Future English Majors

Why Become an English Major?

Though conventional wisdom might suggest that the English major is not as popular or relevant as it once was, the facts and statistics don’t suggest this to be true. Not only is the English major still a popular choice, the increasing diversity of options within the discipline are making English majors more skilled and well-rounded than ever before. This really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. At its core, the English major is about critical thinking, thoughtful analysis, and effective communication with others. These are skills that are valued in every aspect of daily life. Whether at home, at work, or in the community, the English major provides a solid skill-set to more effectively engage with texts and people.

Employers, educational institutions, and others seek English graduates because they are able to:

  • Communicate clearly and logically
  • Understand human relations in various contexts
  • Read critically and analyze texts
  • Interpret and make connections across texts and situations
  • Think creatively and critically to understand and solve problems
  • Comprehend how language influences and defines behavior
  • Analyze audiences and cultures
  • Write and present proficiently and persuasively
  • Use current communication technologies
  • Design and produce sophisticated documents

English graduates pursue careers in teaching, publishing, technical and creative writing, editing, public relations, advertising, journalism, and more. Many use English as a pre-professional degree to prepare for professions such as law, business, medicine, or government service.

Not all our students are English majors Students frequently select English as an interdisciplinary major, minor, emphasis, or just for an elective or two because it provides a solid foundation in writing and critical thinking skills.

The English major, however, is about much more than job training. The roots of studying English are based in receiving a well-rounded liberal arts education that enriches the entire person. Through literature, students encounter provocative ideas from across the centuries of human history and cultural contexts. These ideas lead to important questions about what it means to be human and how our values are formed in interactions with other people. The English major, then, opens the individual to personal growth and a greater ability to articulate his or her experience of the world.

Past English Majors

Joe RobertsJoe Roberts

“A lot of the things that I learn as an English major are so versatile. Critical thinking, analytic skills, communication skills, all of these can be applied to any field. There is nothing that I have learned as an English major that I would consider useless or impractical to any field. Also, I couldn’t cut it as a rock and roll star.

Fred CivishFred Civish

“It is my opinion that writing is the greatest invention of mankind. The ability to communicate is part of what makes human beings. Writing is memory etched in permanency. Writing is knowledge communicated, and knowledge is power. This is why I love English. This is why I love being an English major.

Danica BlauerDanica Blauer

“I chose to study english because I loved reading and writing. Now, I am studying english because of the value of the knowledge I’ll gain. To study English is to study life, or rather examine the varying yet universal truths of the human condition. A book, a pile of paper with words on them, is the key that can unlock the gates to new perspectives and understandings of the people and the world around me. It’s helped me develop a critical eye and mind, I am able to see more now than I ever have before.”

Lilly LeiranLilly Leiran

“I'm an English major because I believe that made up stories matter. Because I get a thrill out of picking apart a text, an argument, or a sentence. But most of all, I'm an English major because learning effective writing, reading, and speaking gives me power. I love UVU's English department because it feels small in a big school, and it's easy to get to know other students and professors who are all incredibly smart and respectful.”