English Career Outlook 2010-2011
English Programs Available at Bemidji State University:
Major: English (B.A.), English (B.S.): Teacher Licensure, Creative and Professional Writing (B.F.A.), (B.A.)
Fields of Emphasis: Writing
Minors: English, Electronic Writing (Certificate in Electronic Writing)
Specialty: Elementary Education B.S. Communication Arts and Literature
Department Website: http://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/english
Major Highlights:
We give form and birth to knowledge and meaning through the written and oral word. The field of English within the
university is concerned with the study and practice of writing. Students examine literary or creative work through genre,
period, nationality, and author studies, and practice it in creative writing courses. They examine expository or non-literary
writing through usage, structure, and rhetorical theory, and practice it in composition and expository writing classes.
Students intending to major in English should declare their intentions by the beginning of their junior year. English
majors are encouraged to study an additional language and to participate in a junior year study abroad program such as
EuroSpring. All University students are introduced to college-level writing through the College Writing sequence and are
encouraged to take other English courses.
Employment Areas:
English majors have a variety of career choices. Many choose the teaching field, but other occupations include writing
and editing. The “Occupational Outlook Handbook” reports writers and authors held about 145,900 jobs and editors held
about 127,200 jobs in 2010. About 68 percent of writers and authors were self-employed. Among 15 percent of salaried
writers and authors are included in the industries of advertising, public relations and related services and newspaper,
periodical, book, and directory publishers, as well as professional and social organizations. Other salaried writers and
authors work in broadcasting and the motion picture and video industries. About 45 percent of salaried editors worked in
the publishing newspapers, periodicals, books and directory publications. Another 19 percent worked in professional,
scientific, and technical services, and schools: state, local, and public, as well as professional and social organizations.
Projected Demand for English Majors in Minnesota:
MnCareers reports that the outlook for editors is poor due to media mergers, online and independent publishing limiting
growth. The outlook for writers & authors is good. Writing skills are needed in many mediums, and a strong portfolio is
recommended. Currently there are 2,920 editors and 1,740 writers employed in Minnesota, with an average income of
$21.60 for editors and $26.00 per hour for writers. High school teachers make an average of $47,220 per year.
Projected Demand for English Majors Nationwide:
The DISCOVER guidance system reports that the nationwide demand for technical writers is growing moderately with a
1.8% expected growth rate per year, and an average starting salary of $43,500 annually in 2011. Secondary teachers in
Minnesota earned a starting salary of $40,500 in 2011. According to the “Occupational Outlook Handbook”, the demand
for writers and authors is expected to grow at about 6% per year, which is slightly lower than average. According to the
DISCOVER guidance system, the median annual salary for entry level technical writers was $43,500 in 2011.
Placement Information for English Graduates:
There are many career opportunities for Bemidji State University English graduates. Of the 2009-2010 Bemidji State
University English graduates holding a B.A., five of the six went on to continue their education. Of the Bemidji State
University English education graduates holding a B.S., 87.5% reported obtaining related employment within one year of
graduation. Of the 2009-2010 Bemidji State University creative and professional writing graduates, 33.3% reported
obtaining related employment within one year of graduation, another 33.3% reported continuing their education and the
last 33.3% had an unknown status. This does not include students who were not seeking employment, unavailable, or had
unknown status
A Partial List of Employers Who Have Reported Hiring BSU English Graduates Since 1997:
(This list only includes employment within one year of graduation.)
