assistant, associate editor, managing editor, or senior
editor. As a teacher, you could become an elementary or secondary teacher or even teach at a college as
a professor.
There are other careers you may not have considered. In the field of business
you could be an administrative assistant. If you are interested in marketing, you could be a marketing
coordinator. You could work in the field of law as a legal secretary or paralegal. You could also be a
customer service representative or communications specialist.
The truth is that all of these
careers are looking for people with solid communications skills, both verbally and with the written word.
They want candidates who know how to research and can read and understand large swaths of written text.
They need individuals who can analyze problematic situations and who will develop creative solutions for
those problems.
Qualified to Work Anywhere
Another great benefit of going to English school is that you will
be qualified to work anywhere. Many other majors only prepare you for one specific field, but English
majors have many fields from which to choose. They often find writing and editing jobs, but there are
many other fields as well. Careers in fields such as teaching, politics, journalism, communications, the
law profession, and non-profit work often welcome English graduates.
Not only do you have
many different jobs to choose from, but you can also choose many different locations. Other majors may
limit you to a specific location, but with a degree in English this is not the case. English majors can
work in many different regions of the United States. They can also choose to live cross-culturally in
another English speaking country. Or, they can even decide to live cross-culturally in a country that
does not speak English.
English is a desired commodity in many countries. Most non-English speakers have the desire to learn to speak English. Those who are experts in English are in high demand. The benefit of being able to work anywhere may lead you on the adventure of a lifetime.
Last Updated: 09/12/2012