by our College Data Analytics TeamDo you love to lose yourself in a good book? If so, then English Language Literature may be the right major for you. Students study different types of literature from around the world. You will read a lot of different genres and authors. After exposing yourself to many different books, stories, poems, plays, and excerpts, you will develop skills to analyze them and research to support your opinions. You will think critically as you read and write when you examine the author, culture, time period, and genre of these incredible literary works.
Classes will vary depending on the university in which you attend. Typical English language literature will include both British and American literature, the history of the English language, children's literature, Shakespeare, literary criticism, time period literature, environmental literature, literature by ethnic minorities, literature by women, and poetry.
General English Literature was the 24th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 37,414 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best General English Literature Schools ranking analyzes 490 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general english literature students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of english programs later in this article.
A passion for literature is crucial for success. You should love finding the deeper meaning in books, stories, plays, and poems. You will read, discuss, and write about various forms of literature in your classes. Be open to subjects that you do not necessarily excel in, one example is poetry. Your professors will help you learn how to analyze and understand new genres. Studying literature will open your mind to new perspectives and points of view. Classes will include discussion of literary works using examples from the text to back up your conclusions.
English majors spend the majority of their time reading, researching, writing, rewriting, and editing. Creativity and writing skills will help you finish your writing assignments, while time management skills will help you stay on top of your reading. Most assignments will be worked on individually with the occasional group project. Don't hesitate to start a study group with classmates to better understand difficult literature.
Any sort of experience writing and researching will help you in your classes and future career. Get involved in your school newspaper or yearbook, or volunteer as a peer tutor.
general english literature degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional english certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of english degrees. You can get anything from a in general english literature to the highest english degree, a . Different general english literature degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to english, with approximately 31.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for english workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 30.0% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 27.6% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 8.0% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.6% |
61.5% of english workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in general english literature careers have.
This of course varies depending on which english career you choose.
There are many career opportunities for someone with an English Language Literature degree. You can go into almost any graduate program with a background in English because of your strong reading, writing, and thinking skills. If you love to write you could become a book author, write scripts for plays or television shows, poetry, magazines, or newspapers, find a job doing technical writing or even public relations. You would also be well-prepared to teach English at the middle and high school level or continue your education to become a university professor.
Employers tend to like English majors due to their superior critical thinking skills. Graduates have successfully found work in untraditional fields such as business, sales, entrepreneurship, marketing, social work or personal services.
Want a job when you graduate with your english degree? General English Literature careers are expected to grow 7.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general english literature.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| English Language and Literature Professors | 92,900 | 9.8% |
General English Literature graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $30,517 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $7,780 to as high as $75,793. As you might expect, salaries for english graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general english literature graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers english grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Professors | $78,150 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
With over 2,715 different english degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased english school rankings to help you with this.
One of 9 majors within the English Language & Literature area of study, General English Literature has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English | 37,414 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Writing Studies | 13,544 |
| English Literature (Other) | 977 |
| Literature | 769 |
