A Bachelor’s of Arts (BA) degree in English is an open-ended, flexible degree path for students that prepares them for a wide range of potential careers.

Employers increasingly desire the analytical and communication skills possessed by English majors, as seen by the fact that 95 percent of our recent graduates are either employed or are pursuing an advanced degree. Whether you want to enter into the tech industry, go to medical school, or work in the publishing industry, a BA in English can help you succeed in your career ambitions.

Some graduates choose to pursue advanced degrees, and these alumnae regularly attend and succeed in top-ranked academic programs and at prestigious law schools. Other graduates have gone on to careers as writers, teachers, lawyers, editors, publishers, marketing professionals, managers, public relations specialists, research analysts, and artists, to name a few.

The numerous jobs English majors from Saint Mary’s have landed upon graduation and five years out prove the value and marketability of our English degree. For a sampling of the career paths our students have taken, see the lists below.

Some Job Titles of Recent Graduates

  • Proofreader
  • Literary Agent
  • Editor
  • Director of Media Relations
  • Program Coordinator
  • Marketing Coordinator
  • Copywriter
  • Editorial Assistant
  • Consultant
  • Assistant Director
  • Director of Development
  • Corporate Recruiter
  • Social Medium Program Manager
  • Community Involvement & Volunteer Coordinator
  • Teen Education Coordinator
  • Teacher
  • Librarian
  • Education and Marketing Coordinator
  • Freelance Writer/Editor
  • Recruiting Coordinator
  • Associate General Counsel
  • Appellate Law Clerk
  • Subsidiary Rights Assistant
  • Senior Publicist
  • International Lay Missioner

Typical Employing Organizations

  • Amazon
  • Pariveda Solutions
  • Upwork
  • American Council of Engineering Companies
  • The Federalist Society
  • Black Knight Financial Services
  • University of Notre Dame
  • Vera Bradley
  • Huffington Post
  • John Wiley & Sons
  • Penguin
  • Random House
  • Loyola Press
  • Thomas Nelson Publishers
  • Perseus Books Group
  • Public Affairs Press
  • Irene Goodman Literary Agency
  • Center for the Homeless
  • Holy Cross Associates
  • Jesuit Volunteer Corp
  • Peace Corp
  • Dublin City Schools

Representative Careers of Graduates 5 Years Beyond the Degree

  • Director of Communications, Michigan Association of Counties
  • Manager, Internal Audit, Duchossois Industries
  • Family Therapist, Family and Children’s Service
  • Reference Librarian, Northwestern University, Chicago
  • Policy Administrator, Cook County HIV Primary Care Center
  • Nurse, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
  • Senior Account Representative, Lexus-Nexis
  • Associate Editor, Airline Media Association
  • Deputy City Attorney, San Diego City
  • Teacher, Abbott School, Chicago
  • Reporter, Variety
  • Systems Analyst, Trinity Health
  • Reporter, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin