The Florida State University Department of English is one of eight academic units nationwide to be recognized this year for its dedication to career preparation by the Modern Language Association, the most prestigious professional organization for the study of literature and language.
FSU’s English department is featured as a case study in MLA’s “Report on English Majors’ Career Preparation and Outcomes,” and the department’s internship program was recognized for its strength, the ways its internships prepare students for careers and for the opportunities it provides undergraduates to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real work environments.
“It is extremely gratifying to see the success of our department and our students recognized in this report, so that peer institutions may look to us as a model,” said Molly Hand, director of the internship program and associate lecturer in the Department of English. “The report in general is an extraordinarily validating confirmation regarding the success not only of our English majors at FSU but of English majors nationwide.”
The internship program began as a curricular requirement of the editing, writing and media major (EWM) in English when the major launched in 2010. In 2018, further program refinements ensured students were optimally prepared for internship opportunities and could connect this experiential capstone for the major with both their academic work and career planning. While the semester-long program is required for EWM majors, it is also open to any English major. Students are not placed in internships, but the program, along with FSU’s Career Center, provides valuable resources for helping students identify opportunities that align with their interests and career goals.
“It is extremely gratifying to see the success of our department and our students recognized in this report, so that peer institutions may look to us as a model. The report in general is an extraordinarily validating confirmation regarding the success not only of our English majors at FSU but of English majors nationwide.”
— Molly Hand, director of the internship program and associate lecturer in the Department of English
Gabriella Paez, who currently works as associate manager of school and library marketing at the publishing company Penguin Random House LLC, earned her bachelor’s degree in EWM in 2019 and was among the first to take part in the newly revised internship program.
“The internship program was hands down one of the best things I experienced at Florida State,” Paez said. “My internship, which was for the communications team in the FSU College of Arts and Sciences, instilled a confidence in me that I highly doubt I would’ve otherwise had. It helped develop a sense of the value of my degree and how it could be applied. I learned how to make the most of one-on-one meetings with my managers, and I had some pretty amazing additions to my portfolio and résumé.”
While careers such as K-12 education, publishing and academia are closely associated with the major, an English degree provides a solid foundation for diverse careers in various fields. English majors go on to law school, the arts sector and arts administration, marketing and advertising, nonprofit and public-service positions, the tech industry, business school, health care-related fields, politics, sports reporting and more.
“This report debunks a lot of persistent, negative myths about majoring in English — especially that it isn’t practical or useful,” said Andrew Epstein, department chair. “It proves that majoring in English does lead to meaningful, fulfilling, stable and well-paying careers.”
Among many examples of career success are FSU English alumnus Barry Jenkins, who has earned three Academy Awards and received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing alongside a bachelor’s in cinematography and video and film production in 2003. Jeremy Willis, a senior editor at ESPN, graduated from FSU in 2004 with two bachelor’s degrees, one in English and one in sport management. FSU English alumna Wendy Clark, who earned a degree in creative writing, is among the most well-known leaders in marketing around the world.
“English degrees confer so many career skills — sophisticated writing and editing, interpersonal communication, the ability to work collaboratively,” Hand said. “Curiosity, care and attention to detail are also important skills developed in this field of study.”
Today’s employers expect new graduates to come on board with work experience, and internships, such as copywriting, managing social media, and generating media for law firms, ad agencies, magazines, university offices, television stations and more, are an important means of gaining an edge on other candidates. Program interns apply and further develop their knowledge and skills in a professional environment while learning about themselves and the kind of environment in which they would like to work.
“The messages that this report from the MLA relays are very important for administrators, governors and other leaders to understand: It shows that a wide range of careers and professional fields consistently hire English majors for the skills and abilities they develop through the study of writing, literature, language and culture,” Epstein said.
To learn more about the FSU Department of English and its internship program, visit english.fsu.edu.