Should I study English literature?

Calling all Bibliophiles!

Have you ever wished you could turn your love of books and reading into a career? Studying English literature might be the way to make this dream a reality.

Do you...

• Enjoy reading across genres? (Like, REALLY enjoy reading — there’s a LOT of reading)

• Have a passion for learning about history and culture?

• Have a knack for writing?

• Want to explore career options in many different fields?

If you said “YES!” to any of these questions, then you should study English literature!

A bookworm like yourself knows that reading opens the door to new worlds, ideas and perspectives. Likewise, studying English literature opens the door to understanding our world and its history, social and political aspects, culture, and traditions.

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You'll dive into all the literary forms you already love!

• novels

• plays 

• poems 

• paintings

• films

• comics

• video games

• other art forms

Plus, you'll open the doors to countless job opportunities! 🏢💰

Not only will you get to wade through the stacks of books available in the library (every book nerd’s dream), but when you study English literature, you’ll explore history and politics, society and culture, human relationships and identities, and how people choose to live. 

You’ll dig into complex ideas and challenging issues, making you an expert in the analysis and study of written works.

Specifically, you'll learn...

• Literary traditions

• How to analyze texts

• How literature contributes to culture

• Literary history, theory, and criticism

• Inspiration for creative writing

• Literary devices

• Research skills

• Reading comprehension

• Critical thinking

• How to interpret situations

When you get your nose out of all of those books, you’ll be well prepared to start a career.  You'll have developed highly transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, and the ability to produce engaging, influential writing and presentations. 

Studying English literature can lead to a successful career in a variety of fields.

Imagine working in the fields of...

• Writing & publishing: book editor, literary agent, book publicist

• Education: secondary teacher, college professor, administrator, curriculum developer

• Analysis: market research analyst, project portfolio manager, human resources analyst

• Journalism: reporter, newspaper columnist, news editor

• Marketing & advertising: brand manager, copywriter, content strategist, social media content writer

• Law: lawyer, paralegal, legal assistant

Many career paths require additional schooling, and studying English literature as an undergrad lays a great foundation for graduate studies. 🎓

Explore more career possibilities. 👈🏻

When you finish your degree and make the jump from the library into the job market, your study of English literature will leave you with plenty of options laid at your feet.

Bibliomaniacs, get ready to shine! The best way to prepare to study English literature is to read, read often, read across genres, then read some more.

Building your experience with a variety of texts will build your content knowledge. Be sure to read classic works by well-known authors throughout history — I love the works of Bronte, Austen, Dickens, Poe & Hemingway. Use this recommended reading list as a starting point.

When you come up for air from all that reading…

• Research the different career paths you might want to pursue. The direction you want to take might determine the school and program you choose.

• Look into the English literature programs available at different universities. Start building a list of schools that may be the right fit for you and your goals. 

Get started on your path to studying English literature!