What Can I Do With an English Major?
Below is a list of job titles and brief job descriptions for which a major or minor in English would provide excellent training. For more information, please see McKendree University’s Career Services.
Arts/Museums
Curator
Business/Finance/Sales
Advertising Copywriter: Writes advertising copy for display in all media: newspaper, Internet, magazine,
billboard, packaging, television, radio.
Corporate Communications Specialist: Writes press releases, speeches, annual reports, and other material to promote a
corporation and its image.
Computer Marketing Communications Specialist: Writes brochures, data sheets, and other marketing materials to promote a computer
product.
Public Relations/Public Information Specialist: Assesses the public relations needs of an organization, and plans and implements
programs to meet them. Distinct from advertising. Makes public appearances, produces
special events, and prepares press releases and packets to generate favorable free
publicity. Works for professional agencies, businesses, and for nonprofit and social
service organizations.
Communications/Media
Computer Instructional Designer: Writes instructional and tutorial manuals and course materials for internal and customer
training. Works for manufacturers of computer hardware and software.
Editor/Copy Editor/Copy Reader: Edits printed copy for grammatical and stylistic errors. Works in a variety of settings:
book and magazine publishers, newspapers, advertising agencies, web-design firms,
in-house publications of business and agency newsletters and releases.
Editorial Assistant: Evaluates manuscripts; reviews and edits copy; coordinates photography, illustrations,
and graphics; secures copyrights and permissions to quote copyrighted material. Works
for book publishers.
Freelance Writer: Writes for publications on an assignment basis for a negotiated fee, usually after
submittal of a query letter proposing ideas for articles or stories. Typically works
as an independent contractor.
Radio/Television Copywriter: Writes and rewrites scripts for broadcast media.
Reporter/Staff Writer: Works and writes for a publication on a regular basis. Usually works under pressure
of deadlines on general assignments before specializing in a particular area. In addition
to newspapers and magazines, employers include corporations and agencies with in-house
newsletters.
Technical Writer: Researches, writes and edits publications that communicate scientific technical information
to readers with no technical background. Employers include corporations, professional
associations, and government agencies.
Test Specialist: Writes test questions for standardized exams.
Education (PreK-12)
Elementary or Secondary School Teacher: Instructs high school, junior high or elementary school students. Most secondary
school teachers teach several courses in a single subject area. Public schools generally
require certification; private schools generally do not.
Higher Education
Administration
Faculty
Professor
Staff
Legal Professions
Lawyer: Hired to inform corporations or individuals what they can or can’t do under the law.
Paralegal: Assist lawyers in the work.
Research
Research Assistant: Assists researchers in collecting and analyzing data, observing and interviewing
people, surveying appropriate literature, and writing reports in order to advise or
inform a client. Works for research and consulting firms.
Public Policy
Info Systems/ Technology/ Library
Archivist: Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable
documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials (BLS).
Librarian
