As the new chair for English and World Languages, I want to welcome you back to school and share some updates about what’s going on in our department! I am excited to step into this new role of chair, although I am sad that I won’t be teaching as much anymore. So, please feel free to pop into my office to say hi and let me know how things are going. I’d love to hear what new, exciting work you’re doing. I am always happy to help our students!
Before I tell you about news and events in our department, I want to celebrate that the English major has recently gotten some positive attention in the national news! In case you missed it, in June, Forbes Magazine named English the #1 most adaptable college major. English majors develop high resilience and flexibility, allowing them to pivot to different jobs and careers throughout their professional lives. If you’re looking for a major that will allow you to experiment professionally, English may be right for you!
Lately, some have also been predicting that artificial intelligence has ushered in the “Revenge of the English Majors,” as more people recognize the importance of studying what makes us human. While AI tools can automate the work of many other jobs, technology cannot replicate what’s taught in English classes: critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and creative communication and engagement. While our classes address how to ethically use AI, we retain our focus on humans – human expression, human emotion, human achievement, human connection.
I know it’s a challenging and unsettled time, but the skills we emphasize in English classes are always relevant and attractive to employers. One article reports that 78% of employers value the abilities learned in English programs. Another recent survey shows “almost 40% of students and workers enrolled in school have considered changing their major, field of study or coursework due to AI”—with some turning to majors like English to develop skills that help them critically analyze AI output.
If you choose to major in English, you can be reassured you’ll likely land in a satisfying career. A 2024 report from the MLA/ADE (Association of Departments of English) notes that, at career peak, English majors earn salaries roughly as high as other majors. In terms of job and life satisfaction, 84% of humanities majors (including English majors) report satisfaction with their job, and 78% feel like they are living their best possible life!
You may be surprised to learn that the cofounder and president of one of the leading AI companies, Anthropic, Daniela Amodei majored in English as a college student—and has “zero regrets” about studying literature! Many of our YSU graduates would agree.
Graduates from English and other EWL programs boast satisfying careers in a range of fields. They hold a wide range of job titles, including…
· Media Relations Specialist
· Public Affairs Professional
· Director of Communications
· Social Media Coordinator
· Customer Content Specialist
· Designer and Developer
· Technical Writer
· Film Editor
· Copyeditor
· Multimedia Editor
· Grant Writer
· Professor
· Librarian
· Archivist
· Teacher
· Academic Advisor
If you want to know more about the journeys of our graduates, we invite you to visit our department on the second floor of DeBartolo Hall. There, we have a new display of testimonials from recent graduates of our English B.A. and M.A. programs:
We have also posted in our hallway some creations by YSU English majors. When people hear “English major,” they assume our students only write essays, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Our students write blog articles, websites, social media content, grant proposals, reports, and educational documents. They also create visual texts—from infographics and research posters to comic strips, magazine covers, and more. Come check out our hallway to see for yourself!
Love reading, writing, and language but not sure if you want to study literature, creative or professional writing, linguistics, or TESOL? Here at YSU, we are excited to offer a new English major that allows students to select one of four concentrations. Our newly streamlined curriculum aims to make things easier and more flexible for our majors, giving students more options for focusing on what they love.
YSU English majors select one concentration—Creative Writing, Literature, Professional Writing, or TESOL/Linguistics—and take several courses in that area. All majors take a few courses from all areas, so they can get a taste of all concentrations before choosing one. Please reach out to me if you want to chat about options within our English major!
We welcome you to the second floor of DeBartolo Hall: come check out our department, meet others interested in English, and socialize with faculty and students. At the event, we’ll host a free book swap, book giveaway, and games. Come join us for refreshments, mocktails, and activities. We’ll have prizes, including gift cards to local bookstores, and we will send you home with swag, stickers, and t-shirts! Please follow us on social media for updates and more information about the event. Hope to see you there!
– Laura Beadling, Professor and Chair, English and World Languages, Youngstown State University
Welcome Back to Campus As the new chair for English and World Languages, I want to welcome you back to school and share some updates
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