English Associate Degree Program

Pursue your passion

With a degree in English, you can pursue a career in teaching and scholarship, creative writing, publishing, advertising, law, journalism, information technology, public relations, corporate communications, professional editing, technical writing, and many other communication-based fields.

The Associate of Arts program at Harper College prepares you to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree in a range of fields. The following degrees are typically offered by English departments at colleges and universities: English (Literature), creative writing and teaching of English.

Start at Harper. Finish at a four-year university.

The Associate in Arts (AA) degree prepares you to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor's degree in English or related major. Speak with your advisor about the best courses to take to meet your academic goals.

Associate in Arts—English Sample Transfer Plan

Harper also offers institution-specific transfer information to help prepare you to transition to a four-year university. To learn more, visit our Transfer Information page or see your advisor

Explore English Careers

Learn more about career outcomes for Harper's English degree program. Each career profile offers a complete picture on the local job market, including salaries, open positions, top local employers and more. To learn more, visit our English Careers page.

Editors

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Editors career profile for most current data.

$62,051
Median Salary

-7%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

122
Job Postings

Description:

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

Core tasks:

Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.

Quick facts:

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary career profile for most current data.

$77,609
Median Salary

2.2%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

32
Job Postings

Description:

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Core tasks:

Teach writing or communication classes.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

Quick facts:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists career profile for most current data.

$74,774
Median Salary

4.6%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

1,600
Job Postings

Description:

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

Core tasks:

Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction.

Quick facts:

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers career profile for most current data.

$51,033
Median Salary

5.1%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

0
Job Postings

Description:

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

Core tasks:

Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.
Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.

Quick facts:

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Proofreaders and Copy Markers career profile for most current data.

$44,459
Median Salary

-3.2%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

3
Job Postings

Description:

Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.

Core tasks:

Mark copy to indicate and correct errors in type, arrangement, grammar, punctuation, or spelling, using standard printers' marks.
Read corrected copies or proofs to ensure that all corrections have been made.
Correct or record omissions, errors, or inconsistencies found.
Compare information or figures on one record against same data on other records, or with original copy, to detect errors.

Quick facts:

Public Relations Specialists

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Public Relations Specialists career profile for most current data.

$71,359
Median Salary

2.4%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

346
Job Postings

Description:

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

Core tasks:

Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.

Quick facts:

Search Marketing Strategists

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Search Marketing Strategists career profile for most current data.

$74,774
Median Salary

4.6%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

92
Job Postings

Description:

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

Core tasks:

Participate in the development or implementation of online marketing strategy.
Collect and analyze Web metrics, such as visits, time on site, page views per visit, transaction volume and revenue, traffic mix, click-through rates, conversion rates, cost per acquisition, or cost per click.
Manage tracking and reporting of search-related activities and provide analyses to marketing executives.
Optimize digital assets, such as text, graphics, or multimedia assets, for search engine optimization (SEO) or for display and usability on internet-connected devices.

Quick facts:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education career profile for most current data.

$80,358
Median Salary

1.9%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

1,460
Job Postings

Description:

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

Core tasks:

Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.

Quick facts:

Technical Writers

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Technical Writers career profile for most current data.

$83,469
Median Salary

2.8%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

109
Job Postings

Description:

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

Core tasks:

Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.

Quick facts:

Writers and Authors

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Writers and Authors career profile for most current data.

$51,033
Median Salary

5.1%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

252
Job Postings

Description:

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

Core tasks:

Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
Present drafts and ideas to clients.

Quick facts:

Resources

For more information about starting your college education at Harper, please contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our request information form.