Studying English can be a very prosperous degree option because it has a wide variety of applications and job opportunities.
The salaries are competitive and you will be able to work in different industries, such as:
- Communications
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Technical Writing
- Business
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Education
Most of the degree options listed below focus on literature, communication, and technical writing.
Moreover, by attending either one of the universities from the list below, you will ensure premium education for a very reasonable price.
Here are twenty best online schools for earning a Bachelor’s degree in English:
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, based in Orlando, Florida, is a renowned distance learning institution as it offers a purely online Bachelor of Arts degree in English that has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The main goal is to help students to learn more about many great aspects of literature through a wide range of classes in literary history.
The degree includes specializations in creative writing, literature, and academic communication.
To graduate, students will have to earn 120 credit hours, and they can finish their degree in two years.
Literature concentration deals with different historical, cultural, and social importance of poetry and other beautiful forms of literature.
Moreover, students will improve their reading, critical thinking, analysis, as well as writing skills through various assignments and applications.
Some of the classes include the following:
- Gothic literature
- Caribbean literature
- Post-World War II fiction
- Hispanic women writers
Students also have the ability to choose at least one theory and linguistics class, such as modern English grammar or feminist theory.
Official WebsiteUniversity of Memphis
The University of Memphis is situated in Memphis, Tennessee, and it’s another great online educational institution for receiving your Bachelor’s degree in English.
Moreover, this academic facility has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Their degree option offers two different specializations, namely Professional Writing and African-American Literature.
The Professional Writing option focuses on teaching students the relevant skills needed to become proficient in technical writing, professional editing, as well as online writing.
Upon completion, students will be able to easily comprehend and master practical writing skills through different courses such as document design, web design, and publishing.
On the other hand, the African-American Literature option covers different historical, cultural, and artistic aspects of black literary gems.
Here, students will dissect literary masterpieces that were created before and after the Harlem Renaissance.
Students can also complete a 12 credit hour core program that is comprised of three foundational literature classes in British and American literature.
They will also have the ability to choose among the following electives:
- Introduction to linguistics
- Persuasive writing
- Advanced composition
University of Illinois
As the name suggests, the University of Illinois is located in Illinois – Springfield, to be more exact.
This academic institution has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and it offers a great online degree program in English.
The curriculum is comprised of 68-71 credit hours that include elective courses, free courses, foundation courses, and core courses.
Foundation courses are worth 34 credit hours and include classes such as world literature, American literature, British literature, and linguistics.
Literary classes are worth 22 credit hours and are comprised of courses like English studies, digital technologies, digital media rhetoric and composition, as well as English studies research methods.
When it comes to electives, students can choose between the following options:
- Drama-specific classes
- Film-specific classes
- Editing
- Professional writing
Moreover, students will also have an opportunity to take an additional 300 or 400-level courses in different forms of literature.
Official WebsiteArizona State University
Arizona State University is situated in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it is one of the most well-known names in the online education industry.
Not only does this university offer a great online degree program in English, but it has also been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
By attending this course, students will learn about linguistics, literature, literary theory, the use of the English language, as well as literary criticism.
The whole purpose of this degree program is to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for nonfiction and fiction writings that cover topics such as history, society, race, ethnicity, class, and gender.
Students are required to take three courses, namely first-year composition, advanced first-year composition, as well as critical reading and writing.
When it comes to electives, students will dissect topics like environmental issues in film and literature, science fiction, literary magazine publishing, and transborder Mexican and Chicano literature of the Southwest.
Moreover, students will have an opportunity to take part in an online internship via Arizona State University’s online literal journal named the Superstition Review.
There is more than one start date, making it very convenient for students to join in at any time.
Usually, the degree can be earned in up to four years, but there’s also an accelerated format that lasts for three years.
Official WebsiteCalifornia Baptist University
California Baptist University offers a great online degree option in English that was specifically designed for students that are currently employed.
Moreover, this university has also received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Their Bachelor of Arts in English degree program has a strong focus on learning and improving one’s critical thinking skills, as well as written communication.
The curriculum combines traditional literary education and knowledge with the university’s Christian ethics and standards.
There are 39 major-related credit hours and some of the requirements include global literary movements, British literature, American literature, world literature, literary theory, literary criticism, language structure, language acquisition, as well as Shakespeare studies
The curriculum follows an asynchronous format and the degree can be obtained in less than sixteen months.
