We would all agree that college students with a keen interest in English language and literature must find the best schools that offer English majors worldwide.
However, a few schools have English departments rated among the best. Interestingly, you will find these best schools in the world for English Majors in this post.
After reading this post, you will know the school of your choice to study English. So, enjoy your read.
Of course, mastering English builds several skill sets and opens graduates to a lot of career options available to them.
In fact, according to Wikipedia, prospective English Majors can take college courses in academic writing, creative writing, literary theory, British and American literature, multicultural literature, several literary genres.
Also, they can carry several elective multidisciplinary topics such as history, social sciences courses, and foreign language studies.
So, English schools prepare students when applying for entry-level positions in business and communications even after receiving an associate degree.
Who is an English Major?
According to Wikipedia, an English major is focused around reading, analyzing, and writing texts in the English language.
English majors are trained to write well, organize ideas logically, and develop arguments. Interestingly, you can analyze complex information, research, critically read and observe.
So, the English major has historically involved the study of the language itself and its broadest cultural influences, both spoken and written. It’s also one of the oldest ‘modern’ degree programs.
Check out our: Free Online Course: English Composition by Arizona State University
How Long Will I Go to Any of the Best Colleges for an English Major?
A typical curriculum for going to any of the best colleges for an English major takes up to 4 years. However, several factors can affect your overall completion time. There are also part-time study options for working students.
So, in your college year, you will do the following courses:
- Literature
- Poetry
- Introductory Philosophy
- Fiction Writing
- Creative writing
- Prose series
- Creative non-fiction
- History among others
Kindly check this: Top 25 Masters degree Scholarships to Study English
How Much Does an English Major Earn? | Careers
The industry you choose affects your salary significantly. Once hired, your job function plays a significant role in determining your compensation. Most cases, your salary improves as you accumulate professional experience and promotions.
For instance, two professionals who graduated from the best schools for English Majors, performing similar job functions at comparable companies, can earn unequal salaries if they live in different parts of the country.
Wages may also vary if workers possess different degrees. Creative writers and poets are essential to society, but the demand for their services and the average salary are not overwhelming.
English teachers need further education in teaching and are also in minimal demand. So, if these jobs are your dream, then you should pursue them, but if not, you may want to consider some of the many other careers open to an English major.
You can venture into other related careers like:
- Reporting
- Media and Communications
- Editing
- Copywriting
- Script Writing
- Research
- Publishing
- Advertising
The opportunities to grow in your career as an English Major are endless.
What are the Skills Gained As an English Major?
If you pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree from one of the best colleges for English majors, you will develop valuable skills applicable to many career paths. These vital skills include proficiency in communication, critical thinking, organization, research, writing, and grammar.
Also, adaptability and flexibility are key traits developed even when looking for a career and trying to prove yourself to potential employers with an English Degree.
English graduates have strong liberal arts backgrounds that demonstrate their ability to adapt to many job responsibilities.
That is why English Majors excel in high-paying jobs that give them the career opportunities they desire as they carry out their passion for literature and writing.
What Prerequisites Do I Need for an English Degree?
English A level is usually required. Other valuable subjects for English degrees include any humanities subject – like history, geography, or drama. In addition to A grades or equivalent, you will also need five GCSEs (A–C), including Science, English, and Maths.
Earning an English degree requires a wide variety of challenging coursework available at most traditional and online universities.
- World Literature
- General Education and Foreign Languages
- British Literature
- American Literature
- Rhetoric and Composition
- Technical Writing
Many schools also offer additional coursework in children’s literature, genre studies, cultural studies, seminar courses, and courses specializing in poetry, the novel, and creative writing.
List of Best Schools For English Majors in 2023
#1. Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with about 6,800 undergraduate students and nearly 14,000 postgraduate students.
Furthermore, it has an acceptance rate of 5.4% and a graduation rate of 97.5%. Also, the student-faculty ratio is 6:1, while the tuition fee is $50,144.
As one of the world’s best schools for English majors, Harvard University offers one graduate program in this discipline.
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
#2. Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts and one of the best schools for English majors. The university is nonsectarian but historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It also has more than 3,900 faculty members and nearly 33,000 students.
BU offers a one-year Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing after which graduates receive a year-long global fellowship to travel and write.
Thus, Boston University has an acceptance rate of 29.4% and the graduation rate 88%. Also, BU has a student-faculty ratio of 10:1. The tuition fee is $54,720.
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education.
#3. The University of California, Berkeley
This public research university in Berkeley, California, was founded in 1868.
Thus, UCB has an acceptance rate of 17% and a graduation rate of 91%. Similarly, the student-faculty ratio is 18:1. However, this English school has a tuition fee of $14,184 (California residents) and $43,176 (out-of-state students)
UCB is one of the best schools for english majors and offers one graduate program.
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
#4. Stanford University
Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, California. So, Stanford is known for its academic achievements, wealth, proximity to Silicon Valley, and selectivity; it ranks as one of the world’s top universities for English Majors.
Furthermore, it has an acceptance rate of 4.8% and a graduation rate of 94.6%. Also, the student-faculty ratio is 5:1, while the tuition fee is $52,857.
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
#5. Columbia University
Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. It was established in 1754.
It offers a graduate degree program in English. Interestingly, Columbia provides professional writing consultants for everyone, from students to faculty.
But you may not even need to leave the classroom as the student-faculty ratio is so small you can get one-on-one assistance.
