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.
Studying General English Literature involves the study of English Language And Literature, General. Continue reading for the essential details every general english literature major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general english literature programs.
In the U.S., general english literature is a popular field of study, with 34,210 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General English Literature Schools ranking analyzes these 1,374 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general english literature students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general english literature programs later in this article.
Programs in General English Literature develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general english literature graduates commonly enter.
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.
The skill set built by a general english literature program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general english literature major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general english literature degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 27 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,706 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 26,315 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,222 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 940 |
People currently working in careers related to general english literature tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.9% |
| Master’s degree | 18.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general english literature careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
A degree in general english literature opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general english literature.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general english literature.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 284,430 | 0.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general english literature graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,969 |
| 4 years | $41,218 |
| 5 years | $47,515 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general english literature graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general english literature grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $30,503 |
With 1,374 different general english literature programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general english literature school rankings to help you.
Those considering general english literature, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 34,210 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 12,869 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 1,064 |
| Literature | 783 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
