Do you swoon over "Wuthering Heights" and go crazy for "Les Miserables"? Good literature can open doors to new worlds and allow you to travel through time, space, and distance without leaving the comfort of your arm chair. If that's something you love, than English literature schools might be the place for you. These novels and more are what students read, discuss, and interpret in English literature colleges. Students who study English literature can go on to teach, write, review books, or work in any number of writing and editing related careers.

Students at English literature schools take courses that introduce them to different genres of literature such as Victorian literature, early American literature, and writings from the beat generation. Some courses will ask students to compare literature, while others will be more focused around analysis and writing. In some English literature colleges, students choose a specialization to focus on.

Graduates of English literature colleges can use their bachelor's degree, coupled with a teaching certificate, to teach at the elementary and secondary school levels. For students with more advanced degrees, there are opportunities at the university and college levels to teach as well. English literature schools also prepare students for careers as writers and editors for publishing houses, jobs in public relations and marketing and journalism.

Get Immersed in Literature!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job opportunities for teachers at the postsecondary level (that is universities, colleges, community colleges, and trade schools) is expected to grow by 23 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is considerably larger than the average growth of occupations. More than 380,000 new jobs are anticipated for teachers at that level. English literature teachers at the post-secondary school level earn a median income of $56,380, with some earning more than $100,000. Meanwhile, writers and authors make a median income of $53,070 and editors make a median income of $49,990.

Students at English literature colleges take several literature courses each semester and read many books. The classes will each focus on a central theme or genre, and the books will fall into that. In class, students will discuss what they've read, looking at themes, character development, writing styles and more. In comparative literature courses, students will compare different books, sometimes from completely different genres. In addition to discussing in class, students will also be asked to think critically and write essays and papers on various subjects relating to the literature they are reading. Students in undergraduate programs also take core courses in science, math and other subjects.

English literature schools offer associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and Ph.Ds., though not all schools will offer all of those degrees. For academic positions, a more advanced degree is required. For advanced degrees, students may also be required to student teach courses with a seasoned professor at English literature schools. Are you ready to embark on a challenging path studying literature at an English literature college? Find the right program for you now!