Teacher
One of the most common careers for student of English is teaching. Every K-12 school needs instructors who can teach Language Arts: reading, writing, research, documentation, and basic language mechanics.
- Suggested Faculty Contact: Dr. Blake Bickham (Teacher Education) [email protected]
Editor
As an English major, you will develop a keen eye that will serve you well as an editor, writer, and manuscript evaluator in a variety of industries: literary studies, science, government agencies, as well as specific business organizations.
Recommended Specialized Courses:
- English 387: Literary Editing and Publishing
- English 398: Practicum in Editing and Publishing
- English 451: Understanding and Using English Grammar
- English 499: Internship
- Suggested Faculty Contact: Dr. Daniel Rosenberg ([email protected])
- Work for the Literary Review.
- Work for Pinyon.
- Write for The Criterion.
- Write for Horizon Magazine.
- Work for KMSA Radio.
- Work for CMU-TV.
- Work in the CMU Tutorial Learning Center.
- Secure an internship with a local organization.
Librarian
The skills of an English major will serve you well in a variety of library positions. Library science also accounts for other interests you may have: teaching, subject specialization, working with youth, event programming, archives/special collections, medicine/law, and more.
Recommended Specialized Courses:
- English 240: Children's Literature
- English 320: Report and Proposal Writing
- English 365: Literature for Young Adults
- English 385: Technical and Professional Writing
- English 499: Internship
- Suggested Contact: Anne Bledsoe, Head of Instruction Librarian, ([email protected])
- Intern or work at a local public library, museum, or historical society.
- Work for the CMU Library (Public Services, Technical Services, Special Collections/Archives.
Linguist
Studying how languages function can prepare you to work in the computer industry on speech recognition, speech synthesis, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, or computer mediated language learning. You can also develop a background for TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) credentials, research language acquisition, and preserve endangered languages.
Recommended Specialized Courses:
- English 343:Language Systems and Linguistic Diversity
- English 451: Understanding and Using English Grammar
- Latin: 111 and 112
- Greek: 111 and 112
- Foreign Languages
- Suggested Faculty Contact: Dr. Brad Montgomery-Anderson ([email protected])
- Volunteer to help non-native speakers of English to speak and write. You may find a position with Mesa County Libraries, Mesa County Workforce Center, or Mesa County Public Schools.
- Teach Adult Literacy at the Mesa County Library.
- Work in the CMU Library.
- Be an online English-speaking mentor to a non-native speaker living in a different country.
- Work in the CMU Office of Educational Access Services to assist students with communication difficulties.
- Work in the CMU Tutorial Learning Center.
- Work with the CMU Theater Department to research dialects and accents needed in performances.
Technical Writing
Professions such as science, engineering, manufacturing, and other industries produce products, but they also need to generate documents and presentations that require skilled writers who can transform technical information into reader-friendly reports, manuals, grants, and letters.
Recommended Specialized Courses:
- English 219: Introduction to Professional Writing
- English 320: Report and Proposal Writing
- English 325: Writing for Engineers
- English 425: Scientific Writing
- English 499: Internship
- Suggested Faculty Contact: Dr. Tiffany Kinney ([email protected])
- Intern at a local business. Areas of interest might include: medicine, education, science manufacturing, engineering, information technology, or any government agency, just to name a few.
TESOL Instructor
As a CMU English student you are prepared to take the next step by acquiring additional credentials and experience. By obtaining this credential you can teach English to students abroad or in your own community. Requirements for TESOL credentials may include an English degree, secondary school teaching license, or any type of college degree. These requirements will vary depending on the organization from which you are obtaining this credential.
Recommended Emphasis: Teacher Education
Recommended Specialized Courses:
- English 343: Language Systems and Linguistic Diversity
- English 440: History of the English Language
- English 451: Understanding and Using English Grammar
- Foreign Languages
- Suggested Faculty Contact: Dr. Blake Bickham (Teacher Education) [email protected].
- Teach English abroad.
- Volunteer at Mesa County Libraries, Mesa County Workforce Center, or Mesa County Public Schools.
- Work with non-native speakers of English in the CMU Tutorial Leaning Center or Educational Access Services.
- Be an online "penpal" and mentor to a non-native English speaker living in a different country.