An online English bachelor’s degree is the best way to master a language professionally. It’s the primary language of business and knowing it has become necessary for employment in today’s economy. Suppose you consider English as a career but need more flexibility than a traditional degree allows. In that case, getting an online English bachelor’s degree is the best choice.
A bachelor’s degree in English leads to excellent professional opportunities. Graduates can use their skills and knowledge to find work in journalism, public affairs, business, teaching, management, etc. Others can further their academic career by earning a master’s degree in English. Some even proceed to earn a Ph.D.
With the advent of universities offering English bachelor’s degree programs online, students can continue their work and balance other daily activities.
In this article, we have the lists of accredited universities and colleges offering online bachelor’s degrees in English. Read on to explore these colleges.
Article Navigation: What Does an Online English Degree Cover? | Typical Admission Requirements for an Online Bachelor’s English Degree? | Best Skills for English Students | Top 10 Colleges for an Online English Bachelor’s Degree | Bachelor’s Degree in English Careers | Start an Online English Bachelor’s Degree Today! | FAQs on Online English Bachelor’s Degrees
What Does an Online English Degree Cover?
Language learning includes interpreting theories. It can mean reading novels, reviewing prose and verse, and learning how to write stylistically. The goal is to think analytically and creatively about the English language. English degree programs typically cover both language and literature.
Typical Admission Requirements for an Online Bachelor’s English Degree
GED Certificate or High School Diploma
To enroll for a bachelor’s degree in English, candidates must have a GED certificate or high school degree. Colleges require these documents to certify that students have passed entry-level university courses. Candidates with a low cumulative high school GPA may need to enroll in non-credit classes or complete a placement test.
Official College Transcripts
All associate degree candidates and transfer students must submit their official transcripts from authorized tertiary institutions.
Note: It is crucial to know that institutions often do not accept all credits gained from other universities.
Minimum GPA
Most universities and colleges frequently require a minimum GPA. This criterion helps schools admit individuals who can effectively finish undergraduate coursework. Candidates with low GPAs might inquire about probationary or provisional admission by contacting admissions departments.
Letters of Recommendation
To have an edge during admission, applicants should have three recommendation letters, as schools frequently require them. Institutions use these letters to learn about an applicant’s academic competencies. They reveal a student’s ethics, flexibility, and tendency for success.
High school students can seek letters of support from school teachers and administrators. At the same time, those with previous university experience can request letters from their professors. Figures of authority in any employment or volunteer setting are also good options to approach for reference letters.
Statement of Purpose
Colleges frequently require a statement of purpose. Outline why you wish to attend the institution and how you would contribute to the field of study Or lay out your future career plans after the degree. This document serves as a medium to evaluate students’ intentions and writing skills.
Best Skills for English Students
The goal of studying the English language is to challenge your analytical and independent thinking abilities. Students must read designated critical theories, journals, and essential texts. Some of these skills are:
- Assessing and evaluating a wide range of materials
- Exceptional writing skills
- Proper use of academic referencing and citations
- Independently comprehending theories, texts, and concepts
- Academic research
- Independent ability to work
- Managing time and staying organized
- Planning and writing essays
- Information technology skills
- Communication of views and ideas
- Understanding various theoretical concepts and approaches to literary criticism
- Participating in and leading discussions
- Presenting and developing ideas as part of a group
Top 10 Colleges for an Online English Bachelor’s Degree
In collating our comprehensive lists of the Top 10 Online Colleges for an English Bachelor’s Degree, we evaluated aspects that account for a thorough academic program. The colleges and universities in this list provide full curriculum content, program modules, and areas of interest or specializations.
Note: All the online colleges in this list offer students financial aid opportunities.
1. University of Memphis
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
The University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, offers an online learning Bachelor of Arts in English undergraduate program. Students pursuing this English bachelor’s degree have two curricula options: Professional Writing and African-American Literature. The African-American Literature curriculum examines black literary movements in cultural, artistic, and historical contexts. It also exposes students to works of literature after and before the Harlem Renaissance. In the Professional Writing concentration, coursework focuses on online writing, professional editing, and technical writing skills.
Students will thoroughly understand professional writing abilities through course modules like document design, web design, and the publishing process. It also includes an optional internship aspect that allows graduates to obtain experience in technical writing.
There is a 12-credit curriculum core, which includes three introductory literary courses in American and British literature. Introduction to advanced composition, linguistics, and persuasive writing are examples of elective courses available to students.
