What Can You Do with an English Degree?

Your time is precious. 

Your money is your hard work. 

Therefore, you do not want to spend them on a degree that will not say anything about your knowledge to your future employer. 

Reputation is a key factor when it comes to choosing a school. 

Therefore, the school of your choice must have the appropriate accreditation. 

You can measure the quality of a program by checking if it has the right accreditations.

Accreditation is fundamental.

It guarantees the quality and academic level of the program and the school. 

Accreditation provides a threshold of standards for schools, testifies to the constant development and improvement in the field of education, teaching methods, etc. 

Each accrediting organization focuses on its criteria, so they measure different things. 

Before making a decision, you must understand what kind of accreditation a school (institutional accreditation) or program (program accreditation) received and why.

Regional Accreditation Agencies

Accreditation practices can be divided into regional and national accreditation agencies.

Regional accreditation agencies have higher criteria and assessment standards.

Therefore, when you research an educational institution, you should find out if one of these regional agencies accredited it:

• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• The Higher Learning Commission
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Program Accreditation

The reputation of numerous national accreditation agencies can vary greatly. 

However, sometimes, the accreditation of a special national accreditation agency is necessary. 

For some professions and positions, a specific national accreditation commission should carry out verifying of qualifications, degrees, knowledge, standards, etc.

If you are dreaming of a career as a teacher of the English language and literature, a writer, or a journalist, then you must study under programs accredited by the Department of English.

Through accrediting the programs, the special Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) confirms the high level of these training programs, the constant development, improvement of teaching methods and techniques, etc. 

The assignment of such accreditation increases the credibility and reputation of the educational institution.

However, if the regional accreditation group has so far recognized the institution, then you can safely choose it as a place of study or advanced training.

To determine the status of accreditation, you need to contact the educational institution you have chosen for yourself. 

You can find this information in the database of the Department of English, as well.

Associate Degree in English

The associate degree in English can familiarize you with the directions and styles of literary classics, basic compositional writing, writing in communication, etc. 

You can attend such classes as creative writing, public speaking, and contemporary literature. 

This course is designed for two years of education.

The content of classes is aimed at learning how to work with a literary text, perceive and analyze its external and internal forms.

However, in our school, you will learn not only to be a recipient of creation, but you will also reproduce, generate, and turn your inspiration into written and oral texts. 

You will learn to express yourself verbally.

The acquired degree at the initial level will help you become a competitive copywriter, editor, or a proofreader.

The associate degree is a significant step towards learning English at the four-year course.

What Courses Will You Take?

• Advanced Reading
• Expository Writing
• Introduction to Technical Writing
• World Classics
• Contemporary Fiction
• Poetry and Prose

Bachelor of English

A bachelor’s degree in English is one of the most requested specialties. 

There are several reasons for this. 

This degree will become a solid ground for studying philosophy, history, psychology, ethics and aesthetics, world culture, and religion.

This means that you will receive the interdisciplinary knowledge needed to improve your practical skills and the skills of in-depth literary analysis, compositional writing, and creative writing.

The training program consists of 120 credits. 

Our specialists designed it for a minimum of 4 years. 

During the training, the focus of your attention will be on such knowledge fields as public relations, journalism, education, and marketing. 

After completing the course, you can continue to study under the master’s program or immediately start a career as a competitive journalist, marketing or advertising specialist, author, or editor. 

Continuing your studies under the master’s program, you will prove that you never feel complacent and constantly accept all the possibilities to progress further.

What Courses Will You Take?

• Advanced Literary Analysis
• English Composition
• Applied Linguistics
• Editing and the Publishing Industry
• Principles in Journalism
• Principles of Communication
• Studies in Rhetoric

Master of English

Acquiring an advanced one- to two-year master’s degree in English, you increase your competitiveness as a specialist in marketing, publishing, and editing.

This is since these industries are still closely connected with the idea of ​​academic prestige and academic authority.

With this degree, you will become more attractive to employers in areas such as editing and publishing, writing, etc.

If you have the ambition of teaching English in a public school, you will need a master’s degree.

In this case, you can get a master’s degree in education with a linguistic focus on the English language.

What Courses Will You Take?

• Writing, Rhetoric, and Literacy
• Educational Instruction in English
• Intro to English Research Methodologies
• Literature and Cross-cultural Analysis
• Historiography
• Literary Criticism

Ph.D. in English

To become a university teacher of English, literature, journalism and so on, you need a doctorate. 

The term of study is from five to seven years. 

The training ends with the defense of dissertation research. 

You can complete the study while already working in the selected scientific field.

This degree will allow you to write and publish scientific articles, improving your writing skills. 

You will be able to conduct high-level research, confirming and documenting your theoretical statements with practical evidence.

Teaching Certification

Have you been dreaming of becoming an English teacher at a public school? 

Then, it is obligatory for you to acquire a bachelor’s degree, and then a master’s degree. 

Moreover, to become a certified teacher, you must study under the teacher certification program. 

Our undergraduate program often includes the courses required to obtain a certificate. 

If such curricula are not included or you have already become a bachelor in another educational field, then we have a separate teaching certification program for you.

You will be asked to complete a term paper.

In such a way, you will gain the important and necessary experience to obtain a license in your state. 

Some states require you to already be a master in education before starting a certification program.

For more information, please contact your state’s Department of Education.

Your certification program may take from 1 to 2 years. 

It depends on the amount of thesis that you have done up to this point. 

Only then, you will pass the exam to obtain a license in your state. 

A large number of states use the national exam (PRAXIS, for example). 

There are states conducting own licensing exam. 

You can find this information at the Department of Education in your state, as well.

Everyone knows that English is the key to understanding and experiencing the world.

An English degree is the path to a well-paid career in media or education.

Here are the best and most exciting positions you can take if you have a degree in English:

• Editors
• Translators and Interpreters
• Announcers
• Reporters, Broadcast News Analysts, and Correspondents
• Writers and Authors
• Technical Writers
• Adult Literacy and GED Teachers
• Archivists
• Librarians
• Library Technicians and Assistants
• High School Teachers
• Kindergarten Teachers
• Elementary School Teachers
• Middle School Teachers
• Post-Secondary Teachers
• Instructional Coordinators
• Post-Secondary Education Administrators

A degree in English is also the key to a writer’s career. 

Remember how much Joanne Rowling earns?

Here is information about the salary (median pay, 2016) in your chosen industry (data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics):

• Editors – $57,210 
• Announcers – $30,830 
• Reporters, Broadcast News Analysts, and Correspondents – $38,870
• Writers and Authors – $61,240
• Technical Writers – $69,850

You can join professional associations. 

This will allow you to establish connections in your area and to keep abreast of all events (seminars, conferences, webinars, etc). 

Here are the English associations that may be suitable for your career advancement:

• National Writers Association (NWA)
• Author’s Guild
• College of English Association (CEA)
• National Council of English Teachers (NCTE)