Why Major in English?

"Offering endless variety combined with a focus on the communication and analytical skills essential to any profession, the English Major prepares students to create innovative and individualized paths to successful futures. English Majors can pursue a broad range of subjects, including creative writing (screenwriting, drama, poetry, fiction, writing for games, and creative nonfiction), film studies, literature, Black cultural studies, environmental studies, teaching, professional and technical writing, and journalism, among other possibilities—and they can also craft their own major to join their interests with a broad range of career opportunities. Whether considering the environment while canoeing on the Susquehanna River, exploring current events as reporters throughout the region, partnering with health professionals to write for our local communities, or preparing to follow in the footsteps of UD alumni on Broadway, English Majors learn to work both collaboratively and individually, and they are never at a loss when the moment requires professional writing or document design. Flexible enough to fit into your schedule as a second major and adaptable enough to ensure your success in any field of study, the English Major will prepare you for a satisfying and successful future.​"   
                                                                                           ​ –English Department Chair John Ernest​

"English majors develop critical and analytical tools that will never go out of style. By studying English, majors not only discover the ways in which language shapes our world, they learn reading and writing skills that are meaningful in every industry or setting. By choosing to study English, whether its creative and professional writing, journalism, cultural studies, film, or literature, a major prepares to be adaptable in an ever-changing world."

–Professor Jessica Edwards

Experiences and Opportunities Map for English and English Ed Majors

Experiences and Opportunities: This 4 year map highlights all of the experiences and opportunities​​ available to English and English Education majors.

Finish in Four: On average, a bachelor's degree costs $34,000/year and takes about five years to complete. Don't lose time or money. Get your degree in four years. As a UD English major, you can create a flexible, unique-to-you degree plan that gets you to graduation day on time.

Get a Job: English majors get jobs! Employers want employees with the skills gained from studying English—skills like creativity, adaptability, persuasiveness, and the ability to collaborate. These are the "soft skills" companies need today, and as an English major, you can cultivate them during your studies and, then, your career.

English majors get the job done, no matter what it is. Common career paths for English majors include digital/social media writing and management, law, technical writing, public relations, human resources, editing and content management, and teaching. With an English degree, you can make a difference in the world around you and earn a living while you're at it. Data shows that unemployment rates for humanities students have decreased steadily in recent years. What's more, the pay gap closes between humanities majors and their peers in STEM over time.

Read, Write, Live: Graduating on time matters. Getting a job matters. But those aren't the only reasons to major in English. Studying English, you will create, analyze, contextualize, and explain texts from classic literature to the documents that drive the corporate world. Doing so, you will understand better diverse cultural and literary traditions and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive as a global citizen.

Want to know more about being an English major? Check out our majors and minors or contact a department academic advisor.

​Thought-provoking and challenging classes are a hallmark of the English department at UD. Courses focus on a broad range of topics including literature and poetry, writing studies, gender studies, environmental studies, disability studies, creative non-fiction, and film studies. Rachel Milberg, a UD senior majoring in English and Psychology, describes her experiences taking classes in the English department:

     Being an English major has given me so many opportunities to explore my curiosities and take risks in my writing. It has also allowed me to make lifelong connections with incredibly passionate students and faculty. There are a wide range of exciting classes that the department offers, but one of my favorites would have to be a section of ENGL365–Studies in Literary Genres, Types and Movements that I took with Professor Miranda Wilson. This class, "Violent Women," discussed depictions of female heroes and villains in film and literature. It opened my mind to many engaging texts—my favorites being Toni Morrison’s Beloved and Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace—and introduced me to new forms of writing. I also loved my poetry class with Professor Devon Miller-Duggan. This course challenged me to write poetry weekly, experiment with new forms, and share my work with an audience.

     My English classes have thrown me out of my comfort zone and into a world of endless possibilities. I have grown immensely as a writer, reader, and student and learned how to better communicate my ideas to wider audiences in a more concise and productive way. I am forever grateful for my time as an English major and believe that the skills I have gained will help me to be successful in my future endeavors!

Professor Siobhan Carroll teaches classes on nineteenth-century British literature, the environment and literature, game studies, and science fiction and fantasy literature. She is currently teaching our popular “Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy” workshop. You can read Professor Carroll's Hugo-nominated writing in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Tor.com, and Lightspeed Magazine.

Email Professor Carroll for more information about English at UD, especially literature and creative writing courses.

​Professor Jessica Edwards challenges her students to grow as critical readers and writers in courses focused on professional and technical writing, critical race studies, composition studies, diversity studies, and African American literature. She is a determined mentor to and advocate for her students.

Email Professor Edwards for more information about English at UD, especially professional and technical writing courses.

Professor McKay Jenkins is a journalist, scholar, teacher, and author. He teaches and writes about topics like environmental studies and social justice, nature writing, and journalism. Professor Jenkins firmly believes that student learning happens outside of the classroom as well as within it. During his classes, he creates opportunities for students to explore and investigate their own local environments, including on campus and at nearby parks and nature preserves.

Email Professor Jenkins for more information English at UD, especially environmental humanities and journalism courses.

​Professor Michael McCamley teaches composition, creative writing, professional writing, and literature. But that doesn’t mean his students spend all of their time in the classroom. Professor McCamley regularly teaches study-abroad courses that take UD students across the globe—most recently, to Italy! 

Email Professor McCamley for more information about English at UD, especially professional and creative writing coures and study abroad opportunities.

Internships are an integral part of the UD experience for many English majors. UD senior and English major Biaggio Gangemi has this to say about his internship:

​     This year, my senior year, I interned as a copywriter for First Ascent, a digital marketing agency in Wilmington. While working there, I learned how important and powerful words are when marketing a business. Some of my responsibilities included social media caption writing, hashtag research and implementation, SEO keyword research, web and blog article writing, website copywriting, and print media copywriting.

     First Ascent works with a variety of businesses, and I had opportunities to write about nonprofit work, fashion, marketing strategy, education, agriculture, digital media, and more. The company is made up of ten people total—including me during my internship. Being in a small agency environment allowed me to create strong relationships with everyone on the team, a rarity among larger businesses. (For instance, the founder opened the door for me every time I went into the office!) I worked with people who cared, not only about my professional growth, but my personal growth as well. The skills I learned as an English major at UD allowed me to excel and have a lot of success with First Ascent. In particular, I was able translate things from classes like ENGL416, Designing Online Information, into the internship.

We need students able and willing to interrogate the world around them. 

We need critical thinkers who are curious, courageous, and empathetic.

The world needs​ English majors!