Why major in English? Maybe you love literature. Maybe you’re fascinated by language. Maybe you’re an aspiring writer, editor, scholar or teacher. Or maybe you’re looking for a major that will instill valuable skills in communication, analysis, and critical as well as creative thinking.
In the English bachelor’s degree program at Marshall University, you can choose from a variety of options, including literature, creative writing, rhetoric and composition, technical and professional communication, linguistics, education, film studies, and the ever-growing field of digital humanities, which is where culture and the human experience meet the digital world.
Marshall’s Department of English is a member of the Association of Departments of English (ADE), an arm of the Modern Language Association. It also belongs to the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP), a national organization that includes more than 550 college and university creative writing programs.
There are many endowed scholarships especially for English majors, including the Jack and Barbara Brown Scholarship (for the sophomore English major with the highest GPA), the Harwood Scholarship for Aspiring Writers, the Ruth Flower Brown Memorial Award (given annually to an outstanding English major).
We have a growing internship program, which allows students to earn upper-level English course credit while also gaining valuable work experience. Our dedicated and award-winning faculty include nationally renowned writers and scholars, who not only help our students refine their skills, but also provide one-on-one attention to help navigate the process of getting published.
Career Outlook for English Majors
Professional Writing majors at Marshall have access to many internship opportunities. In recent years, interns have worked with several local businesses and organizations to use and develop their skills in research and writing for an array of audiences and in a variety of forms. Here are a few examples of where Professional Writing majors completed their internships:
- Mountain State Press
- Huntington Museum of Art
- Branches Domestic Violence Shelter
- Developmental Therapy Center
- Robert C Byrd Institute
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Huntington Steel
- Cabell County Public Library
A bachelor’s degree in English is a practical choice, considering the variety of jobs for English majors. Any field that requires clear communication—oral or written—and critical thinking is a great fit for an English major. We have recent graduates who are acclaimed authors, teach at the college level and have served as chief of staff for major players in industry. Our graduates have gone on to become:
- Professional and technical writers
- Authors
- Journalists
- Editors
- Business owners
- Lawyers
- Teachers
- Find out which of our academic programs is right for you.
- Meet some of our current students and hear about their favorite Marshall moments.
- Receive invitations to special events for future students.
- Get help with the application and enrollment process.