Princeton Review’s list of the top ten college majors includes English, and for good reason. English is one of the most versatile majors you can choose, and will prepare you for hundreds of future career paths. English is the major for you if you always have your nose in a book, love in-depth discussion of literature, and want to graduate with a door-opening degree.
The English major produces versatile, open-minded graduates who can go on to pursue any career path.
Study celebrated authors in company with rising contemporary writers.
Everyone who reads a piece of literature comes away with different and complex thoughts, and through classroom discussion, you will be exposed to many different viewpoints and think critically about what you read.
The focus of the English degree at Keuka College is the value of English within the wider world. You will read the greatest authors in the world, but also think critically about how this can be applied outside the classroom. You will study the power of language and literature as a means of understanding our world and making things happen. Stories shape our understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live. The English program emphasizes literature and writing in order to cultivate an appreciation for and capacity in both verbal and written expression. The study of English exposes us to a wide range of human experiences and allows students to express their own stories with clarity and creativity. You’ll also have the opportunity to study the intersection of literature with other mediums, such as film.
With a strong foundation in language and literature, you’ll be well prepared for a broad range of careers. Your B.A. in English will be valued in any position in which writing skills, clear communication, creative thinking, interpretation, and adaptation are essential to performing well in a rapidly-changing workforce.
The English major offers additional opportunities in creative writing, writing and communication, theatre, business, marketing, management, digital liberal arts, literature and design, American studies, literature and the arts, trans-American studies, and much more. Conversely, other majors can benefit greatly from an English major; in today's world, we are reading and analyzing text constantly throughout the day.
The English faculty consists of some of the most passionate professors you will ever meet. Their deep love for writing and literature can be felt in every class, and you’ll leave classes feeling energized and inspired. They are supremely well-qualified, and have a high output of research and other published work.
One of the greatest examples of the intersection of English and Digital Learning at Keuka Collegeis Dr. Jennie Joiner’s involvement in the digital mapping of William Faulkner’s fictional Yoknapatawpha County in which she works with other Faulkner scholars from around the world. It involves close reading of novels and stories in order to map characters, locations, and events in Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha fiction.
Dr. Joiner has incorporated understandings from this project into her classroom projects, asking students, for example, to digitally map literary texts in similar ways. The course Literature in the Wider World encourages students to create projects that don’t fit traditional molds such as hypertext versions of poems that create new understandings of literature.
English embodies global education by exposing its students to the culture and literature of people around the world. English courses allow you to travel across the world without moving, to be in the heads of people you will never meet, and to understand what people in the distant past experienced. Keuka College students regularly team up with Penn Yan Elementary School students in order to learn what the world looks like from their perspective and transform their stories into literature.
Participating in Drama Club allows for creative expression and playwrighting.
Hone your storytelling skills by writing for the student newspaper.
Submit the work you’re most proud of to Red Jacket.
Sigma Tau Delta is Keuka’s International English Honor Society, recognizing student achievement in English language and literature.
The Charles Wallis Memorial Prize recognizes the distinguished work of a freshman or sophomore Humanities major.
The Marcia Clark Cooley Scholarship recognizes the outstanding English work of a student entering junior year.
The Betty Watson Wallis Memorial Prize recognizes the distinguished work of a junior or senior Humanities major.
Recognizes the author of the best original poem.
The Margaret Davenport Springer Memorial Prize in English is given to the author of the best original fiction.
Presented to honor outstanding student initiative for the College literary magazine, Red Jacket.
Sigma Tau Delta is Keuka’s International English Honor Society, recognizing student achievement in English language and literature.
Sigma Tau Delta recognizes the best original freshman essay.
Thinking about your future career? Here are some sample job titles that people with similar degrees have at organizations around the country.
| Career Group | Career Summary |
Median Annual Wage in 2015 |
Predicted Openings Between 2014 and 2024 | Change in Demand for These Jobs, 2024 vs. 2014 | Education Typically Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Writers |
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work. |
$70,240 | 17,200 | 5,300 | Bachelor's degree |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other |
All postsecondary teachers not listed separately. |
$63,000 | 62,800 | 21,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary |
Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. |
$61,990 | 25,500 | 9,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Writers and Authors |
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material. |
$60,250 | 26,100 | 3,100 | Bachelor's degree |
| Editors |
Plan, coordinate, or edit content of material for publication. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication. Includes technical editors. |
$56,010 | 42,500 | -6,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