Furthermore, students are required to take different elective courses that deal with respective literary movements, genres, and periods.
Official WebsiteOttawa University
Ottawa University is situated in, as the name suggests, Ottawa, Kansas.
This university has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and it offers a notable online Bachelor’s degree program in English.
The university’s degree programs were specifically designed to meet the needs of students who are currently employed and require more flexibility with their schedules.
By attending this course, students will learn about the importance of different literary movements while also covering the important issues of social justice.
The coursework follows an online, asynchronous format, which allows students to complete their coursework through seminars, theme-based courses, survey courses, as well as a capstone project.
Moreover, students will gain a deeper understanding of various literary forms that include both antique and postmodern editions.
Theme-based courses cover topics such as literary movements, protest literature, multicultural literature, literary criticism, and environmental literature.
On the other hand, seminar courses focus on different critical strategies of American and British Literature.
To earn a degree, students are obligated to complete courses in linguistics and creative writing, and they also need to complete a capstone course.
Official WebsiteGranite State College
Granite State College is situated in Concord, New Hampshire, and it has been accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
This university offers a great online Bachelor of Arts in English Language Arts degree program, and it has three different specializations.
These specializations include:
- Early Childhood Education
- Special Education – Early Childhood
- Elementary Education and General Special Education
- General Special Education
For individuals who’d like to pursue this type of education, but aren’t seeking to be certified, there is an option to do so through reduced course requirements and without the need for passing the certification test.
Moreover, students will also have to finish an English Language Arts core that consists of literature overview and criticism, alongside British literature courses, disability in literature, expository writing, and conducting critical inquiries.
Students will also get an opportunity to take the Early Childhood trach that covers topics such as young children with extraordinary behavior, child development, and special ed law.
Official WebsiteClarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion University of Pennsylvania also has a stellar online degree program in English, and it has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
This degree option has a strong focus on improving different types of skills, including analytical writing, communication, and critical thinking.
Students will study different forms of literature and other types of written tests.
Students can expect to have 42 credit hours of major subjects – English Core and multiple specializations, and 18 credit hours of introduction to reading and writing – English studies.
Moreover, there are four major options – Literature, Linguistics, General Writing, and Creative Writing.
To earn a degree, students will also have to complete a mandatory capstone project in advanced English and provide the university with a portfolio of their work.
Official WebsiteNicholls State University
Nicholls State University is based in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and it features an online Bachelor of Arts in English Degree Program.
This school offers a great education, which is proved by its accreditation obtained by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
By attending this course, students will improve their speaking, writing, research, and analytical skills.
Moreover, they will learn about Western literature, American Literature, British Literature, literary criticism, and rhetoric.
When it comes to school requirements, students will have to earn 120 credit hours, which consists of 36 credits of required English classes, as well as 18 credit hours of specialization classes.
There are three different focus areas, namely Literary Studies, Creative Writing, and Writing and Rhetoric.
To obtain a diploma, students will also have to complete a capstone project where they will create their own academic portfolios and complete a difficult research project.
Official WebsiteUniversity of Maryland University College
The University of Maryland University College is located in College Park, Maryland, and it has received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
They offer an amazing online Bachelor of Arts in English degree option that covers important topics such as cultural literacy and improves one’s writing, reading, and critical thinking skills.
Students will dive deeper into the history, ethics, style, and socio-cultural significance of literature in general.
To earn a degree, students will have to complete 120 credit hours of coursework, which consists of 46 credit hours of minor elective classes, and 36 credit hours of English core courses.
English core courses are comprised of twelve different courses, such as:
- Foundational studies in genre
- English grammar
- Strategies for literature
Students will also get an opportunity to choose whether they would like to study certain literary movements such as Renaissance, Romanticism, Postmodernism, and Modernism.
Moreover, students are required to complete a capstone seminar in literature, English language, and writing.
Official WebsiteColumbia College
Columbia College is situated in Columbia, Missouri, and it has received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
This university offers a stellar online degree program in English which aims to improve one’s writing and critical thinking skills.
To graduate, students will need to finish around 42 credit hours of major classes, which consists of 24 credit hours of core classes and 18 credit hours of electives.
Moreover, they will also need to complete an extra 31 to 34 credits of electives which will focus on journalism, advanced English, and composition.
Core classes will enable students to receive a strong foundation in criticism and composition by dissecting topics such as literary theory and writing about literature.
