Online English Degree Programs

Due to its incredibly large vocabulary, flexibility, and adaptability, English has quickly become the most common language for business, entertainment, policy, and communication. It is estimated that anywhere from 20 to 25 percent of the world speaks English (approximately 750 million people). Those who master it often have a decisive advantage in the workplace. This advantage is especially true for writing skills, as so much of modern business takes place via written correspondence, Web copy, and print media.

By attending degree programs in English, you typically focus on areas such as literature, critical thinking, critical writing, and public speaking. Obvious careers that follow might include education, politics, writing, publishing, law, business, and journalism. However, you can find English graduates in almost every field and industry imaginable, including Hollywood, manufacturing, science, and even Capitol Hill.

Online degree programs in English offer you an even more flexible way to master the crucial critical thinking and writing skills necessary for success in today's modern business world. With online degree programs in English, you don't have to leave your house to benefit from classroom discussions, intense lectures, challenging material, and constant feedback.

Online Classes and Degrees in English

At the bachelor's degree level, online colleges offer flexible, convenient classes leading to degrees in English literature, professional writing, organizational management/language arts, and interdisciplinary studies. You can also earn an online master's degree in liberal studies with a concentration in English.

Looking at English Careers and Degrees

Many graduates of online associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in English pursue careers in journalism (news analysts, reporters, and correspondents). These professionals work in print, broadcast, and new media to write news, features, editorials, sports, weather, entertainment, business stories, and more. They also work as editors, manuscript analysts, or script writers. In 2007, broadcast news analysts earned a median annual wage of $49,060, while reporters and correspondents earned a median $34,690 wage, with a top-tier salary of $76,230.

Public relations specialists help businesses and non-profit organizations establish and maintain a positive public image, using their English language skills to craft effective press releases, broadcast scripts, or company publications. PR specialists earned a 2007 median annual salary of $49,800, with the top-end average of $94,620.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a strong 14 percent increase in advertising and public relations jobs during the 2006-2016 decade, with some 20 percent of jobs occurring in the states of California and New York.

For those with a real love of language and historical poetry, fiction, drama, or non-fiction essays, you traditionally need to pursue a post-graduate degree in English if you hope to teach writing or literature at a community college, four-year school, or university. The median annual wage in 2007 for English language and literature teachers (post-secondary) was $54,000, with a top-end salary of $100,110.

Elementary and secondary school teachers usually need a bachelor's degree in English plus a teaching credential to begin work in the classroom. Some school districts require teachers to pursue a master's degree.

• Liberal Arts & Humanities