Alden-Conger School
Aldine School District
AmeriCorps-Commonbond Communities
Battle Lake Public Schools
Bemidji Pioneer
Bemidji School District
Bemidji State University
Bug-O-Nay-Gee-Shig School
Cass Lake-Bena School District
Charlotte County Public Schools
Chisago Lakes School District
Clearbrook Gonvick School District
Crookston Public Schools
Data Recognition Corporation
Dawson County High School
Desert View High School
Douglas Machine
Eveleth-Gilbert School District
Forestview Middle School
Greenway High School
Hampton City Schools
Henry Sibley High School
Hill City School District
Hoffman Tribune
Independent School District #282
Inver Hills Community College
Itasca Community College
Kodiak Daily Mirror
Le Sueur Public Schools
LeCenter High School
Leech Lake Tribal College
Long Prairie School District
Louisville School District
Lower Kuskokwim School District
Madison School District
Marketing Concepts
Melrose School District
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mohave Community College
Montgomery Lonsdale Public Schools
Mountain Iron School District
Northome School District
Northwest Technical College
Osakis Public Schools
Pinnacle Publishing
Pipestone Area Schools
Princeton High School
Priority Publications
Ratrardupatham School
Red Lake ALC
Red Lake Falls Public Schools
Red Lake High School
Red Lake Nation College
Red River High School
Rutgers University - Newark
San Benito High School
School District #318
High School English Teacher
English Teacher
K-3 Literacy Coordinator
English Instructor
Reporter
Teacher
Librarian
Seventh Grade Teacher
English Teacher
Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
Eighth Grade English Teacher
Proofreader/Quality Checker
Secondary English Teacher
English Teacher
Technical Writer
Seventh Grade English Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
Math/English Teacher
Secondary English Instructor
Editor
Eighth Grade Language Arts Teacher
Adjunct English Instructor
English Instructor
Reporter/Photographer
8th Grade English Teacher
English Teacher
Teacher
Substitute Teacher
Reading Specialist
Eighth Grade Teacher
High School English Teacher
Content Editor
English Teacher
Teacher
English Instructor
English Teacher/Coach
English Teacher
High School English Teacher
Teacher
Eighth Grade English Teacher/Para
Data Entry-Proofreading
English Teacher
High School English Teacher
Editor
English Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
Communications Instructor
English/Language Arts Teacher
Teaching Assistant
High School English Teacher
Reading Specialist
Alden, MN
Houston, TX
St. Paul, MN
Battle Lake, MN
Bemidji, MN
Bemidji, MN
Bemidji, MN
Cass Lake, MN
Cass Lake, MN
Port Charlotte, FL
Lindstrom, MN
Clearbrook, MN
Crookston, MN
Maple Grove, MN
Glendive, MT
Tucson, AZ
Alexandria, MN
Eveleth, MN
Baxter, MN
Coleraine, MN
Hampton, VA
West St Paul, MN
Hill City, MN
Hoffman, MN
St. Anthony, MN
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Grand Rapids, MN
Kodiak, AK
Le Sueur, MN
LeCenter, MN
Cass Lake, MN
Long Prairie, MN
Louisville, KY
Kipnuk, AK
Madison, WI
Spicer, MN
Melrose, MN
Mankato, MN
Kingman, AZ
Montgomery, MN
Mountain Iron, MN
Northome, MN
Bemidji, MN
Osakis, MN
Bemidji, MN
Pipestone, MN
Princeton, MN
Edina, MN
Ratchaburi, Thailand
Red Lake, MN
Red Lake Falls, MN
Red Lake, MN
Red Lake, MN
Grand Forks, ND
Newark, NJ
Hollister, CA
Grand Rapids, MN
A Partial List of Employers Who Have Reported Hiring BSU English Graduates Since 1997:
(This list only includes employment within one year of graduation.)
Sebeka School District
Self-Employed
So. Koochiching School District
St. Mary's Mission School
Thief River Falls Public Schools
Thistledew Correctional Facility
Twin Bluff Middle School
University of Minnesota - Disabilities Office
Unspecified - Church & Daycare
Walker School District
Warren/Alvarado/Oslo School District
Warroad High School
Washington Middle School
Wheaton Public Schools
White Bear Lake School District
Win-E-Mac School
English Teacher
Business Consultant/Writer
English Teacher
Sixth Grade Teacher
Teacher
English Teacher
Eighth Grade English Teacher
Teaching Assistant
Teacher
Fifth/Sixth Grade Mathematics Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
English Teacher
Eighth Grade Teacher
High School English Teacher
Sebeka, MN
Walker, MN
Northome, MN
Red Lake, MN
Thief River Falls, MN
Togo, MN
Red Wing, MN
Minneapolis, MN
Birmingham, AL
Walker, MN
Warren, MN
Warroad, MN
Brainerd, MN
Wheaton, MN
White Bear Lake, MN
McIntosh, MN
Colleges and Universities Where BSU English Graduates Have Gone to Continue Their
Education:
Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, NE
Emerson College, Boston, MA
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
University of California, Riverside, CA
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN
Note 1: Some of the above job/career titles require advanced degrees or specialized training.
Note 2: Degrees alone do not get students jobs. Internships, summer jobs, volunteer work, part-time jobs, work-study
positions, and active participation in student organizations on campus are all ways to become more competitive in a
tight job market.
Note 3: Personal Competencies: it is also recommended that individuals be competent in a variety of communication
methods, and computer skills are a must.
Bibliography:
Annual Graduate Follow-Up Study 1997-2010. Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN (2011)
Bemidji State University Undergraduate Catalog 2011-2012. Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN (2011)
DISCOVER. The American Testing Program, Educational Technology Center, Hunt Valley, MD (2011)
MnCareers/iSeek. Research and Statistics Office, MN Dept. of Economic Security, St. Paul, MN (2011)
Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Dept. of Labor, JIST Publishing Inc., Indianapolis, IN (2010)
For more information, please contact the Career Services Office in 102 Sanford Hall
or call us at 218-755-2038 or toll free at 800-657-3726.