There are many reasons why students choose to major in English at the Lake Campus. Here are a few of them:

Students major in English because ...

... they love literature and want to learn how to read and think analytically.

... they want to learn to write more creatively, clearly, and persuasively.

... they have an enthusiasm for learning and believe that a broad understanding of culture is essential for personal and professional fulfillment.

... they want to acquire the professional skills that are most important to future employers.

Majoring in English provides you with skills that employers want.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, 89% of employers said that the skill that they most want their employees to have is “the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.” 81% of employers cited “critical thinking” and “analytical reasoning” as the most important skills for a prospective employee. A degree in English provides students with these very skills, making English majors uniquely suited for today’s job market. A degree in English isn’t “job training.” Instead it offers you a set of research and critical thinking tools that can be applied in a variety of settings.

Here are a few sample job titles for English majors with bachelor's degrees:

Public Relations Assistant
Teacher
Management Trainee
Mass Media Assistant
Publishing Assistant
Editorial Assistant

Here are some industries that employ English majors:

Magazines and Newspapers
Book Publishers
Colleges and Universities
Public Relations Firms
Telecommunications Organizations
Radio Stations
Consulting Firms
Non-Profit Organizations
Libraries

In addition to these careers, English majors often choose to pursue graduate studies in English, law, medicine, and many other fields. A degree in English thoroughly prepares you for a diversity of life paths and career choices.

Benefits of majoring in English at the Lake Campus include ...

... small class sizes that offer one-on-one attention from professors.

... the opportunity to study with faculty members who are accomplished teachers, writers, and scholars.

... flexible course offerings in face-to-face, mixed mode, and online formats.

Here are what some of the professors at the Lake Campus have to say about English literature:

"Studying English literature is an exploration of identity. It asks questions about who we are as individuals and communities. The stories we read and tell ourselves shape the way we interact with others and the world around us. Literature is not just a bunch of words on a page but an accumulation of cultural, philosophical, political and aesthetic practices that reflect upon the rich diversity of human nature and desire. As such, the study of literature is just plain fun and makes us much more interesting."—Hope Jennings, Associate Professor of English

"The study of English literature not only invovles the study of history and narrative, but ultimately the study of langauge, and we human beings are defined by language. The better grasp of language we have, the smarter we are going to be. Period. English literature is one of the most effective means of developing the intellect for use in both the academic and professional world—not to mention that you get to read and think about a lot of good stories." —D. Harlan Wilson, Associate Professor of English