How will my English major help me get a job?

Central English majors are highly employable, landing jobs in fields like editing, publishing, communications, journalism and education. English is also an outstanding major for careers in law, medicine and library science. Our English courses develop your writing, problem-solving and critical thinking skills and offer global perspectives that broaden your mind—all essential skills for an enjoyable and impactful career. Professors can also connect you with internships and offer mentorship for your career path.

Can I get my writing published at Central?

Absolutely! Central College is the proud home of one of the longest-running anthologies of college-level student writing in the nation, Synaptic. This anthology showcases our best student writing, artwork and multimodal creations every year. Many English majors and minors are published in this anthology, while others gain publishing experience working as Synaptic’s editors. And since we embrace creative writing of all forms, we have yearly awards like the Calliope Award, which is granted to one senior English major who demonstrates exceptional creativity and intellectual curiosity.

Will I do more than just read and write papers?

Of course! In courses like ENGL 244: Writing for Non-Profits, students work with and alongside non-profit organizations, writing grant applications, crafting newsletters and designing brochures that have real-world impact. In ENGL 280: The Humanities Lab, students conduct “experiments” with digital tools useful in the arts and humanities: we learn to build personal websites, create online exhibits and use visualization tools to analyze novels. Our traditional literature courses also guide students through assignments with real-world applications, including public humanities writing and podcasting.

What makes English at Central unique?

What doesn’t? At Central, the English major is designed for students who dare to imagine. You can grow and exercise your love to read, write and think about the world around you. Plus, our flexible curriculum lets students choose a path through the major that’s tailored to their own interests.

English

Where Fiction Gets All Too Real

At Central College, English majors don’t just read books — they build futures. Whether you're dreaming of a career in law, business, medicine, publishing or even architecture, your English degree has you covered.

With a flexible, mix-and-match curriculum and faculty who’ve got your back (hello, graduate school recommendation letters!), you’ll sharpen your writing, boost your brainpower and walk away with two superpowers: Self-reflection and empathy.