ENGLISH LITERATURE DEGREES

Overview

Whether or not you quite agree with author Charles Bukowski that “Without literature, life is hell”, if you’re considering a degree in English literature you probably have pretty strong feelings about the subject.
You may simply enjoy the escapism of a good book, feel passionately about the importance of creative expression, or just love discovering those poetic phrases that seem to perfectly capture a particular sensation.
Perhaps you favor writers who use fiction as a means to critique society, or have a fascination with the way in which a novel or play can provide a window into a different culture and historical period.
Whatever the root of your love of literature, studying the subject at university should open up a whole array of new ways to appreciate and analyze written texts – as well as providing skills that are transferable to a wide range of professions.

Specialization

As with most subjects, English literature degrees are available in a wide range of different course formats. Among the main points of variation are in the historical and geographical scope of the literature covered, the flexibility of the course structure, and the amount of emphasis placed on theory.
For example, some literature courses follow a historical progression, leading students through each period of literature. Others take a more geographical or cultural approach, for example offering courses in Irish or African American literature.
A third approach is thematic. For instance, you may be able to take course modules focusing on exploring feminist literature, gay fiction, or postcolonial texts.
You can also expect literature courses to include at least some focus on literary theory, which basically means learning about different approaches to the study and analysis of literature.
As if this doesn’t sound like more than enough to pack into your three or four years of undergraduate study, you may also have the opportunity to study the historical development of the English language, to take courses in linguistics, and even to study texts written in other languages – either in the original or in translation.
Many literature courses also present opportunities to study literary texts alongside other types of media, such as films and television shows, visual arts, and non-fiction documents such as leaflets or advertising.

Career Options

As you might expect, many graduates of English literature degrees go on to roles involving communications and use of the written word. Popular career paths include:
• Advertising and marketing
• Journalism
• Publishing (including copy-writing and editing)
• Public relations
The strong analytical and communication skills gained from an English literature degree can also provide a good starting point from which to pursue careers in many other sectors.
These could include roles in business and management, events, human resources, teaching, social work, law and public sector services.
Meanwhile, if you’re simply happiest when surrounded by books, you might consider roles in librarianship, archive work and the bookselling trade.

Key Skills

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Professional communication, spoken and written
• General IT skills
• General research skills
• Self-management, including planning and meeting deadlines
• Creativity
• Ability to present and defend a line of argument