What is the benefit of a Bachelors degree in English?
English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Yet people will be surprised by how little they actually know about the language. A bachelor’s degree in English is aimed at creating an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the English language. Its objective is to provide a thorough knowledge of spoken and written English in terms of analysis, interpretation, expression and critical thinking.
What kinds of courses are included in this degree?
A bachelor’s in English covers a wide variety of courses to help you better understand the different aspects of the English language. The subjects range from literature, ethics and even math. A range of subjects enable a graduate of this degree to be prepared for a wide variety of future career prospects.
Some of the courses that may be offered as part of this degree are:
Literary Courses:
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Western World Literature
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American Ethnic Literature
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20th Century American Literature
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African American Literature
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Shakespeare literature
Writing Courses:
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Introduction to Writing
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Introduction to Professional Writing
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Advanced Research Writing
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Creative Writing: Fiction and Creative Nonfiction
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Expository and Persuasive Writing
Enrollments in English Language
Enrollments Percentage in English Language
What are the future career prospects?
Some people assume that a bachelor in English is limited in its scope of career choices. However, this degree equips the students with a variety of skills that make then eligible for diverse career options. These include:
Writers
This is the most obvious career choice of all. Writing is a challenging but possibly satisfying career and a bachelor in English will provide you with an opportunity to develop the qualities needed to be a successful writer. Writing itself is a diverse field and covers areas such as journalism, content writing, publication houses and electronic media. The courses in this degree target the writing and research methods required for each specific profession and better equip you for your prospective career path.
Teachers
This degree also opens up the possibility of a career in teaching. The bachelor in English degree is geared towards developing the speaking and writing skills that are essential for teachers. The degree also has modules that train the students in expressing their thoughts and ideas effectively so as to better communicate them to others. This is an indispensable trait when it comes to instructing students in a teacher’s role.
Many other career choices can potentially be accessible to someone who holds a bachelor’s degree in English. Publication houses and newspapers have editors, whose job is to evaluate, plan and revise the content for publication. According to O*Net, the median annual salary for editors in 2013 was $54,150. In the case of writers and authors, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary of $55,940. Many undergraduate English majors may also decide to pursue a specialization in law at the graduate and doctoral levels, because a degree in English compliments a law degree.