The strength of the Literary Studies program is that students acquire and develop skills--writing, editing, speaking, analysis, argumentation, and research--which are highly prized by employers in many different fields.

Writing, editing, and speaking skills have always been and continue to be highly marketable: all organizations and companies need people who can communicate effectively with customers, clients, employees, partners, and competitors.

Our majors also have experience analyzing data and solving problems not only independently but also in teams; they are therefore able to demonstrate both initiative and cooperation.

Furthermore, in the new information economy, we encourage our majors to think of themselves as information analysts: people with experience gathering, synthesizing, analyzing, and critiquing various kinds of information.

Armed with these essential and transferable skills, graduates of the Literary Studies program find themselves in the enviable position of choosing among multiple career opportunities, rather than being forced into a particular line of work.

For example, recent graduates of the program now work in the following capacities:

• Press aide for a state governor
• Attorney
• High school teacher
• Assistant newpaper editor
• Law clerk
• Technical writer
• Lead administrative assistant for an executive recruitment agency
• Copywriter for an advertising agency
• Customer service representative for a state university
• Research assistant for a consulting business
• Proposal writer for an employee benefits management firm
• English teacher for the Peace Corps in Africa
• Public relations and advertising manager of a retail company
• Community college teacher
• Freelance writer
• Administrative assistant for a city convention and visitors bureau

A Literary Studies degree also opens doors to further graduate studies in many different fields at the best schools in the country. For example, recent graduates of the program have attended or now attend the following graduate programs:

• Duke University, Law School
• Georgetown University, English Literature
• University of Oregon, Clinical Psychology
• Penn State University, American Literature
• Oberlin College, Conservatory of Music
• University of Colorado, English Literature
• University of Utah, Law School
• Utah State University, Technical Writing
• University of Arizona, Creative Writing
• Baylor University, Law School
• University of Utah, English Literature
• University of Mississippi, American Literature