• What can I do with a degree in Literature and Writing Studies?

• What if I don't want to teach? Is there something else I can do with my degree?

• Where do LTWR majors get jobs?

Are questions like these keeping you up at night? Rest easy....On this page we have close to 100 different things you can do with a LTWR degree. Literature and Writing Studies majors have become hot commodities!

We live in an "Information Age," that commands frequent and immediate communication, through all forms of electronic media and personal interaction. EVERYTHING is affected by language ability. Our society views as essential effective writing and speaking in business, the media, and the culture. People who have an understanding and command of text--in literary, cinematic, and technical forms—can contribute to every aspect of our society. No place is this more evident than in tech fields right here in San Diego.

With the advent of the Internet, more companies than ever before demand the skills that Literature and Writing Studies majors develop. Creating pages and sites for the World Wide Web takes ingenuity, critical analysis, careful thought, and expert writing skills. Translating highly technical documents into something laymen can understand is also an important skill for which our majors are well-suited.

Many of our majors go into teaching, library work, law, or graduate school in English, Philosophy, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, or Library Science. At the same time, a significant number view the Literature and Writing Studies major as a pre-professional degree that enhances their ability to think, speak, and write more effectively. These skills are essential for many occupations including business management, marketing, editing, reporting, creative and technical writing, public relations, medicine, social work, government work, and banking.  The Literature and Writing Studies major prepares students to analyze information, think critically, and communicate well.

For example, recently a human relations executive at a world-wide, Fortune 500, accounting and consulting business stated that he and his firm actively recruit Literature and Writing Studies majors for their critical thinking and communication skills. He asserted that his company could teach a person successful business skills in four months at a training facility, but that his company could never teach critical thinking and effective communication.

Career Possibilities with a Degree in Literature and Writing Studies:

• Account Executive
• Editor
• Literary Agent
• Advertising Copywriter
• Lobbyist
• Publications
• Manuscript Reader
• Writer
• Market Research Analyst
• Editorial Assistant
• Marketing Specialist
• Education & Training
• Marketing Writer
• Educational Program Specialist
• Entertainment Agent
• Media Planner
• Bank Officer
• Biographer
• Correspondent
• Book Critic
• Freelance Writer/Consultant
• Novelist
• Business Manager
• Fundraiser
• Paralegal
• Paralegal Assistant
• Greeting Card Writer
• City Manager
• Personnel Manager
• Columnist/Commentator
• Hotel & Motel Manager
• Congressional Aide
• Communications Manager
• Copywriter
• Interpreter & Translator
• Public Relations Specialist
• Journalist
• Curator
• Labor Relations Specialist
• Publicity Assistant
• Desktop Publisher
• Radio-TV Commentator
• Sales Representative
• Special Events Coordinator
• Management Trainee Analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Tech Writer
• Computer Web Developer
• FBI Agent
• Activist
• Political Consultant
• Human Resources Specialist
• Event Planner
• coffee jockey
• Teacher
• Corporate Communications Specialist
• television producer
• documentary writer
• Agency spokesperson
• industry news analyst
• profiler
•  . . . . the list goes on!  

CSUSM LTWR majors have gone on to become rock stars, political speechwriters, web developers, business owners, university administrators, college professors, joined the Peace Corps, gone to the seminary, become librarians, or work in Hollywood.  Check with the Career Center for more information, or for help in your job search.  Do start early in your career search! 

(It often helps to do an internship before graduating.  That way you get some experience on your resume, and to find out if that career path is really for you.  Often you can get 1-3 units of credit for your internship; see Prof. Formo for more information, or check out the internship information below.)

Learn more at our annual LTWR Career Options Workshop.  You can also check out some of these resources:

Read this honest discussion of what grad school is really like written by an assistant professor of English.