English Degree
Creative Writing | English | Technical and Scientific Communication
Focus Areas
Academic Focus
Co-Curricular and Engagement
Career Development
Milestone
First Year: Explore
Academic Focus
- Meet with your academic advisor and build your academic plan
- Complete ENGL 1004: First-Year Experience and explore English options
- Enroll in Pathways courses aligned with your interests
- Explore potential minors or second majors
Co-Curricular and Engagement
- Go to Gobblerfest and join student organizations, like English club, and others related to your interests
- Visit the Student Success Center for support services
- Begin exploring study abroad, including London Calling
- Connect with faculty and peer mentors
Career Development
- Begin developing your professional resume
- Create a Handshake account
- Begin collecting coursework and projects for a professional portfolio
- Meet with the Experiential Learning Coordinator
- Attend Bridge Speaker Series events
Milestone
- Identify an area of interest within English
- Establish a connection with at least one faculty member
- Begin developing your professional identity
Middle Years: Focus and Connect
Academic Focus
- Update your academic plan with your advisor
- Attend a college or departmental info session on research opportunities and engage in undergraduate research or a faculty-led project
- Declare a major option, minor, or second major, if applicable
- Take upper-level major requirements
- Review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) and apply for your degree in Hokie Spa
Co-Curricular and Engagement
- Attend English department lectures, readings, and guest speaker events
- Begin undergraduate research or join a faculty-led research project
- Serve in a leadership role with a student organization
- Study abroad or participate in a global experience, if aligned with academic plan
- Participate in campus publications, conferences, and creative showcases
Career Development
- Update your resume and have it reviewed; complete mock interviews
- Reach out to a VT alum for an informational interview
- Complete the Bridge Experience through an internship, study abroad, undergraduate research, publication, or other opportunity
- Attend English Career Connections and other career fair(s)
- Build your LinkedIn profile
- Plan for grad school applications (research programs, review requirements, prepare to request letters of recommendation) or post-grad job search
Milestone
- Build professional portfolio
- Declare any second majors or minors
- Make a connection with a VT alum or professional in your career path
- Complete an experiential learning opportunity (internship, study abroad, research) and add to your resume
Last Year: Launch
Academic Focus
- Complete 4000-level classes, including capstone
- Ensure all remaining degree requirements in DARS are planned and completed
- Consider presenting or publishing scholarly or creative work
Co-Curricular and Engagement
- Present at the English Undergraduate Excellence Conference, Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research Symposium, or other venues
- Continue to serve in a leadership or mentorship role
- Publish creative, scholarly, or professional work
Career Development
- Update resume, LinkedIn profile, and portfolio with experiences
- Apply to jobs, graduate programs, or fellowships
- Reflect on experiential learning and leverage it in interviews
- Attend college and university professional development events
- Complete First Destination Survey
Milestone
- Graduate with a clear plan, a professional network, and a portfolio of your work
- Engage with alumni association in your hometown
Finding
Your Future
in English
Our graduates have the skills to:
- Write and communicate effectively across diverse audiences and industries.
- Think critically, analyze information, and solve complex problems.
- Conduct research and synthesize evidence.
- Create, edit, and present professional and creative work.
Common job titles include:
- Writer
- Technical writer
- Publisher
- Editor and copywriter
- Communications specialist
- User experience specialist
- Content strategist
- Teacher
Top Employers & Graduate Schools:
- Virginia Tech
- Wake Forest
- University of Virginia
- KPMG
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
- Capital One
- EAB
Personalize Your Path
Every student’s path is unique. Use this resource as a guide and work with your academic advisor, faculty mentor, and career advisor to customize your experience.