English Careers
Find out what careers you can achieve with an English degree from MBU, and how you can get there!
English Careers
These are just some of the many careers an English BA can prepare you for. Select a career to learn about the job, average salary, employment outlook, required education level, and more.
Writing & Editing
Use the resources below to find more career profiles on these and hundreds of other jobs you could achieve with an English BA.
Career Spotlights
Editor
Plan, review, and revise written content for publication.
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Workplaces: Publishing agencies, media networks, self-employed
Median Pay: $75,260
Job Outlook: 1% (slower than average)
Public Relations Specialist
Work with clients to curate and maintain a positive public image.
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Workplaces: Advertising and public relations agencies, across industries in public-facing organizations
Median Pay: $69,780
Job Outlook: 5% (faster than average)
Technical Writer
Write content for instruction manuals, guides, articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information.
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Workplaces: Information technology companies, research organizations, manufacturing companies, government agencies
Median Pay: $91,670
Job Outlook: 1% (slower than average)
MBU Alumni Employers
English majors are commonly employed by marketing agencies, technology companies, publishers, law firms, educational institutions, human resources firms, and nonprofits.
Organizations that have hired our alumni include:
- Advance Auto Parts
- AgileOne
- Amazon
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Capital One
- Citizens Bank
- Daikin Applied
- First Choice, a MarshBerry Company
- Greensville County Public Schools
- Harford County Public Library
- Hazen and Sawyer
- International Medical Corps
- King & Spalding
- Kroger
- KSB GIW, Inc.
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Library of Virginia
- Loyola University Maryland
- Opportunity Partners
- Piedmont Virginia Community College
- SAP
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- UVA Health
- Vicine
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- Virginia Tech Writing Center
- Washington and Lee University School of Law
- Waynesboro Public Schools
- Wells Fargo
- Wolters Kluwer Health
What’s your path?
MBU offers dozens of complementary minors, majors, clubs and more to enhance your study of English and put you on the right path to your dream career.
Consider pairing your English major with…
A minor in:
A double-major in:
Build one of these Skill Stacks to gain an edge in the job market:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Data fluency
Join one of these MBU clubs or professional organizations for connection and networking:
- Libations Magazine
- Outrageous Fortune Magazine
- Pen & Paper
- Umoja Chronicles
- Modern Language Association
- Association of Writers and Writing Programs
- International Literacy Association
- Virginia Association of Teachers of English Language Arts
- Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society
Consider pairing your English major with…
A minor in:
- African American Studies
- History
- Leadership Studies
- Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Sexuality & Gender Studies
- Spanish Language & Hispanic Cultures
A double-major in:
Build one of these Skill Stacks and gain an edge in the job market:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Inclusivity
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Creativity
Join one of these MBU clubs for connection and networking:
- Psychology Club
- Sociology Club
- Social Work Club
- Criminal Justice & Leadership Club
- Student Senate
- Student Standards Board
- Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society
Explore Internships
No matter your major, an internship is a chance to explore your interests, build real-world skills, and give you a real competitive edge in the job market. The McCree Center for Career Success can help find the right opportunity for you.
Planning for Graduate School
If you’re considering graduate school in English or a career requiring an advanced degree, start exploring programs early. Requirements vary, so research schools to identify prerequisites, application materials, and relevant coursework or experiences you’ll need to prepare.
Depending on your career goals, an English major can provide preparation for graduate study in:
- English literature and writing
- Education
- Law
- Business and communications
- Library and information science
- Public policy and related social sciences
Our English program’s breadth of coursework and opportunities for independent scholarly and creative projects can prepare students for English MA and PhD programs as well as law school.
Some programs require entrance exams such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) or LSAT (Law School Admission Test). Preparation can take weeks or months, so check requirements early to allow time to study and practice.
See what graduate programs Mary Baldwin has to offer!
McCree Center for Career Success
The McCree Center for Career Success helps students connect their education to their future careers. Services include:
- Career exploration and planning
- Resume and cover letter support
- Interview preparation
- Internship and job searches
- Networking and professional development
- Graduate school preparation
Visit us to learn more!
