Want a major that’ll help you excel in most career fields? Consider English. Whether it’s writing a business plan or a clear report, the skills you learn in either of the concentrations offered through the Department of English will help you distinguish yourself as a clear thinker and great writer. And while the technology we use to communicate may change, your need to write well won’t.
From your freshman through senior year, the English program will foster your growth in reading, writing, speaking, research, and media skills through courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, and visits from guest authors. As an English major you’ll deepen your intellect, critical thinking and creative powers.
Programs /Concentrations
Careers
Along with pathways into writing, publishing and teaching, majoring in English is great preparation for law school, medical school, and business school. And because of its emphasis on communication and interpersonal skills, companies find English grads attractive for entry positions. Majoring in English will give you the foundation for the following fields:
- Professional writing
- Advertising
- Government
- Foreign Service
- Copywriting
- Journalism
- Technical writing
- Academia
- Publishing
- Editing
- Public relations/publicity
- Law
- Business
- Library Science
- Speech Therapy
Writing Minor
The 18-credit-hour Writing minor includes classes in business communications, creative nonfiction, creative writing, and other forms of writing, such as news writing.
English Minor
The 18-credit-hour English minor includes classes in lower and upper-level English, including choices in literature, composition and creative writing.
Other Career-enhancing Minors
Not only does an English major help you excel in most career fields, but the amount of elective classes (24 credits) you can take as an English major facilitates your earning of a minor in a field that can help you prepare for your career vision. Eyeing a career within a software or web-based company, consider our Coding and App Development minor. Want to write for a PR firm or newspaper? You can minor in Communication Studies. The possibilities are many.
Faculty
Our professors will challenge you and support your success. They’re also role models in regional and international literary and academic circles; they write articles and books and win grants and awards, from a lifetime achievement award from the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English to a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship.
The Ivy Leaves Journal of Literature and Art
Ivy Leaves is an award-winning literature and arts journal produced by AU students that seeks fresh voices and images that surprise, challenge and speak to our shared humanity. English majors and other students can contribute to this literary journal that has been a showcase of student work for more than 100 years. Visit https://ivy-leaves-journal.com/ to learn more and see work from Ivy Leaves.
English honor society and other English-related clubs and activities
As an English major, you can become part of the English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta, which serves the community through literacy outreach activities. You can also help arrange visits by professional writers, such as Ron Rash, Sue Monk Kidd, Rick Bragg, and Ernest Gaines. Such literary event planning has helped students build their resumes. We also encourage you to pursue internships within companies, think tanks, and volunteer groups.
The Writing and Multimedia Center
The Writing and Multimedia Center coaches AU students in developing and improving their writing and multimedia projects. Working in the Center is a great way to gain experience as a writer and writing tutor. Center tutors receive training as well as on-going support from English department faculty members. To learn more about the Center visit https://www.andersonuniversity.edu/writing-center.
Visit
We invite you to come to AU for a visit, sit in on some of our classes, and meet our professors!
