Why English?

Have you asked yourself, or has someone asked you, what would you do with an English major? There are some straightforward answers to that question. And there are some less straightforward ones.

Majoring in English offers specific career opportunities: many of our students will work as journalists, writers, or editors; many others will very soon be teaching in public schools. But most importantly, unlike some majors, a degree in English prepares you for careers you may not have even considered yet—and possibly for careers that haven't been invented yet. That's because the core skills developed in each of our programs are reading, writing, and (above all) thinking—skills that are highly valued, and highly useful, in a wide range of fields. 

As an English major you will hone your ability to absorb written information, to discern its nuances, to read between the lines, to draw conclusions and make decisions based on research, to synthesize and present your ideas clearly and convincingly, and to communicate with confidence and flair—all indispensable abilities no matter where your career path leads. It's worth remembering that the economy changes quickly, and your first job after college isn't likely to be your last. But the skills learned in the English major do not have an expiration date. 

English majors often go on to work in law or politics, in design or music or theatre, in marketing or publicity, or in any organization that needs to communicate with the public, whether in government or the arts or philanthropy or education. Some of our alumni work right here at NJCU. Some are teachers or administrators. Some of them are working in publishing. Some have developed successful careers as writers. You can read about and hear from some of them on our "Alumni Spotlight" page.

But what is really invaluable about studying English is that the skills you learn aren't just good for your job prospects—they are good for your life, at least if you believe that you may want to express yourself at some point, or to understand humans and human society, or to be an engaged and responsible citizen, or to live a cultured and thoughtful life, or simply to indulge your curiosity about the world through all the incredible people who have lived it and written about it. The truth is that most people become English majors because they love books—they already have the habit of being curious, of craving stories, of wanting to know more. Maybe that's you and maybe it's not, but the more you practice those essential English major skills, the more those habits take hold.