undergraduate
General English
Best schools with general English
What is a general English major?
This general program has a basis in the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples. Subtopics include: English language studies, literature, creative writing as well as rhetoric and composition, among others.
of students said the outlet for creativity was a highlight of this major.
of students found this major to be difficult.
of students said they were motivated to select this major because it fit their passion & interest.
of students and alumni plan on being or are currently employed in an occupation related to this major.
of students said the numerous research papers were a challenging aspect of the major.
How much do general English majors make?
This data isn't currently reported, but we're working on it!
The most common starting salary of surveyed students after graduation is $40,000 - $50,000.
How popular is general English as a major?
Each year, around 35,000 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and around 2,830 students obtain an associate degree in general English. In 2021, 31,788 students received a bachelor's degree and 3,329 students received an associate degree. This is 5% fewer general English majors than there were in 2020. General English is one of the most popular majors within English.
Advice from general English majors
Share your experienceDon’t be narrow minded. People think English is limiting, but it’s actually quite expansive. You can go in to the obvious- publishing, teaching, editorial. But you can also go in to public relations, marketing, advertising, entertainment. I ended up pursuing SEO and enjoy my 100% remote, 6 figure lifestyle (which I was able to achieve before 30). Because of the his flexibility it’s a great first degree before grad school, where you can focus on something more career related (I did Strategic Communication). I fully believe that the reason the English degree ends up on those “lowest salaries” lists is because people don’t do the research and get influenced by the people around them to believe they only have a few options. Think bigger and apply the actual skills. Any degree can be lucrative and English is no exception.
Make sure you know how to contextualize and learn to love to read.
You'll only get out of it what you put into it, so don't be afraid to do the hard work. I guarantee you it'll be well worth it.
It's a tough major with a lot of reading and writing, but I feel like I've learned so much in two semesters of classes. I've greatly enjoyed the creativity and challenges in each class, and I feel like they have helped me improve as a reader and writer.
Everyone expects you to be into literature, but know that its okay to not fit that stereotype. You can dislike literature and still be an English major.
