An online English degree can support a teaching career, but the degree alone rarely completes the job. Public-school roles usually require an approved teacher-preparation route, supervised classroom work, state tests, and licensure. Online English bachelor’s teaching careers therefore split into licensed classroom teaching and education work that does not require a teaching license.
Key Takeaways
- A general English degree builds subject knowledge, while a teacher-preparation program adds the steps needed for classroom licensure.
- English graduates may also pursue writing, editing, technical communication, tutoring, and education content work.
- Program titles matter: an English degree and an English education degree can lead toward different job requirements.
Start with the job, not the major. If you want to teach English in a public middle or high school, confirm that the program meets your state’s teacher-preparation rules before applying. A general English degree may cover literature, writing, and language without including student teaching or a route to initial licensure.
If your goal is broader, the degree can support work that rewards close reading, research, clear writing, and editing. The strongest choice depends on whether you need a teaching license, a writing portfolio, or subject knowledge paired with another skill.
Which Online English Bachelor’s Teaching Careers Require Licensure?
A public-school teaching goal changes the degree search. Look for a program that clearly states it prepares students for initial teacher licensure in the state where the school operates. Then ask your state education agency whether that preparation is accepted where you plan to work. The program should explain student teaching, background checks, required tests, and any state-specific courses.
Grand Canyon University offers a Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Education, a title that directly connects English study with secondary teaching. A general program such as a Bachelor of Arts in English may still build strong subject knowledge, but its title alone does not show that teacher preparation is included. Compare both types on the online English bachelor’s degree page.
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation reports that CAEP-accredited English language arts programs for grades 7–12 must use the 2021 National Council of Teachers of English standards for initial licensure reports submitted beginning fall 2023. That is a concrete sign of specialized teacher preparation, not just an English curriculum.
- For public-school teaching: verify state approval, supervised classroom work, testing, and the route to initial licensure.
- For private-school or tutoring work: review the employer’s degree and experience rules, since the job may not follow public-school licensure requirements.
- For another state: check license transfer rules before enrolling rather than assuming approval carries across state lines.
Testing may also sit between graduation and employment. ETS states that the Praxis English Language Arts: Content Knowledge test 5038 has 130 questions, allows 2 hours 30 minutes, and uses qualifying scores set by each state. A school should tell you whether its course work covers the tested content and when candidates usually take the exam.
Other Jobs an English Degree Supports
Teaching is only one outcome. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers with a bachelor’s or higher degree in English had a median annual wage of $60,000 in 2023, with 1,943,540 people employed. That field-wide figure covers many occupations, so it should not be read as a starting salary or a promise for one job.
The degree is most useful where employers need people who can research, organize ideas, judge sources, and write for a specific audience. The liberal arts career guide shows how those skills can cross industries. For an English graduate, the practical job groups include:
- Licensed teaching: middle school or high school English roles after completing state requirements.
- Writing: articles, books, scripts, marketing copy, nonprofit material, and business content.
- Editing: reviewing structure, grammar, accuracy, tone, and publication standards.
- Technical communication: instructions, product documents, help material, and other complex information written for users.
- Education support: tutoring, curriculum content, test material, and learning resources, subject to each employer’s requirements.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says writers and authors typically need a bachelor’s degree in English or a related field. Their median pay was $76,910 in 2025, with about 11,900 openings projected each year from 2025–2035. A degree can meet the education preference, but employers still judge published work, clips, and subject knowledge.
Editing has a similar degree-to-experience split. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that editors typically need a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or journalism plus writing and proofreading experience. Median pay was $77,920 in 2025, while employment is projected to decline 1% from 2025–2035. That outlook makes internships, campus publications, freelance work, and a focused portfolio especially useful.
Technical writing can pay more, but English knowledge alone may not be enough. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median pay of $90,390 in 2025 and projected growth of 1% from 2025–2035. Employers generally prefer a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, or a related subject, and the work also demands comfort with technical information.
