A college education should serve many purposes: it should prepare citizens, provide opportunity for personal growth and development, feed the soul, and nourish the mind. It should also prepare a person for their career.

While English has long been recognized as an excellent means to most of these ends, its application to the job market has been undervalued. My own father was nervous about my choice to become an English major. The first member of my family not to work in a shipyard, he saw any major that didn't lead to specific employment as essentially risky. A kind and supportive parent, he never criticized my choice, but it was clear that he worried about it. Then, late in my senior year, my father called me.

    "What is it you're studying?" he asked.
    "English" I replied.
    "Is that a liberal art?"
    "Yes."
    "I'm reading a business journal. There was a study of high-ranking officials and executive officers of major corporations. They wanted to see what the people who rose to the top of these companies studied in college. A large percentage of them had liberal arts degrees. That's what you're studying, right?"
    "Yes," I repeated.
    "Well," he said, "that's great."

My father was right - many business careers do begin with the liberal arts. The same is true of careers in law, advertising and sales, technology, education, government, and social services. Given the growing importance of writing and communication skills within the professions, the study of English is more valuable in today's workplace than it has ever been. The purpose of this Web site is to provide information, resources, and advice about the value of an English major in your career preparation. Ideally, students should consult this site while planning their English major, and while preparing for graduation and their job search. We hope it helps!