Department of English

Why Study English?

The study of English prepares you to communicate effectively, to understand the history and power of words, to think critically and creatively, and to recognize and balance several points of view. It provides you a better understanding of human nature, your community, and your place in the world. The writing and critical thinking skills developed in English coursework will make you competitive in many fields.

"In a survey of 100 human resources executives, only 5 percent said that recent college graduates lacked computer or technology skills... The problem now is more basic. Nearly half the executives said that entry-level workers lacked writing skills, and 27 percent said that they were deficient in critical thinking."

— Phyllis Korkki, New York Times reporter, in "Young Workers"

"Every job requires workers to understand instructions quickly and to explain problems to supervisors and other workers. Good communication is essential for most occupations, even those that require little interaction with others. A problem cited by employers of engineers, for example, is that some technically competent workers are unable to explain what they are doing, to understand or explain what their part of a project is, or to relate their task to what others are doing."

— Nancy Saffer, economist, formerly with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in "English and Your Career"

In addition to those postgraduate occupations traditionally associated with English majors — such as graduate study in English, education, law, public relations, journalism, and publishing — your degree in English from LSSU will prepare you for a surprising number of careers. 

Careers for English Majors