Match the Program and Price to the Target Job
Program names reveal useful differences. Eastern Oregon University offers a Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in English/Writing, while American Public University System offers a Bachelor of Arts in English. The first title gives writing equal billing; the second is broader. Neither title, by itself, confirms a teacher-licensure route.
Use the full online English degree directory to review more programs after checking the examples below.
| School and Program | What the Title Emphasizes | Total Program Cost Including Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Oregon University — Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in English/Writing | English and writing | $30,590 |
| American Public University System — Bachelor of Arts in English | General English study | $34,500 (In-State/Out-of-State) / $30,100 (Military) |
Price should follow the career check, not replace it. A lower total cost does not help an aspiring licensed teacher if the degree lacks the required preparation. For writing or editing goals, inspect course lists for advanced composition, research, rhetoric, digital writing, and chances to produce work samples.
GetEducated's Picks
- Grand Canyon University Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Education
- King University Bachelor of Arts in English
- Eastern Oregon University Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in English/Writing
Run a Career Check Before You Apply
Write down the job you want and the requirement that could block entry. For public-school teaching, that may be state approval, student teaching, or a required exam. For editing, it may be experience and a portfolio. For technical writing, it may be the ability to explain material from a technical field.
Then compare real program titles and course plans. King University offers a Bachelor of Arts in English. Southwest Minnesota State University offers both a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in English / Literature. Those titles can support subject study, but prospective teachers still need to verify whether a separate teacher-preparation route is required.
The National Council of Teachers of English and CAEP require program-review submissions to include six to eight key assessments showing that teaching candidates meet the applicable standards. Ask a licensure program what those assessments involve, how online students complete field work, and who arranges school placements.
- Does the program lead to initial teacher licensure, or only award an English degree?
- Will the school support a classroom placement near your home?
- Which writing, editing, or technical communication courses produce portfolio work?
- Will employers accept the online format? Review the employer acceptance guide before making assumptions.
- Does the total program cost include every mandatory fee?
A useful program should answer those questions in plain language. If the school cannot explain how the degree connects to licensure or to the work samples employers expect, keep comparing.
Find Your Online Art & Liberal Arts Degree
Narrow 71 accredited online Art & Liberal Arts degree programs to find the perfect fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a teaching degree online?
You can complete academic courses online, but teacher preparation commonly includes supervised classroom work. Confirm how the school arranges that work near you and whether the program meets your state’s requirements.
What degree do you need to be a teacher?
Public-school teachers generally need a bachelor’s degree plus the preparation, testing, and licensure required by their state. The degree major and grade-level rules vary, so check the state agency before enrolling.
Can you be a teacher without a teaching degree?
Some states offer routes for bachelor’s degree holders who did not complete a traditional education major. An English degree may provide subject knowledge, but you may still need approved preparation, classroom training, and tests.
Do you have to have a teaching degree to teach english?
Not every English teaching job uses the same rule. Public schools follow state licensure requirements, while private schools, tutoring companies, and adult education employers set their own standards.
Do you need a master’s degree to be a teacher?
A master’s is not an automatic entry requirement for every teaching role. State and employer rules differ. Check whether your target job requires one at hiring or later in your career.
How fast can you get a teaching degree online?
Completion time depends on transfer credit, course pace, teacher-preparation requirements, and the timing of field placements. Ask for a term-by-term plan that includes student teaching rather than counting only online courses.
Does an english bachelor’s degree qualify you to teach?
The degree can establish English subject knowledge, but it does not automatically grant a teaching license. Review the licensure steps described above and verify them with the state where you plan to work.
What jobs can I get with an english degree besides teaching?
Common targets include writer, editor, technical writer, tutor, and education content specialist. The career section above compares the degree expectations, pay evidence, and outlook for several of these roles.
Do english teachers have to take the praxis exam?
That depends on the state and license sought. Some states use Praxis tests, while qualifying scores and testing rules differ. Your state education agency is the final source for the requirement.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Humanities employment and wages
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Writers and authors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Editors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Technical writers
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation: Standards and report forms
- NCTE and CAEP: Program review instructions
- ETS Praxis: English Language Arts Content Knowledge test