When it comes to survey courses, they mostly deal with British and American literature, while electives consist of two classes in world literature, among many others.
Students also have an option to choose between standard and advanced English majors and receive hands-on experience in a professional setting.
Official WebsiteMercy College
Mercy College is a well-known name in the online education industry and it is based in Dobbs Ferry, New York.
This school has also received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
To graduate, students will have to complete 120 credit hours of coursework which mostly consists of literature-based subjects.
However, students can also opt to pursue a four-credit Language and Writing track upon completing the program.
Students will have to take 36 credit hours of major classes, three foundational classes, and two English literature survey classes.
Moreover, students are required to pick one of the following major course division:
- Classical texts
- Social and cultural contexts
- Literary genres
- Historical periods
Mercy College also offers a specialization in language and writing, which requires 12 writing course credit hours of courses like:
- Business writing
- Introduction to playwriting
- Applied English grammar
- Writing for the web
Indiana University East
Indiana University East is situated in Richmond, Indiana, and it has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
This university offers a great online degree option in English with a strong emphasis on Professional and Technical Writing.
Here, students will learn about the professional application of writing, so they would be properly trained to pursue various careers in public relations, advertising, social services, or publishing.
The curriculum consists of 60 credit hours and it can be finished in about two years.
Online students are required to complete six credit hours during summer and 12 credit hours during spring and fall semesters.
Coursework is composed of the following classes:
- Composition
- Rhetoric
- Literature
- American culture
- Advanced technical writing
- Native American literature
- Digital writing
Moreover, students can also complete a senior seminar and a culminating project in professional and technical writing.
Official WebsiteUniversity of Massachusetts
The University of Massachusetts is based in Lowell, Massachusetts, and it has received accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
This university offers an online Bachelor of Arts in English course that aims to teach students various skills and knowledge in regards to literary traditions, academic research, and analytical methods.
This program has 120 credit hours in total and it consists of 36 to 54 credit hours of English major classes.
Students will gain a deeper understanding of topics such as literature and American and British literary traditions.
Online students are required to complete core classes, theory-composition track, and major author components.
Theory-composition track has one course that aims to improve the student’s analytical viewpoint on language and literature, while the major author track consistently discusses canonical writers such as Shakespeare, Chaucer, among others.
Students also have an option to take up to 36 credit hours of English electives which focus more on topics like
- Genre
- Literary history
- Regional movements
- Literary traditions
Some classes also include more exciting topics such as drama, comedy, poetry, journalism, autobiography, gay and lesbian literature, and post-colonial literature.
Official WebsiteSaint Mary of the Woods College
Saint Mary of the Woods College is situated in Indiana and it offers a great online degree program in English, which has the goal to teach students about various practical strategies in regard to literature and the effect it has on our society.
What’s also great about this program is that it also discusses the literary contributions of women and ethnic or racial groups.
The curriculum follows an asynchronous format and it consists of classes such as myth, pop fiction, and contemporary world literature.
To graduate, students will have to earn 125 credit hours, 43 of which should be English major classes.
Those classes mostly cover both introductory and advanced topics and talk about different literary movements, periods, as well as styles.
Before they get their diploma, students are also required to complete a four-credit hour capstone project and a one-credit hour thesis course.
Official WebsiteThomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey has an online Bachelor of Arts degree program in English with a liberal arts core that focuses on practical and academic skills.
It also enables students to receive a civic and social understanding of human cultures, the physical and natural environment, and general education as key specializations.
The program includes core classes, electives and a concluding capstone project in liberal arts.
The 12-credit center focuses on basic reading skills and two survey courses and seminars on literature review and comprehension.
The elective portion of 18 credits allows students to learn specific literary periods, styles and authors.
English major courses have more than 30 different elective offerings, including:
- American political novel
- Comic and satiric tradition
- Restoration drama
- Social protest literature
- Augustan age
Students are also required to complete a three-credit-hour capstone project which can be a research project, a creative project, or a combination.
Thomas Edison State University has received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Official WebsiteSouthern New Hampshire University
The University of Southern New Hampshire in Manchester, New Hampshire offers an English Language and Literature Bachelor of Art in a fully online form.
The asynchronous learning format is suitable for working professionals to develop skills in the fields of communication, study, critical thinking and writing through classical studies in literature.
The program consists of three required courses, namely English, literary theory, and Shakespeare studies.