2. Ottawa University
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
The online Bachelor of Arts in English degree from Ottawa University is suitable for working professionals. The English program emphasizes the importance of literature in cultural and social contexts. It also explores the impact and evolution of literary movements while addressing environmental and social justice issues. The coursework is available in an asynchronous format. Candidates can complete an online degree via theme-based courses, seminars, survey courses, and capstone projects.
Comprehensive survey courses provide a broad overview of literary history. In these classes, students will study the evolution of literary forms throughout history. Environmental literature, multicultural literature, literary criticism, and protest literature are all included in the theme-based courses. Two seminar classes concentrate on the critical strategies of American and British literature.
It’s required for online students to take a linguistics course and a creative or expository writing course. Also, candidates must complete a capstone course.
3. Granite State College
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
The online Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language Arts includes the ability to choose from three optional certification tracks:
- General Special Education,
- General Special Education and Elementary Education;
- and Early Childhood Special Education and Early Childhood Education.
All candidates must finish an English Language Arts curriculum, including coursework such as disability literature studies, expository writing, critical inquiry, British literature, and a broad overview of literary criticism. An Early Childhood track covers special education law, young children with unique behavior, and child development curriculum.
Could not look up school using "3234"!4. Nicholls State University
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
This school offers an online Bachelor of Arts in English degree to improve candidates’ research, speaking, analytical, and writing skills as it correlates to Western literature. The 120-credit coursework comprises 18-course credits of concentration courses and 36 credits of mandatory English courses.
Students take fundamental courses covering essential literary criticism topics and critical principles in British and American literature. Creative writing, rhetoric, and literary studies are the three focus areas of the entire online curriculum. Electives on trends and literary periods, such as postmodern, southern, and modernist literature, are also available.
Concentration courses emphasize specific skills. The curriculum culminates in a capstone course in which students create an educational portfolio and complete intense research on any literary topic of their choosing. Rather than a research report, students in the creative writing program must write an original and detailed academic work.
5. California Baptist University
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
CBU provides an online Bachelor of Arts in English degree for students and working professionals. The curriculum focuses on written communication and critical thinking while preparing students to evaluate and analyze many types of literature. The curricula emphasize teaching literary materials in conjunction with the college’s Christian values and ethics.
Language structure, literary theory, Shakespearean studies, language learning, and literary criticism are specialized topics in upper-division courses. While American literature, British literature, world literature, and global literary movements are topics covered in lower-division courses.
The English degree program can be completed in less than 16 months, thanks to the virtual learning coursework. Students must also take electives to learn about various genres, periods, and literary movements.
6. Southern New Hampshire University
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
This online Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature enhances students’ writing, critical thinking, and research skills through literary classics studies. The flexible online format makes it suitable for working adults. Coursework comprises three main foundational courses: literary theory, Shakespearean studies, and English language.
Students can choose from eight elective courses covering specialized literary topics, including contemporary fiction, Renaissance literature, and popular fiction. Candidates must attend poetry, playwriting, nonfiction, fiction, and creative writing workshops.
7. King University
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Explore the King University online Bachelor of Arts in English degree. The program’s goal is to provide a connection between literature and faith, emphasizing writing abilities and communication in the framework of literary study. It is excellent for students seeking secondary education certification. The course module is 124 credits of online curricula that includes 48 credits for major-related study.
The degree consists of 12 courses, including British romanticism, Christian imagination, Appalachian literature, and teenage literature. The online program prepares students for the English language secondary teaching licensing examination, allowing them to pursue careers in English teaching for grades 6 to 12.
Online students interested in obtaining licensure must complete a variety of course prerequisites and eight credits of the foreign language curriculum. A comprehensive exam and a portfolio of the student’s written work are necessary.
8. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Explore this online Bachelor of Arts in English degree! It introduces students to the practical and creative strategies related to literature. This major provides students with a broad emphasis on the effects of literature on modern cultures. Courses on modern world literature, pop fiction, literature, and myth are included as a part of the online English degree curriculum.
Women’s and cultural groups’ literary accomplishments are also honored. There are 43 English-major course credits in the 125-credit curriculum. The English coursework comprises advanced and introductory topics, providing students with a comprehensive overview of literary trends and specialized studies focused on various times, movements, and styles.
Candidates must complete a senior thesis or four-credit capstone course to graduate. The academic project consists of a three-credit preparation course and a one-credit thesis course that students can complete in two semesters.
9. University of Massachusetts – Lowell
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
The University of Massachusetts provides an online Bachelor of Arts in English degree to students worldwide. The objective of the academic degree is to establish in-depth knowledge associated with academic research, literary traditions, and analytical methods. The coursework also promotes writing proficiency, reading, and critical thinking. There are 120 course credits in the college’s English degree curriculum.
