By Catherine Cameron-Heldt
Assistant Director, GVSU Career Services
Frequently, students majoring in English ask me for a list of the jobs they can do when they graduate. My response is that there is good news and better news. First the good news - there is no list (more on this later). The better news is that English majors can do virtually anything! Not surprisingly, these students quickly become frustrated by my response. Why the frustration? Many times your parents want to know what you're going to do. Many times, students on the teaching track, for a variety of reasons, decide just to pursue the English major. Most of the times, however, many of you just don't realize how valuable your degree is to most employers, and where you "fit in."
English majors graduating from Grand Valley have several options for further study including graduate programs in professional writing, creative writing, and literature.
Applying to a graduate program in English involves taking the GRE (Graduate Records Examination), researching potential schools, visiting campuses, meeting with graduate students and faculty, and writing a convincing application.
Dan Modderman earned his B.A. in Education with an emphasis in teaching English and History from GVSU in 1997. He began teaching at Rockford High School in the Fall of 1997 and has been teaching for 10 years. He has taught a variety of writing and literature classes with students of varying ages and learning abilities. He has participated in team teaching, teaching mainstreamed special ed students, and accelerated students. He is currently teaching Sophomore Accelerated English and AP Language and Composition at Rockford High School. In 2005 he earned his M.A. in Education with a Concentration in English from GVSU, and became a Teacher Consultant and Teacher Researcher with the National Writing Project in 2006. In addition to teaching, Dan leads Rockford High School's Youth Initiative Organization, a student community service program. Recently, he has traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for education reform and support for the National Writing Project with GVSU faculty.
