Study fiction and non-fiction, composition, creative writing, and the English language itself—for any career and as valuable in and of themselves. St. John Henry Newman, namesake of our university, suggested that exposure to complex and sometimes contradictory ideas gives a holistic, self-reflexive view of your “own opinions and judgments, a truth in developing them, an eloquence in expressing them, and a force in urging them.” The English Department encourages this ideal, guiding students through encounters with truth, eloquence, and force by engaging with the world of the word.
English students build real skill as readers and writers by working as paid, on-campus student assistants, writers and editors of the university newspaper, The Vantage, or campus literary journal, Coelacanth, participating in various conferences such as the Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers, and in many opportunities with Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society.
Newman University is a Catholic university with an English program focused on cultivating written skill. You can build your resume by working as a paid on-campus writing tutor or with the school newspaper (The Vantage), presenting your work at various conferences, writing for or editing the campus literary journal (Coelacanth), and helping produce the professional journal (Archaeopteryx). Many of our students also continue on to get advanced degrees.
Our experienced, knowledgeable faculty take great pride in helping students prepare for success in any field that demands precise verbal skill.
While pursuing a degree in English, you can expect a promising future. The English field is projected to grow 13% for postsecondary professors, 6% for high school teachers, and 2% for writers and authors, (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). Our students are prepared to meet the expected demand for whichever field of English they plan to pursue.
A degree in English will give you the opportunity to work in a variety of fields and specialties related to English. Here are some examples of potential careers and their median salaries:
* 2015 national median pay for this career of working professionals with years of experience, (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
With a degree in English, you can do just about ANYTHING! Many Newman English major, minor and concentration graduates have continued their studies to earn advanced degrees and have established themselves in an array of careers that demand flexible, precise oral and written communication skills. Selected examples:
Our English students have the opportunity to gain real-world experience by interning in the Wichita community. This allows you to gain experience in advertising/copywriting, teaching English, and marketing.
One of the best ways to find success during your college career is to get involved in campus clubs and organizations. Students are encouraged join the Communications Club and work for The Vantage, the student newspaper. These organizations allow for personal growth, networking, and future career success.
What can you do with an English degree? Just about anything! Find out where our English majors have found professional employment.
"[Our] professors are not only ridiculously good at what they do, but they care so much about their students... They will teach you to strengthen your writing and polish your editing, and under their guidance you will explore great literature from Gilgamesh to Joyce, from Homer to Plath. I’ve never been so excited to do homework in my life. You will also be well-prepared for whatever it is you want to do. If you want to write creatively, Dr. Dietrich will teach you exactly how to go about getting published. Dr. Crane pushes her students to publish literary papers in journals, helping us with research skills and in developing new insight into literature. Dr. Regan is full of information about grad school, if that’s where you’re heading, and all three of them have ideas and connections that can help you work in a myriad of other fields upon graduation."
"I chose the English program at Newman for many reasons but primarily because it offered something that I can employ in my career as well as my outside hobbies: ideas. I was not only invited to get creative with assignments--I was required to do so in a manner that shaped my thought process to fit outside the box. The faculty served as outstanding mentors and guides throughout my literary studies and they continue to inspire me even after graduation.”
"My next step is I'm going to pursue a master's degree in forensic linguistics at Hofstra University in New York. It's located on Long Island, so that is going to be a little different for me because I'm definitely from small town Kansas. Wichita was definitely a big enough step for me and obviously New York is going to be even bigger, but I'm really excited because I love linguistics and Newman made me figure that out.”
