What Can You Do With a Degree in English/Creative Writing?

Earning a degree from the English Department immerses you in the art of reading and the creative act of writing. Course work will open your mind to a range of perspectives across time periods, cultures, geographies, and experiences, introducing you to new and unfamiliar worlds on the page—and in your own imagination. Your adventures in reading and writing will, at the same time, hone your skills as a researcher, critical thinker, and writer, setting you up for success in a large number of career fields.

English, B.A. Creative Writing, B.F.A.

Some Career Fields Available to English/Creative Writing Majors

While a few of you may become published authors, like some of our faculty and English Department alumni, all of you will be grateful for the incredible versatility of a degree in English. The skills and perspectives you will gain are useful in publishing houses, at print and virtual publications, and in the social media, marketing, and copywriting departments of a range of businesses and organizations, from tech companies to law firms to nonprofits. Those skills, especially critical thinking and argumentation, will also prepare you for careers in public relations, law, education, library science, medicine, community organizing, politics, and on and on.  Here is a partial list:

  • Advertising and Copywriter
  • Early Childhood Development Teacher
  • Editor
  • Grant Writer
  • High School Teacher
  • Interpreter and Translator
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer
  • Librarian
  • Literary Agent
  • Marketing Specialist
  • Paralegal
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Technical Writer

Part of this list was compiled using information from The 14 Highest-Paying Jobs for English Majors, which has additional information about degrees and salary details.

On-Campus Resources

Brooklyn College’s mission is to provide you with the tools necessary for finding out what you want to do with your degree and how to secure a job in your prospective field. Every degree is different, and the resources available to you may vary depending on what you end up deciding to major in. But there are a number of resources available to all students that can mean all the difference in landing your dream job.

Magner Career Center

The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.

  • The center hosts frequent career events, which include panels with Brooklyn College alumni, company and organization visits, and workshops.
  • You can get matched with alumni with your major to learn about their experiences, seek career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
  • HireBC offers starter, competitive internships, and even job postings from Brooklyn College’s dedicated Job Board. Access HireBC via the Brooklyn College WebCentral Portal, under the Career tab. Many alumni post positions with hopes of working with Brooklyn College students. Begin by uploading your résumé and having it reviewed by a career counselor.
  • Pamela Brown is the liaison to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the Magner Center’s website call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.

The Brooklyn College Learning Center

The Learning Center provides peer tutoring in accordance with national best practices that empower students to cultivate the skills and behaviors of confident, independent, and lifelong learners. With support from the Office of Institutional Research and Data Science and ongoing oversight from the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the center designs relevant interventions for need areas to further Brooklyn College’s efforts to stimulate student-driven learning as well as increase retention rates and on-time graduation.

Student Clubs

Brooklyn College has a rich community for students who are looking to improve their writing and editing skills. Notable among these is the Brooklyn College Vanguard student newspaper that offers paid editing positions to students and allows any student to submit their work to be published. There is also Stuck in the Library, which runs writing workshops and publishes student work each semester.

Department of English

The English Department, specifically, hosts lively events that are for students and by students—an open mic series and regular writers’ circles—and publishes student writing in an annual magazine, The Junction, and weekly blog.

Professors and Faculty

One point that can never be repeated enough is the importance of working with your professors and instructors. Even though there is plenty of good information to be found online, in each class you will learn from an expert in the field, who can answer your questions or direct you to the best resources available. The value of faculty cannot be overstated. Good connections with your instructors may be a deciding factor in landing your dream job.

Contact

Martha Nadell

2314 Boylan Hall
E: mnadell@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5197

Brooklyn. All in.