This “pre-professional” major provides the necessary foundation for successful graduate studies in the humanities, social sciences, law, business, and public administration. As liberal arts majors in English, students develop invaluable skills in critical thinking and analysis, allowing them to creatively and effectively contribute in numerous ways to their communities. Graduates of an English program use their communication skills, both oral and written, to influence trends in such areas as:

Education Banking Commerce
Marketing IS/IT Medicine
Sales Law Real Estate
Publishing Government Insurance

The solid skills derived from a liberal arts degree in English are further enhanced through minors/certificates received in disciplines such as psychology, finance, computer science, communications, and political science. The key to success after graduation is in understanding the multiple skills obtained through both academic studies and practical experience and learning to market those skills to the best advantage!



TRADITIONAL JOBS WITH A B.A. IN ENGLISH

Editorial Assistant Free-lance writer
Copy Writer High School English teacher
Publications Editor Communication consultant
Print Journalist Fed. Gov’t. Information officer
Advertising copy writer Personnel analyst
Screen Writer Executive assistant
Technical Writer Marketing/P.R. Specialist


B.A. IN ENGLISH WITH ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Attorney Physician
Psychologist Pharmacist
Architect Dentist
Engineer Bank officer
Financial analyst Business executive
Realtor/Developer Librarian
Sales manager Community college instructor


B.A. IN ENGLISH WITH ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Caterer Flight attendant
Innkeeper Travel agent
Farmer Software developer
Vintner Songwriter
Photographer Entertainer
Interior designer Theater director


Wages for 2009 Humanities graduates as a whole fell by -0.2% over the previous year, with English majors faring somewhat better with an average yearly increase of $1200. According to statistics compiled by N.A.C.E. (National Association of Colleges and Employers, www.jobweb.com).


FORMER ENGLISH MAJORS

Alan Alda, Actor, writer Joe Paterno, Football coach (Penn State)
Russell Baker, Journalist Sally Ride, Astronaut
Dave Barry, Humorist writer, actor Joan Rivers, Comic
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, TV producer Diane Sawyer, Broadcast journalist
Carol Browner, Former Head of EPA Paul Simon, Songwriter, singer
Chevy Chase, Comic, actor, writer Brandon Tartikoff, Television executive
Michael Eisner, Walt Disney CEO Steven Spielberg, Film maker
Jodi Foster, Actor, film maker Christopher Reeve, Superman
Kathryn Fuller, World Wildlife Fund CEO Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice
A. Barlett Giamatti, Yale President Grant Tinker, TV Executive/Producer
Cathy Guisewite, Cartoonist (Cathy) Harold Varmus, Nobel laureate
Chris Isaak, Songwriter, singer Barbara Walters, Broadcast journalist
Stephen King, Novelist Pete Wilson, Former Governor of California

Thanks to Mississippi State University English Dept.




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