Writing & Publishing Careers

Many English students find that their advanced language abilities (writing, editing, publishing) lend themselves to a wide range of writing and publishing careers.

They can go into business organizations, helping with newsletters, public relations, marketing and direct services related to information design.

They can go into the computer industry and work as technical writers, developing guidelines and publications for consumers of software products.

English majors often complete a professional writing internship with a nonprofit or business which helps build a professionalism in the work place. Internships help the English major gain professional experience which can be demonstrated through exhibits in a writing portfolio.

Some English students go directly into publishing and editing—getting on at a magazine or book publisher. This career path often requires some experience in marketing and public relations as well as advanced copy editing abilities. Again internships and beginning positions in marketing or copy editing often provide a demonstrated excellence necessary to becoming an acquisition editor or publisher.

And of course, many English majors purse creative writing as a supplement to another career area, or if they are successful in gaining a broad readership, they become a professional writer making their living through creative works.

English students with journalism experience find numerous opportunities for working in organizations, businesses, government or for news media. Millikin journalism students have a more diverse opportunity, combining experience in radio, print journalism and video through our campus opportunities. Our students also have a broad base of writing and editing experience, jumping between the categories of journalism as they write for the Decaturian. It is this diversity of experience that makes them attractive to smaller media publications.

Matt Sprague (MU '02) is a sports journalist in Garden City, Kansas. As he prepared for his job search, he created this guide to searching for jobs in journalism. Check out Matt's journalism job search resources.

Writing & Publishing Careers

Many English students find that their advanced language abilities (writing, editing, publishing) lend themselves to a wide range of writing and publishing careers.

They can go into business organizations, helping with newsletters, public relations, marketing and direct services related to information design.

They can go into the computer industry and work as technical writers, developing guidelines and publications for consumers of software products.

English majors often complete a professional writing internship with a nonprofit or business which helps build a professionalism in the work place. Internships help the English major gain professional experience which can be demonstrated through exhibits in a writing portfolio.

Some English students go directly into publishing and editing—getting on at a magazine or book publisher. This career path often requires some experience in marketing and public relations as well as advanced copy editing abilities. Again internships and beginning positions in marketing or copy editing often provide a demonstrated excellence necessary to becoming an acquisition editor or publisher.

And of course, many English majors purse creative writing as a supplement to another career area, or if they are successful in gaining a broad readership, they become a professional writer making their living through creative works.

English students with journalism experience find numerous opportunities for working in organizations, businesses, government or for news media. Millikin journalism students have a more diverse opportunity, combining experience in radio, print journalism and video through our campus opportunities. Our students also have a broad base of writing and editing experience, jumping between the categories of journalism as they write for the Decaturian. It is this diversity of experience that makes them attractive to smaller media publications.

Matt Sprague (MU '02) is a sports journalist in Garden City, Kansas. As he prepared for his job search, he created this guide to searching for jobs in journalism. Check out Matt's journalism job search resources.

Teaching English

English Education majors are well prepared for a rich career in teaching secondary English. Our students bring a wealth of literary studies, writing experiences and computer technology to their schools, becoming leaders in English studies in high schools and junior high schools across Illinois and the nation.

Coming from a small university that places an extremely high value on quality teaching, our English Education majors have had excellent mentors and examples of active-learning approaches to teaching. With professional development through special content-area methods courses, a large number of practical internships opportunities before student teaching, and the rich breadth of English studies at Millikin, our English Education majors have done very well in their teaching English careers.

Audrey Ooms (May '03) created an excellent guide for researching teaching job opportunities in Illinois. Check out her teaching jobs web resources web site.

Graduate Studies in English

Every year many of our English majors continue their English studies at the graduate level. We have students going on in almost every academic area in English—literature, composition & rhetoric, professional writing, journalism, education, creative writing and American studies. Look for features of some of these English alumni who have gone to graduate school.

Here are some web sites for general research on graduate schools. But watch for announcements from particular graduate programs in English as well as contacts for help with grad school applications from Millikin. Faculty are excellent resources to learn more about specific programs and degree options. The English department attempts to hire faculty from a wide range of universities to help our students have access to a broad network of academic colleagues.

Of course, many of our English students go into professional schools such as law school or MBA programs if they have pursued work in an organization. The advanced analytical reading skills and excellent writing skills common to English majors make us known to be top performers in these professional programs.