What can I do with my degree?
Is there a demand for someone with an English or a foreign language degree?
How does your program prepare graduates for successful careers?  

What can I do with my degree?
Because of a strong liberal arts foundation in the English, Foreign Language and Journalism programs, the list of career opportunities for someone with a degree in these fields is long and varied.

Graduates in English or journalism may become writers or editors for a variety of publications, market researchers, analysts, labor relations specialists, managers, publishers, curators, playwrights, teachers, radio commentators and more.

Graduates with foreign language degrees have pursued careers in communications, business, education, government service, information services, science, social services and the travel industry. Other career possibilities include interpreters, international telephone operators, foreign news correspondents, translators, film producers and editors, public relations experts, working for an international firm, U.S. Customs agents, U.S. Naturalization Service agents, law enforcement officers, research librarians, authors, teachers, research, management, airline flight attendants, tourist guides and travel agents.

Students in all of the department's degree areas often continue their education to earn advanced degrees in a variety of fields.

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Is there a demand for someone with an English or a foreign language degree?
Employment of writers and editors is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012. Opportunities should be best for technical writers and those with training in a specialized field. Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations over the 2002-2012 period. (Excerpted from Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-2005).

Many employers are seeking job candidates who can speak a foreign language and have knowledge of foreign cultures because so many businesses have international ties and because of the increase in foreign language speakers in the United States.

One of the most momentous developments to happen for languages in the United States is the recent creation of the Defense Language Transformation Roadmap, a “plan to overhaul military policy, doctrine and organizations to improve the diversity of foreign languages spoken in the armed forces; enhance the proficiency of linguists; and create new military sources of foreign language expertise outside the Defense Department.”

Consequently, the Defense Department will require all junior officers to complete a foreign language course. Eventually, all general officer and flag officer candidates will have to be bilingual.

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How does your program prepare graduates for successful careers?
Students in our programs learn how to think and how to do, which is essential to success. A strong liberal arts foundation is enhanced by majors courses that are small, intense and focused on knowledge and skills students need in their careers or in graduate school. The professors who teach most of the majors classes have been at Western for an average of 15 years, have doctoral degrees and experience in the field. Several have published books in their fields.

Hands-on learning is a key component for our degrees, from the classroom or computer lab, to on-campus publication experiences or off-campus internships, to study-abroad opportunities. Professors work very closely with their students, advising them on courses and careers.

You can expect to be prepared for a wide range of careers that suit your interests and the ever-changing job market.

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