What major can I apply to an American university after graduating from a college English major?

English majors can apply for a wide range of master's programs, such as Master of Arts (Master of Arts), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts Fine arts (MFA), Master of Law (LLM), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Education (M Ed), Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Tourism and Hospitality Management), and even computer information, etc. It is important that students make correct plans early based on their own personality and future employment direction.

Currently, many American college students have two majors. Chinese English majors should also prepare for a double major or obtain a second professional degree early in college in preparation for applying to graduate school or entering the university. In the job market, apply to graduate school after gaining experience (for example, many MBAs have more than two years of work experience). American universities grant nearly 500,000 master's degrees every year, and master's degrees take about one to three years; and 50,000 doctoral degrees are awarded every year.

The following is a detailed introduction to the majors suitable for English majors to apply for graduate study in the United States:

Graduate admission in the United States usually requires students to have relevant professional backgrounds. Note that it is relevant, not limiting. For a certain major, this provides convenient conditions for English major graduates who seem to have no major. As long as they are good at making use of the characteristics and strengths of this major, there are basically no obstacles to application and admission. In addition, I need to remind everyone that although American universities are highly open to majors and have an extremely wide range of majors, the greater the span between disciplines, the more difficult it is to apply and enroll, and it is also more difficult to graduate. Based on various factors, majors suitable for English majors can be roughly divided into the following categories:

(1) Literature

Although English is not a major, language Literature, the carrier, is a professional field that many universities spend time and energy studying. If you are a literary youth and are also interested in American literature, you can choose this major. The specific research directions are subdivided into: British literature, American literature, non-American literature, gender and literature, literary criticism and theory, Renaissance literature, etc. If you are determined to make achievements in the field of literature, then you need to supplement a lot of extracurricular reading during your undergraduate studies, preferably original English works. In addition, it is also very necessary to read through the Bible, Greek mythology, Roman mythology, British and American history, etc. After all, to understand the author's ideological connotation through words requires a deep understanding of Western ways of thinking and values.

(2) Linguistics

English linguistics must be a required course that every English major student will be exposed to. Many students feel that this course is very boring. If you I have never found these theories obscure and difficult to understand. If I want to deeply explore the English language itself, as well as its structure, application, social functions and historical development, then linguistics is undoubtedly a good choice.

Through the study of linguistics, you will have a new understanding of English. At the same time, the relevant research results of linguistics will also have a profound impact on the field of education, especially English education. The research fields of American linguistics include: history of linguistics, phonetics, semantics, syntax, grammar, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, psycholinguistics, second language acquisition theory, computer linguistics and artificial intelligence, etc.

If you want to study for a master's degree/doctoral degree in linguistics, a single basic course in linguistics is not enough. Therefore, you must take other core courses in linguistics and read some Research papers and journals to form your own views and opinions on specific fields and research issues. It would be great if you can publish a few papers.

(3) Translation

Translation is a very popular profession in recent years. This is not unrelated to the shortage of domestic professional translation talents and the good employment opportunities.

The translation major in the United States is mainly divided into: Translation and Interpretation

Translation: students are required to have good literary skills and master a large number of English vocabulary, and the courses are mostly focused on The study of translation theory, such as: advanced translation, translation history, translation theory and practice, cultural conversion issues, etc.

Interpretation: Focus on cultivating senior simultaneous interpretation talents. According to statistics, now domestically, they can serve as large-scale conference interpreters/ There are only 200 simultaneous interpreters nationwide, and the salary calculation method is mostly based on minutes. However, the interpretation major has very high requirements for students' English speaking and listening skills, so it is suitable for students with excellent English skills to apply.

To sum up, whether it is a translation or interpretation major, the requirements for applicants to master English are very high, and English major students, after 4 years of professional study, have better English proficiency than other majors. Major students have obvious advantages, so more and more students choose to go abroad to receive professional training in translation.

Compared with the United Kingdom and Australia, there are not many schools offering translation majors in the United States, and competition is very fierce.

(4) Education

In China, English seems to be inextricably linked to education. Many English major graduates dream of or have already struggled to get a career in education and teaching. One line. However, as teaching positions become increasingly saturated, it becomes increasingly difficult for English major graduates to directly become teachers. It is out of attachment and admiration for "the most glorious profession under the sun" that many English major graduates choose Study in the United States to learn more advanced teaching methods.

American education is a very large concept, which can usually be subdivided into the following directions:

1. Macro-pedagogy

1) Educational Anthropology Anthropology of Education, mainly studies the origins of inequality in education (such as race, gender, social class, etc.)

2) Comparative and International Education, mainly studies the education policies of countries around the world, and compares Study the impact of politics, economy, religion, language, geographical environment, etc. on education policy.

