English
Have you ever stayed up way past your bedtime because you couldn't put down the latest book you were reading? Do you have journals and notebooks filled with poems or stories or screenplays that you’ve written (and rewritten) through the years? Do you dream about being a writer, a journalist, an English teacher, or anything that lets you share your love of words with the world? If so, let's talk about an English degree as the next step toward your future career.
What will I learn?
Medieval Literature. Writing About the Environment. Irish Modernism. Bible As Literature. These are just a few of the courses we’ve offered recently. As an English major, you'll typically take classes in criticism, theory and different types of fictional and non-fictional texts. You might read Chaucer in one class, write about modern film theory in another, and study African American literature in another, gaining insights from history, law and other fields along the way. Most of all, you’ll learn to produce compelling, persuasive, and sophisticated writing. And if you're interested in professional and technical writing, creative writing or journalism, check out our specific programs and classes in those fields.
What can I do with an English degree?
UB English grads have won Pulitzer Prizes, edited "National Geographic," written a "New York Times" bestseller and served as chief speechwriter for the governor of New York State. With an English degree, you can work in many different fields, including:
- Advertising.
- Education.
- Film.
- Law.
- Libraries.
- Magazines.
- Newspapers.
- Public relations.
- Publishing.
- Radio.
- Social media.
- TV.
If you want to be a writer or editor, English is the perfect major for you. But even if you're not sure about your next steps, an English degree will set you apart throughout your career. Why? Because it teaches you how to write persuasively and concisely, how to interpret and present information, and how to think critically about complex problems.
Want to be a teacher?
Be prepared to teach grades 5-12 by getting your bachelor's and master's in just five years through our UB Teach program.
- Save time and money.
- No need to apply to graduate school.
- Be eligible for New York State professional teaching certification.
Visit the department website (at the top of this page) for more details, or see the for a list of all available majors.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $105,460.00 | N/A | |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $78,500.00 | N/A | |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $51,270.00 | $24.65 |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.