Academic Resources

Explore our English academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Curriculum Guide

English Department

CLAS Advising Center

What Can I Do With This Major? (External Resource)

Career Resources

Unlock career potential in English! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

English Career Information

Career Communities

Sample English Internship Sites

Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.

• The Holland Sentinel
• Grand Rapids Public Museum
• Grand Rapids Symphony
• West Michigan Refugee Education and Cultural Center
• Frederick Meijer Writing Center
• Rockford Public Schools
• Zondervan Publishing
• Wood TV 8
• Kellogg
• Muskegon Area Intermediate School District

  English Internships

   General Information on Internship

Join A Student Organization

Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!

• The Lanthorn
• Fish Ladder
• PRSSA
• Ad Club
• Law Society
• Shakespeare Student Competition
• Renaissance Festival
• Numerous cultural student organizations

Student Organizations

Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills

Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.

• Workplace Technology and Communication Undergraduate Badge
• Intercultural Communications Undergraduate Certificate

Electives to Consider

Community Service Opportunities

Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.

The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
 

Civic Engagement Center

English Study Abroad Options

Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.

Imagine studying Shakespeare in the UK, where the Globe Theatre brings his words to life just steps from your classroom. Picture yourself analyzing postcolonial literature in South Africa or exploring ancient epics in Greece, where the stories originated. Imagine joining writing workshops in Ireland or attending literary festivals in Australia, surrounded by global voices and fresh perspectives. Studying abroad gives English students the chance to experience literature in its cultural context, gain inspiration from new environments, and engage with storytelling traditions from around the world.

English Study Abroad

Explore Internships Abroad

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship

Getting Started

Fellowship Opportunities

Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships

Finding a Fellowship

Where Alumni Have Landed

• English Immersion Teacher – ISM Academy, Ecuador
• Marketing Assistant – English Gardens
• Logistics and Customs Compliance – Supply Chain Solutions
• Communications Specialist – Domino Farms
• Director of Admissions – Western Theological Seminary
• Faith in Youth Partnership Director – Good Samaritan Ministries
• English Teacher – Kenowa Hills Public Schools
• Referral  Coordinator – United Way
• NCAA Football Official – NCAA
• Creativity and Writing Coach – Self-employed
• Writer & Editor – Agard-Orosz Fellow
• Translator – United Nations
• Principal Consultant – Education Consulting Practice
• Elementary Teacher – Charlotte, NC
• Principal – Holland Public Schools
• Lead Copywriter – Amway
• Author – McMillan Publishing
• Data Scientist – Eidex
• Director – Center for Equity and Inclusion
• Membership Manager – Grand Rapids Art Museum

You’ve explored the power of language and literature as an undergraduate in English, and now you're ready to dive deeper into critical theory, refine your writing, or pursue a specialized path in communication or education. Graduate school can help you transform your passion into a focused career.

• Master of Arts (MA) in English: Ideal for students interested in literary analysis, cultural studies, and advanced writing. This degree is great preparation for teaching, publishing, or further doctoral work.
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing: Perfect for writers who want to develop their voice through poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. MFA programs offer intensive workshops and mentorship, often leading to careers in writing, editing, or academia.
• Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition: Best suited for those who want to focus on writing pedagogy, digital rhetoric, or technical communication. This path prepares you for roles in education, curriculum design, or communication strategy.
• Master of Arts in English Education: Designed for those who want to teach English at the secondary or postsecondary level. This degree blends literature, writing, and pedagogy to prepare future educators.