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Major Related Resources Department of English Resources Career Resource Library | Description of MajorThe English Department offers courses in English and American literature and culture, literary history, academic and professional writing, language, film, poetry and fiction writing, and relationships between literature and such other disciplines as psychology, philosophy, and history. These resources prepare students for a variety of careers and life activities that depend on knowledge of literature and language, strengths in writing and other forms of communication, and disciplined critical thinking.Skills & Knowledge Developed in this Field of StudyFamiliarity with a broad array of literature in English, ability to use language effectively in speech and writing, ability to explore meaning and articulate ideas for a variety of audiences, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, experience and creativity in using resources to resolve issues.Minors and Second Majors that Expand Career Options with this MajorBusiness, communication and culture, film studies, foreign languages, informatics, journalism, Liberal Arts Management Program (LAMP), psychology, studio art/graphic art, teaching certificate.Career OptionsCareers Specific to the Bachelor's DegreeWriting and publishing: technical writer, magazine writer and editor, book editor, broadcast news writer, copywriter, creative writing; teaching: high school English, English as a second language, adult literacy.Other Career Possibilities with a Bachelor's DegreeCommunications: event planner, journalist, publicity, radio/television broadcaster; business and industry: advertising sales manager, corporate communications, marketing consultant, shareholder relations, training consultant, human resources specialist, bookstore manager; government and public sector: Foreign Service officer, public information officer, association representative.Careers that Normally Require a Graduate DegreeCollege and university teaching, law, librarianship.Employment OpportunitiesJob OutlookWriting and publishing: varies by field; teaching: moderate.Salary InformationAccording to the Fall 2003 College Placement Council Salary Survey published by the National Association of Colleges and Employees, the average starting salary received by English majors, depending on their chosen occupation - writing, editing, or teaching - ranges from $27,996 to $37,000.Potential Career GrowthThe need for people who can grasp, organize, and convey ideas to others clearly is constant. The analytical and communication skills developed by an English major promote advancement in a great variety of career fields in business and industry. Available data indicate that an English major provides a strong path to management positions.Placement Statistics for IU Graduates with this MajorSixty-four percent of recent English major graduates have found employment in business (management, marketing, advertising, publishing, public relations, customer service, etc.), 28 percent of English graduates have found positions in education, 4.5 percent in the not-for-profit sector, and 3.5 percent in government positions (federal administrators, legislative assistants and aides, etc.; state-public affairs officers, writers, etc.).High School PreparationThe more varied a student’s reading and writing experiences, the better. A strong background in history, culture studies, and languages is a good complement to courses in English.Special OpportunitiesExceptional students interested in English are eligible for the Direct Admit Program, which enables them to enter IU directly as English departmental majors. Students in the IU Department of English have many opportunities to tailor their learning experiences to their own interests through individualized reading credit, double majors, the many optional minors, the Certificate in Journalism, and the Business Foundations Certificate. Another strong choice is the Liberal Arts and Management Program (a joint Kelley School of Business–College of Arts and Sciences degree). IU’s numerous interdisciplinary options present other exciting ways to extend the study of English. Examples would include film, gender, the Renaissance, and the medieval period, as well as African, Afro-American, Indian, Jewish, and West European studies. Internships: English offers an extensive program which includes teaching, editorial, and administrative internships, along with opportunities to work in local and regional agencies, businesses, and state and federal governments. Student/Faculty Research: English majors have been supported financially in various research and creative writing projects with individual faculty members through the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Partnership and the Undergraduate Academic Internship programs. Honors Program: Selected English majors participate in a junior honors seminar and pursue independent study leading to an honors thesis. Overseas Study: Students can earn credit toward the major through such excellent IU-sponsored overseas programs as the Kent University (England) Canterbury program. Scholarships and Awards: The department awards a number of prizes to undergraduates in recognition of scholarly and creative achievements, including some awards for original essays, poems, stories, or plays.Noted AlumniTodd Brewster, co-author with Peter Jennings of "The Century" and"In Search of America" Jeri Taylor, executive Producer of "Startrek: The Next Generation," and producer of other television series, including "Quincy" and "Magnum, P.I." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
