|
This question (sometimes ending "besides teach") is a favorite of both prospective majors and their parents. The answer is: plenty of things. Many prospective employers who do not list "English or Writing major" in their job descriptions are delighted to hire employees who are skilled at reading, writing, thinking carefully and creatively, and working well with people--all skills that English and Writing majors learn. The world is full of English and Writing majors who do a wide variety of challenging and diverse jobs. Former Bluffton University President Lee Snyder was an English major; and so were all of these: Dave Barry, humorist Chevy Chase, actor Michael Eisner, Walt Disney CEO |
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, television writer/producer(Designing Women, Evening Shade)
Jodi Foster, actor, filmmaker
Joe Paterno, football coach (Penn State)
Sally Ride, astronaut
Paul Simon, songwriter, singer
Steven Spielberg, filmmaker
Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Harold Varmus, Nobel laureate in medicine, Director of National Institutes of Health
Sigourney Weaver, actor
At Bluffton, a goodly number of English majors complete the education courses and student teaching required to be licensed to teach in public schools. Other English and Writing majors pursue a wide variety of interests and careers in law, business, higher education, and elsewhere. One recent graduate is already publishing his science fiction in magazines and anthologies. Others go to graduate school to study many different subjects--not only literature and creative writing, but business, communication, queer theory, sociology, law, and other fields as well.
English department faculty work closely with students as they consider various career options. In addition, the Bluffton Career Center provides many resources for students seeking employment, applying to graduate schools, and exploring their interests and abilities. Visit the Career Center's page: What to do with an English and Writing major
For sketches of some of our recent graduates, see our Meet some recent alumni page.Employers love the skills that you learn by studying Writing and English. According to a recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the top ten personal qualities/skills (in order) that employers in all fields seek in employees are:
For more information about career options for English and Writing majors, you may want to follow these links:
University of North Carolina, Wilmington career services
University of Texas career center
