WHAT IS AN ONLINE ENGLISH DEGREE?
An online English degree studies literary genres, grammar and composition. It also tends to include a menu of writing courses. These online courses may help students present their ideas about literary texts in a clear manner.
English majors who want to teach may also take classes on how to plan lessons. In these programs one may learn how to teach English as a foreign language. Or to a specific grade level.
Online students drawn to study English may find degree programs at all levels. Bachelor’s, master’s and PhDs.
TYPES OF ONLINE ENGLISH DEGREE PROGRAMS
A.A. in English
In an Associate’s program, you may gain a solid base in literature, poetry and critical theory principles. At the same time, you may grow more professional writing skills for different uses. Business, media, web, fiction and also creative writing.
Course Examples:
- Advanced Reading
- Critical Thinking
- World Literature
B.A. in English
An online bachelor of arts program focuses on reading, writing and critical thinking. It will expose you to theory, linguistics, and composition, in addition to surveys of literature. Then also allow for electives from liberal arts and humanities. Along with coursework there tends to be a final capstone course and project.
Course Examples:
- Intro to Journalism
- American Literature
- Technical Writing
M.A. in English
An online master of arts program may go into literary theory and ways to break down ideas. It may also offer options for intensive study. You may want to take literature courses by a certain author. Like Shakespeare. Or focus on literary studies from the Renaissance. At the end of your program, there may be a thesis
Course Examples:
- British Literature
- African-American Literature
- Literary Criticism
ENGLISH DEGREE ONLINE PROGRAMS
An online bachelor’s degree in english may entail 120 credit hours. Of these, over half may be general education courses. The others are set up around your major and electives. To cap your studies, you may need to hand in a final project. Or, you could put in some hours inside a classroom to practice teaching English, if that was your focus.
Many programs have book lists. In reading these texts, you may learn the basic elements of fiction, poetry, and drama. Some of the common themes at this level are the literary works of British and American authors. Apart from reading English literature, you tend to study the art of perception. That means looking at literature within a context like gender, race, and religion. Then, applying these ideas to make sense of the author’s style, message, and techniques.
While you learn to read with a critical eye, you’ll likely take writing classes. These show you how to write an effective narrative. One that persuades readers and follows a line of thinking. You may also gain the skills to edit your writing, so it is clear and concise. If you’re interested in writing, your study plan may allow you some choice in this area. This may be to develop skills for science writing or to learn how to tell a story. Most programs of this nature include a class in composition.
Composition is about how to analyze, develop and organize your thoughts. Or, adapt your style to different audiences. At the end of your studies, you may be able to use library resources to support your ideas. Writing classes may ask you to take part in (online) workshops with your instructors and peers. They may help you to learn the ins and outs of giving and receiving feedback.
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Southern New Hampshire University
- Take advantage of some of the nation’s most affordable tuition rates, while earning a degree from a private, nonprofit, NEASC accredited university
- Qualified students with 2.5 GPA and up may receive up to $20K in grants & scholarships
- Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access.
Popular Programs
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University of Arizona Global Campus
- 99% of University of Arizona Global Campus students study online
- University of Arizona Global Campus offers affordable tuition, so college is accessible to many students.
- he University of Arizona Global Campus (formerly Ashford University) is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
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Accounting and Finance, Information Technology, Political Science…
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WHAT DO ENGLISH DEGREE COURSES LOOK LIKE?
English courses you take may deal with the language itself. In these classes, you may cover form and function. Some topics may cover the theories of how we form communication skills. In others, you may touch on the uses of language in a specific context like law, politics or propaganda.
There are several kinds of online English programs to look for. The one you choose should reflect your goals.
- Do you want to teach English to young children?
- Are you hoping to teach at the university level?
- Would you like to prepare to teach English as a Second Language (ESL)?
- Are you an aspiring author, journalist or editor?
We’ll walk you through 4 classes common to English programs as well as popular types of English programs. This may be useful as you frame your interests and objectives.
Some common courses include:
English Composition: This class looks at the skills that go into planning, writing and editing an essay. Some of the topics look at sentence structure and grammar. Others touch on how to backup your ideas with clear statements and conclusions.
Intro to the English Language: This class studies the structure and history of the English language. Some topics may get into linguistic and comparative grammar. Others may look at how we use language in society.
Creative Writing: This class may help you stretch your wings as an author. You’ll often study and practice writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. At the same time, you’ll often join workshops where you’ll learn how to critique creative works.
Principles in Journalism: This class provides an overview of Journalistic principles and ethical practices. The course also covers news reporting, feature writing, beat reporting and writing for the web.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO EARN AN ONLINE ENGLISH DEGREE?
Admission requirements for each school varies. As a rule, you need a high school diploma to apply. Once you earn your degree, you might continue with graduate study. Or, start a job search in various career paths. If going for a bachelor’s degree in English online you may need four years full time. Less if you have eligible transfer credits from an associate degree. From here, a master’s in English may take one to two years. Add another four to six years if enrolled in a PhD program.
HOW MUCH DOES AN AVERAGE ENGLISH DEGREE COST YOU?
Recents reports show the average in state cost for pursuing an English degree at a public institution is $7,616. The average out of state cost at a private institution, you will find, is $36,236. Since these are norms, you will find programs that are more expensive, and ones that may cost less. Also, if you are able to transfer credits into your program, you will have fewer to pay for. In the table below, you can see the cost per credit of several schools where you might pursue a B.A. in English degree online.
TOP ENGLISH DEGREE PROGRAMS BY STATE
Last check, you can see, the largest share of institutions that offer General English Language & Literature degrees are private, not for profit, 4 year or above institutions. From those schools, you can see, there were 52,704 degrees awarded to students. The majority of these programs were B.A. degrees.
| School | 2022 Degrees awarded | 2023/24 Tuition (out of state unless *) |
| Southern New Hampshire University | 1,347 | $15,380* |
| Florida State University | 358 | $18,786 |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus | 389 | $37,320 |
| University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 313 | $35,099 |
| George Mason University | 187 | $38,983 |
| Full Sail University | 457 | $26,307* |
| Texas State University | 267 | $22,559 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | 328 | $41,070 |
| SUNY at Albany | 96 | $28,248 |
| University of California Berkeley | 287 | $44,467 |
*Estimated for full time, beginning undergrad students
Top 25 Colleges that Offer English Degree Programs
Many or even most colleges and universities have English degree programs. Often, they offer different focus areas and specializations. Like Literature, Creative Writing, and more. To help you start your search, we’ve listed the top 25 schools with English programs. We ranked the schools by the number of students who graduated with a degree or certificate in English for the 2022 / 2023 school year with 2022 data compiled by the NCES. We’ve also included related programs worth checking out.
CAREERS AND POTENTIAL SALARIES FOR ENGLISH DEGREE MAJORS
Your salary as an English professional is largely decided by your specific job title. It will also depend on your level of education, your experience and your skill. You could consider the following careers, with statistics compiled by the U.S. BLS in 2016.