English and Writing Careers

What Can I Do with an English and Writing Degree?

The quickest ways to stand out in any career field are to write well and show you can comprehend and organize complex information. A degree in English and Writing from Nebraska Wesleyan University builds those skills and opens doors to a great variety of career paths.

• Journalism: Add a journalism minor and gain practical skills in news reporting, feature writing, editing, photography and mass media.
• Creative writing: Choose a writing minor, and you’ll gain skills in writing fiction, poetry and scripts for video, television, movies and radio.
• Marketing communications: Promotional writers also are in high demand for their ability to write persuasive marketing materials, press releases, employee communications, documentation, grants, training materials and proposals.
• Teaching: Combine your interests in literature, writing and language theory (linguistics, history of English, and rhetoric) to become an English teacher. 
• Entrepreneurism: You’ll develop critical thinking skills that give you an advantage in recognizing, communicating and pursuing business opportunities. Take your creative ideas and turn them into a lucrative business venture. Exciting businesses are launched every day. Their leaders need effective writing skills.
• Law: The skills you build as a reader and researcher of complex texts will serve you well in the study and practice of law.

Graduate Studies

Versatility is one of the biggest strengths of an English and Writing education. Every professional field values the ability to write well, comprehend complexity and uncover smart solutions. That’s what English and Writing majors do. English and Writing majors often go on to earn graduate degrees in:

• English
• Law
• Library science
• Education
• Business (MBA)
• Medicine
• Psychology

Job Opportunities

For detailed information about English and Writing degree career opportunities, see also Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Writers & Authors, Editors, and Technical Writers.

• Journalist, editor, feature writer or columnist
• Public relations writer (press releases, speeches, social media)
• Marketing communications professional (copywriter, creative director, web content creator)
• Script writer for broadcast radio and television, as well as corporate marketing and employee communications videos
• K-12 English teacher
• Researcher
• Analyst
• Campaign manager
• Entrepreneur
• Speechwriter
• Grant writer
• Freelance magazine writer, travel writer, columnist
• Author, short fiction, poetry, novels and nonfiction
• Ghostwriter
• Playwright or screenwriter
• Biographer
• Blogger
• Newspaper or magazine editor
• Copyeditor and fact checker