A literature degree is about more than just reading books. It’s a deep dive into the rich past of prominent people, a rewind along the film lens. It’s also a preparation for the new and exciting forms of media and content creation.
With a major in literature, you can carve out a unique career path in fields you may not have considered before, especially in the fast-evolving media landscape. From podcasting and film-making to business and marketing, you’ll get to apply your creative and analytical thinking to develop original storytelling narratives.
We’ve outlined what a major in literature gives you, and some of the many potential career paths it can open up.
What do you learn in a Literature major?
Your love for Franz Kafka or Aldous Huxley may have sparked your interest in a literature degree, but that’s only the opening scene of what the major might bring you.
Beyond the wide range of interesting courses offered, you’ll also master essential soft skills often associated with the humanities.
“The feedback we get from students is always that they come out of the programme equipped with the skills to be able to hold their own, whichever school or profession they’re in,” said Dr. Sean Homer, Professor in Literature at AUBG.
Is a literature major worth it?
A degree in literature makes you stand out in a pool of generative content.
“I think particularly with the development of AI, writing is going to become even more important,” said Professor Homer. “The people who use AI to generate everything are not going to be the entrepreneurs or the innovators of the future.”
“Those students who have the ability to still write, to present, and to use these things creatively are going to be the innovators,” he explained. This makes the reading and writing skills taught in the major applicable across the board.
While AI is destroying some areas, others are becoming more essential than ever, and new opportunities are emerging. “These are the areas where a major in literature can give you a significant advantage,” added Professor Homer.
Career paths in literature
One of the beauties of the liberal arts education is that you can combine seemingly incompatible majors.
“I think it’s interesting when someone does computer science and literature,” said Professor Homer. “These combinations are the ones that mark out students as interesting and make them stand out in the job market.”
There are also literature degree combinations with clear synergies that are just as important and future-proof, such as literature with psychology, JMC, or creative writing.
“We’ve recently had graduates go to podcasting, become film critics, and write content for online. It’s a very broad range of areas that you can go into, alongside the traditional areas of teaching and academia,” noted professor Homer.
Here are some of the unique and traditional career paths you can take with a degree in literature.
Writing and editing
Having studied the works of literary geniuses and having mastered the elements of languages, including style, tone, and structure, literature majors make strong writers and editors.
Career opportunities include academic and creative writing, copywriting and content creation, technical and grant writing, as well as editing and proofreading.
Compatible skills and majors/minors: journalism and mass communication, creative writing, modern languages and cultures, history and civilizations
Narrative designer
Storytelling is at the heart of every brand and product. Companies seek compelling narratives for websites, social media, and digital platforms.
Narrative designers are also in demand in video games and virtual worlds production, where their rich literary knowledge helps them create immersive storylines.
Compatible skills and majors/minors: game design, visual communication, integrated marketing communications, product design, creative writing
Careers in business
At a glance, business might seem outlandish for a literature major; however it relies on the same skills taught in a literature degree.
“The kinds of analytical skills that you get through a literature degree prepare you well for working in the areas of business,” said professor Homer. “If you want to be an entrepreneur, if you want to be an innovator, you need to be able to think critically.”
Literature graduates can excel in business analytics, corporate communications, human resources, consulting, business development, and project management.
Compatible skills and majors/minors: business administration, integrated marketing communications, economics, human resources, entrepreneurship
Careers in publishing
Publishing remains a natural career path for literature majors. The world of publishing is evolving fast, with electronic and audio books becoming popular, and with innovations reshaping the publishing industry.
Luckily, interest in the written world is still strong, so graduates can build rewarding careers as literary agents, productions managers, editors, distributors, booksellers, marketers, and book designers.
Compatible skills and majors/minors: business administration, journalism and mass communication, project management, design and visual arts
Film and television
Screen art is a natural extension of literary works. Words become alive in films and TV series through elevated audio-visual storytelling. By studying novels, plays, and poetry, literature students can apply their sense of structure, character development, and dialogue to roles in film and television.
These include screenwriting, film criticism, production assistance, and script translation, and can even directing, cinematography, and producing.
Compatible skills and majors/minors: film and creative media, fine arts, film and theatre studies, screenwriting, film analysis
Translation and interpretation
Literature major students possess the ability to work with language, to dissect it, interpret it, and manipulate it in beautiful ways. This makes them great candidates for translation and interpretation.
Their knowledge of literary works and language nuances gives them an edge. Being fluent in additional foreign language is big plus.
Compatible skills and majors/minors: modern languages and cultures, journalism and mass communication, political science and international relations
Marketing and communications
Apart from great writers, literature majors can also be excellent marketers. Their ability to craft persuasive messages, understand audiences, and think analytically make them strong candidates for roles in social media management, copywriting, advertising, branding, and performance marketing.
Compatible skills and majors/minors: integrated marketing communications, journalism and mass communication, content creation, visual communication, data analytics
Studying a major in literature allows you to pursue many different careers. Whether you dream of writing novels or leading marketing campaigns, your literary knowledge and flair for language will come in handy.