Classes establish a detailed understanding of the field of literature, with a focus on American and British literary traditions. Students must complete a significant author component, a program core, and a theory-composition track. One course in the theory-composition curriculum improves a student’s analytical perspective on language and literature. Also, the primary author route ensures that classic authors such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and others are continually studied.
The English elective courses cover a broader range of subject areas: literary traditions, history, genre, and regional movements. Their program covers in-depth topics in poetry, journalism, autobiography, comedy, and drama. Classes in post-colonial literature and LGBTQ+ literature place a greater emphasis on the works of underserved communities.
10. Mercy College
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
This school offers an online Bachelor of Arts in English degree to eligible students across different parts of the world. The English degree program is a 120-credit curriculum that focuses primarily on literature. Additionally, students can opt to add a four-credit Writing and Language track to their degree program. All candidates must complete foundational classes, 36 major-related credits, and two survey course modules in English literature.
Candidates must take a minimum of one course from the program’s four main elective course modules: literary genres, historical periods, classical texts, and cultural and social contexts. The university also offers a language and writing concentration. Students must complete 12 credits in writing, with options including an introduction to playwriting, applied English grammar, writing for the web, and business writing.
Bachelor’s Degree in English Careers
Earning a bachelor’s degree in English today can lead to career opportunities in communications, writing, teaching, and more. Modern salaries for English graduates’ job positions vary depending on region, company type and size, and experience level.
Here are examples of careers available to English majors, plus the average annual salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
Journalist, Reporter, or News Analyst – $48,370
A bachelor’s degree in English can lead to work as journalists, television news analysts, reporters, and correspondents. They develop new ideas for stories, perform vital research on them, and interview their primary sources. Also, they create content and ensure that the information they provide is up to date and valid.
Technical Writer – $78,060
English graduates also work as technical writers. They create instruction manuals to communicate complex pieces of information to product users.
Copywriter or Screenwriter – $69,510
English graduates can work as playwrights, composers, copywriters, screenwriters, authors, and writers. These fields are a good choice for English majors who enjoy the creative aspects of writing.
Middle or High School English Teacher – $61,820
Graduates of English can opt for a rewarding career role as Middle and High School English teachers. Most states will additionally require prospective teachers to have a degree or certification in teaching to qualify for these positions.
Start an Online English Bachelor’s Degree Today!
Now that you have been exposed to a comprehensive list of the top online colleges to obtain an English bachelor’s degree, you must take steps to accomplish your career goals and objectives. For working individuals aspiring to further their education to earn a bachelor’s in this field, the time is now for you to start.
GetEducated.com has even more educational resources that you can explore to gain deeper insights into other available academic degrees and opportunities in the distance learning environment.
FAQs on Online English Bachelor’s Degrees
What can you do with an Online English bachelor’s degree?
Graduates can convey messages that are in great demand. English professionals can also work in various departments in corporate organizations. Also, an English major can freelance, offering private writing services to firms and organizations.
Is a degree in English a BS or a BA?
Both bachelor’s of science and bachelor’s of arts are options for English degrees. While both paths have similar courses, the learning results are different. A bachelor’s of science degree in English places a greater emphasis on professional writing classes.
Alternatively, a bachelor’s of arts degree allows you to focus more on the creative and literary aspects of writing and the English language. Therefore, candidates should examine their career ambitions before deciding on the programs to choose between the two.
What kind of jobs can I get with an English undergraduate degree?
Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in English can pursue many rewarding careers. Candidates should consider what disciplines interest them and then look for available jobs that meet their preferences. Worldwide, English graduates frequently work as editors, grant writers, copywriters, technical writers, teachers, and journalists.
Are English graduates in demand?
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in English can work in various fields. As just one example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for English as Second Language (ESL) teachers was $59,720 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,530, and the highest ten percent earned over $96,550. Also, the employment of English teachers is estimated to grow eight percent from 2020 to 2030.
What is the cost of an online English bachelor’s degree?
Different factors determine the total cost of an online English bachelor’s degree. An online bachelor’s degree in English typically costs between $180 to $650 per credit hour. Students will mostly pay between $20,000 and $74,000 as tuition fees throughout the program.
What is the average time to complete an online bachelor’s degree in English?
On average, students must finish 120 credits to earn an English bachelor’s degree online. Undergraduate students can complete their academic degree program online in four years with a full-time course load of 12 or more credits per semester. Part-time students will require additional time to complete the major. At the same time, accelerated programs can allow students to finish the program in less than four years.