Students can choose from a total of eight more elective courses to review subjects such as popular fiction, contemporary fiction, restoration, and renaissance literature, as well as nature writers.
Students are also required to complete creative writing workshops on poetry, nonfiction, fiction, and playwriting.
They can also opt for pursuing a thesis or go for a non-thesis option that requires students to complete two upper-level electives.
Southern New Hampshire University has received accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Official WebsiteKing University
King University is located in Bristol, Tennessee and offers a purely online Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
The aim of the degree is to create a connection between faith and literature, thus giving greater importance to communication and writing skills in literary studies.
The curriculum of the program is suitable for those who wish to pursue a certificate in secondary education.
It is an online program that has 124 credits, which consist of 48 credit hours reserved for major classes.
Students can earn a degree in less than 16 months.
The English curriculum consists of twelve courses which include a general overview of literary styles and movements such as Appalachian literature, British romanticism, teen literature, and Christian imagination.
The online training trains candidates for the English secondary teaching qualification test to enable them to seek out a career in English teaching for grades 6 to 12.
Online students must meet different course requirements and eight hours of foreign language coursework if wish to pursue licensure.
Moreover, they will be required to submit a portfolio and pass a comprehensive exam.
King University has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Official WebsiteOhio Christian University
Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio offers an online English-language Bachelor of Arts degree option that provides the biblical interpretation of literature while emphasizing the need for knowledge on public, academic, and advanced levels.
The class consists of a total of 36 English credits, divided into 15 major course credits and 21 elective credits.
Core classes provide basic literary-critical subjects including reviews of American and British literature.
When it comes to electives, they include at least nine credit hours of subjects like composition and literature.
The composition batch talks about editing fundamentals, as well as professional and technical writing.
On the other hand, the literature category consists of Shakespearian courses and 18th-century novels.
Students are required to complete 12 credit hours of Bible, leadership, and theology studies alongside Christian ethics and church or religious history.
Moreover, students will need to complete a capstone project in publication writing that focuses on publishing strategies in academic and literary journals.
Ohio Christian University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Official WebsiteTexas State University
Texas State University is situated in San Marcos, Texas, and it offers a comprehensive online degree program in English, which focuses on literature and professional writing.
The coursework consists of English courses and professional writing courses.
When it comes to English courses, students will further develop their skills and knowledge about language and literature, and cover topics such as American and British literature, women in literature, Shakespeare, and the teaching of writing.
The technical and professional writing field consists of classes such as document design, introduction to web page development, information gathering for journalism, and technical editing and it focuses on the business side of writing.
Moreover, online students are required to complete a three-credit-hour internship, so they would gain real-world experience in industries such as publishing, business, or journalism.
Students will also have access to different resources such as career advising, wellness counseling, student counseling, and financial aid counseling.
Texas State University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Official WebsiteFrequently Asked Questions
Q. Which careers can I seek after obtaining a Bachelor's degree in English?
By earning a degree in English, you will be able to pursue various careers in the field of communications, writing, or teaching. Salaries do differ, though, depending on your experience and location.
In general, you can work as:
- A high school English teacher for Grades 9-12 and teach grammar, spelling, composition, literature, and punctuation. The salary is around $69,000
- As an author, writer, copywriter, screenwriter, playwrights, songwriter, all of which have an average salary of $68,420
- As a technical writer who writes instruction manuals or other documents that need to explain complex information to an everyday consumer. An average salary in this field id $67,910
- As an editor who writes content and prepares it for publishing. Average salaries start at $62,440
- As a correspondent, reporter, or news analyst who produces ideas for new stories, conducts research, performs interviews, or write articles. Average salaries are between $43,640 and $78,380.
Q. How long do the degree programs last?
Most of the degree options from the list require 120 credit hours to earn a diploma.
Full-time students can obtain a diploma within four years.
Q. How much does this type of education cost?
Tuitions and other fees depend on various factors.
In general, one credit hour can cost anywhere from $180 to $610.
In total, an average tuition fee can vary from $22,000 to $73,000.
Final Thoughts
What’s great about studying English is the fact that it’s very versatile, interactive, and dynamic.
You will be encouraged to express your opinions, improve your creative side, and become an amazing writer.
In general, salaries for English majors are very competitive, which is just another benefit of choosing this route.
If you’re someone who loves literature, writing, editing, or just analyzing or researching, then this career path is a perfect choice.