English majors are good communicators, good critical thinkers, and good problem solvers. They know how to read texts, people, cultures, and situations effectively and analytically, and to organize and transmit that analysis clearly. As such, they are in demand by a commercial world that values critical thinking and communication skills, as well as the fields more traditionally associated with English. English majors end up in business and management, law and legal services, non-profit and governmental agencies, journalism and advertising, as surely as they become teachers, writers, and scholars. Whether you take the Literature, Theatre, or Writing track, you will emerge from the Marist English major with skills that are much in demand in today's busy and efficient society. Each track, however, also provides you with very specific skills that can prepare you for exciting careers in English-related fields.
The Literature track is the traditional track for jobs in teaching, scholarship, law, and publishing. Marist graduates many fine teachers, most of whom leave Marist already employed in secondary school systems throughout the East. Marist also sends many students on to Graduate School (to places like Oxford, the University of York, England, Boston, SUNY Albany, SUNY New Paltz, Wisconsin, Fordham, and other fine schools throughout the world), where they have done exciting work as scholars and ultimately as museum curators, librarians, and English professors. Many students in the Literature track go on to Law School, where their abilities as readers, speakers, and writers contribute to their success. A good number also end up in the publishing industry, where they work as editors, managers, and publishers in some of the biggest publishing houses in the country.
The Writing track prepares students to enter the multi-faceted world of writing. Students graduate to become technical and professional writers, screen and play-writers, novelists, journalists, editors and publishers, as well as joining their Literature track colleagues as Secondary teachers, Lawyers, and creative writing teachers at the College level.
The Theatre track prepares students for work in the professional theatre as actors, directors, writers, theatre managers, and the like, as well as enabling students to pursue careers in which public personae are important, such as politics, corporate training, teaching, and radio and television work. The Theatre track also enables students to go to law school, to graduate school, and to teach, and Marist English majors have been successful in each.
The English Major at Marist provides you with an intellectual and practical grounding that will enable you to live a sensitive and productive life. Don't hesitate to stop in and talk to any of our English faculty if you are interested in discussing what you might do with an English major.