3) Economics of Education, mainly studies economic issues in education

4) History of Education

5) Education policy research Education Policy STUdies, starring in the study of the interactive relationship between education policy and society, politics, and economy

2. School management direction

1) Educational Administration and Leadership, main research Management of schools, educational institutions and non-profit organizations

2) Curriculum studies CirrICULUm Studies, mainly researching curriculum theory and issues in curriculum settings

3. Teaching direction

1) Learning and Teaching, which mainly studies issues and phenomena that arise in the teaching process, such as curriculum development, educational philosophy, teacher roles, human development, educational technology, and students of different races, religious beliefs, and social classes. Problems encountered in learning, etc.

2) Subject education, such as mathematics, history, geography, art, music, etc.

3) Teaching objects, such as preschool education, primary education, secondary education, adult education

4) Special education, educational methods for groups with special educational needs, such as: education for the deaf, education for the mentally retarded, education for extraordinary children, education for language barriers, education for the disabled, etc.

4. Psychology Direction

1) Human Development and Psychology

2) Childhood Studies

3) Educational Psychology

5. Educational technology direction

Technology in Education, mainly studies new technologies to assist teaching

From the perspective of educational classification, American education has many interdisciplinary subjects. It is very well integrated with other majors. That is to say, in addition to studying education-related courses, students also need to have professional backgrounds in sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, computer science, etc. Therefore, it is really suitable for English majors. Most of the courses focus on school management and education and teaching. In addition, the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) major must be mentioned. This major is very popular among international students. After returning to China, graduates often work in universities or English training institutions, becoming a major foreign language training industry in China in recent years. The backbone has made great contributions to the popularization of foreign languages ??in China. Precisely due to the characteristics of the TESOL major, the U.S. visa approval rate is surprisingly high, and the visa officer will not consider the applicant's immigration tendency at all.

(5) Media

The scientific definition of media should be accurate, timely and comprehensive information discovery and dissemination. The media mentioned here should be clearly defined as mass media, that is: ordinary Information media used by the public include: newspapers, magazines, television, radio, movies, books, audio and video products, the Internet, etc.

Media majors in the United States can be roughly divided into:

1. Traditional journalism, such as reporters, editors, and writers. This type of major requires applicants to have an undergraduate background. It is not strict, but you must have good writing skills.

2. Marketing and advertising, such as brand planning, advertising, etc. These majors are mostly interdisciplinary subjects with business, and are courses that focus on media operations.

3. Mass media, such as: publishing houses, TV stations, online new media, etc.

4. Public relations, such as: public relations personnel, enterprises, government departments, etc. Staff, this type of major is an interdisciplinary subject between media, sociology, and political science. It is suitable for Chinese students who want to engage in administrative work or become civil servants in the future. Applicants are best to have a related background in sociology or political science.

Media majors, whether it is early interviews or later writing work, require applicants to have good English expression skills, especially speaking and writing. Moreover, media majors usually require applicants to have good English expression skills. There are no restrictions or regulations on background, and students are allowed to apply for changing majors. Therefore, the media field is very suitable for English majors. However, such majors also have unusually high requirements for students' English proficiency. Therefore, they must strengthen their daily English learning. In particular, Chinese students are generally weak in speaking and writing.

(6) Business

Business is probably the most popular major among Chinese students. About half of Chinese students studying abroad choose to study business in the United States. There are many business courses in the United States, including several major categories: accounting, finance, marketing, international trade, entrepreneurship, business management, human resources management, management information systems, logistics, MBA, non-profit organization management, hotel management Etc.

In business courses, except for accounting and finance, which have relatively strict undergraduate background requirements, other majors can basically accept applications for changing majors, but applicants need to check the school’s specific admission requirements, including Work experience, required university courses, etc. Generally speaking, if you have the time and opportunity, you must take elective courses such as calculus and statistics during your undergraduate studies. Don’t wait until you apply to find out that you have never taken these courses at all. , but regrettably missed out on my ideal university.

(7) Law

When it comes to the major of law, I think many people will be surprised. So why do students majoring in English choose to study law in the United States?

First of all, let’s learn about some legal majors in the United States. There is no law major in American undergraduates. Therefore, American students who aspire to be lawyers usually major in English or history as undergraduates. . Because to be a lawyer, you must be very smooth-talking, eloquent, and have a mouth that can kill people. Good eloquence is a prerequisite for becoming a lawyer

Furthermore, American law degrees can be divided into LLM, commonly known as Master of Laws, and JD, Master of Laws. The most suitable choice for English major students is JD. This major itself does not require students to have a professional background, and you can apply with a complete "zero foundation". However, lawyers are a job that Americans are fascinated by, and the competitive pressure can be imagined for international students. Know. In terms of mastering English, especially speaking, you need to reach or be close to the level of a native speaker, otherwise there is basically no hope of admission. Don't hope that the school will provide you with a period of language courses, that is absolutely impossible. In addition, if you want to apply for JD, you must prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and find some professionals in the legal industry to help you make recommendations.

It can be said that English majors will have a long and arduous road ahead when applying for JD, but once they succeed, their future will undoubtedly be much brighter...