Furthermore, it has an acceptance rate of 6.8% and a graduation rate of 94.8%. Also, the student-faculty ratio is 6:1, while the tuition fee is $55,056.
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#6. University of Cambridge
Well, according to the website, the University of Cambridge’s English course is unique for combining full historical coverage with the chance to specialize and develop your interests.
The first two years cover the literature from the medieval period to the present day.
In the third year, students can pursue their interests by choosing from a range of specialist topics – whether they fall into American literature, Chaucer or perhaps the history and theory of literary criticism.
Thus, Cambridge has an acceptance rate of 21% and a graduation rate of 83%. Similarly, the student-faculty ratio is 4:9. This institution has a tuition fee of 9,250 GBP (in-state) and 21,732 GBP (out-of-state).
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
#7. Durham University
Durham University ranks as one of the best schools for English Majors. For this reason, Durham offers a “comprehensive syllabus which combines various traditional areas of literary study with developing areas of the discipline.”
So, modules focus on various authors, topics, texts, and genres from different historical periods and cultures. Compulsory modules include drama, poetry, and novels.
However, Durham has an acceptance rate of 41% and a graduation rate (N/A). Also, the student-faculty ratio is (N/A).
Finally, the tuition fee is 9000 EUR per year.
Accreditation: Privy Council.
#8. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford ranks as the oldest English school in continuous operation. It was founded in the year 1096. Interestingly, in their first year, they take courses in Early Medieval, Victorian and Modern Literature and an introductory course to studying language and literature.
In their second and third years, students can either opt for the study of literature from 1350-1830, with a compulsory Shakespeare paper or focus on earlier literature and the history of English.
Furthermore, it has an acceptance rate of 17.5% and a graduation rate of N/A. Also, the student-faculty ratio is 17:1, while the tuition fee is 9,250 GBP. Their graduates also have an employment rate of over 91% within 6 months after graduation.
Accreditation: Privy Council.
#9. University of York
York offers a varied and flexible English degree combining historical and geographical depth. As well as studying English prose, poetry, drama, and film, you can also study non-English texts in the original language or in translation.
York comes among the top of this list for best graduate schools for English Majors in the world.
Also, this school has an acceptance rate of 78.5% and a graduation rate of 93.2%. Similarly, the student-faculty ratio is 20:1. This school has a tuition fee of about 9,000 GBP.
Accreditation: Privy Council.
You can also read: Top 15 Universities in Turkey that Teach in English
#10.Williams College
Williams College took the #1 spot in U.S. News and World Report ranking of National Liberal Arts Colleges. Yearly, the English department hosts a series of readings called “Lit:” that bring in modern writers like Claudia Rankin and Dean Young many times every semester.
The English department also ensures that every undergrad starts thinking like an English major from year one. So, even as freshmen, every student has to write out a detailed major plan about what they will do over their four years.
Thus, Tsinghua University has an acceptance rate of 17.6% and a graduation rate of 95.3%. Similarly, the student-faculty ratio is 7:1. For being one of the best institutions for English majors, Williams has a tuition fee of $56,970.
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
#11. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The university is Michigan’s oldest English institution; it was founded in 1817 in Detroit.
Michigan has no shortage of opportunities in the English discipline through the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Ph.Ds in English language and literature, English and education, and English and women’s studies.
Michigan has an acceptance rate of 28.6% and a graduation rate of 91%. Also, Michigan, one of the world’s best English colleges, has a student-faculty ratio of 15:1.
Finally, the tuition fee is $15,558.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
#12. The University College London
UCL’s English department offers both breadth and depth in its choice of study. First-year students cover primary narrative texts from the Renaissance to the present and background texts.
In the second and third years, students study Chaucer and Shakespeare and take six further courses of their choice.
The best part of studying English at University College London is that you are assigned a tutor for each academic year, who you can meet one-to-one.
Also, the acceptance rate is 7%, while the graduation rate of 82%. The faculty-student ratio is N/A. Besides, the tuition fee is about 9,250 GBP for citizens, and International tuition is 17,710 GBP.
Accreditation: Privy Council.
#13. University of Bristol
Founded in 1595, Bristol offers several unusual joint degrees – English and film, English and philosophy – in addition to the unique part-time BA in English literature and community engagement.
This engagement allows you to share what you learn with the local community. Similarly, this English college has an acceptance rate of 59% and a graduation rate of (N/A). Also, Bristol has a student-faculty ratio of N/A.
Besides, the undergraduate tuition fee is £9,250.
Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.
FAQs- Best Schools For English Major in the World
You can study English by earning a bachelor’s degree in English from an accredited institution. This provides a lot of career opportunities for English Majors.
Here are the Ten Jobs for English Majors:
Social Media Manager.
Technical Writer.
Public Relations Specialist.
Lawyer.
Grant Writer.
Librarian.
Editor and Content Manager.
Human Resources Specialist.
A bachelor’s degree in English typically takes about four years of full-time study. However, several factors can affect your overall completion time.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, in 2016, English majors had an average starting salary of $36,180.
An English literature degree can open several doors once you’ve graduated.
Conclusion
To be an English Major is a highly distinguished position that requires a good command of english and assertive thinking. What you know is not known until you can communicate it effectively.
Aside from getting an excellent job as an English major, getting this degree will enhance your communication skills.
However, once you study English at the undergraduate level, you’ll learn the language’s semantic rules and linguistic principles. You will also be let into the cultural aura of the original speakers of the language.
Hence, your versatility and uniqueness as an English primary degree holder are seen in your daily speech and writings.
References
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