We’re back with five more feminist writers who changed history. If you didn’t catch our first list, you can find it here.
History is replete with authors and poets who turned pain into prose, giving voice to the women of their time. There are so many feminist writers worth mentioning (and reading); we couldn’t possibly get to all of them, but this list should tide you over until next time. If not, stick around to learn what to do with your insatiable appetite for literature.
At her Paris salon at 27 rue de Fleurus, Gertrude Stein hosted the likes of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and other now-famous American authors she dubbed “the lost generation.” Yet Stein is anything but a supporting character in history.
Her work was fragmented and experimental, reflecting the avant-garde art of her time and the paintings of her friend Pablo Picasso. Lines like “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” from her 1913 poem “Sacred Emily” confounded audiences and critics alike. However, as evidenced by her bestselling book “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas”—which took the form of an “autobiography” written by Stein’s life partner—Stein had mastered traditional writing; she was preoccupied with turning the literary world on its head.
At the start of her journalistic career, Gloria Steinem was relegated to writing lifestyle articles for “the women’s pages.” Whenever she pitched a political story, her editor would shoot her down, telling her, “I don’t think of you that way.”
Steinem ultimately gained national attention with “A Bunny’s Tale,” a 1963 exposé detailing her grueling experience going undercover as a Playboy Bunny. She’s since devoted her life to political activism, using her platform to report on social issues, particularly women’s rights, around the world. Steinem has received numerous accolades throughout her storied career, perhaps none as prestigious as the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. (Click here to watch the electric reading of the then-22-year-old’s original work “The Hill We Climb.”) Gorman has gone on to author poetry collections and a children’s book, and we can’t wait to see what she what she does next.
When the Swedish Academy awarded Toni Morrison the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 (Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the award), they noted that, through her novels, she is able to “give life to an essential aspect of American reality.”
Works like “Beloved,” a staple of high-school English classes everywhere, use magical realism, poetic prose, and nonlinear storytelling to convey the lasting effects of past trauma. Morrison was not as prolific as some of the other writers on our list (she authored 11 novels), but her books were both a critical and commercial success: a rare feat for any author.
“The Bell Jar,” published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas, is the only novel authored by Sylvia Plath, but that’s all it took for this feminist writer to make history. “The Bell Jar” parallels Plath’s personal life, chronicling a young woman’s struggle with depression and search for her place in the world.
Plath took her life on February 11, 1963. Volumes of her poems were published posthumously. Her work, which consisted of playful prose depicting violent imagery, has inspired a new generation of female authors. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1982, becoming the first person to receive the award posthumously.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” was an award-winning novel by Margaret Atwood long before it was a hit TV series. Although this dystopian novel about life for women under a totalitarian theocracy is her claim to fame, Atwood has authored over 50 books, including works of fiction, nonfiction, selections of poetry, and graphic novels. Like some of the other feminist writers on our list, Atwood can’t be pigeonholed into a single genre or writing medium.
The Handmaid’s Tale was supposed to be a work of fiction. But with reality starting to resemble the novel’s grim take on the future, Atwood’s prophetic work has become a call to defend women’s rights and illustrates the importance of feminist literature.
What do all the women on our list have in common, other than their mastery of written language? They all received a formal education. In fact, Toni Morrison and Margaret Atwood both earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. We like to think their love of literature only grew in the classroom.
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers a 100% online BA in English program that instills a deep understanding of American and British literature. As a student, you’ll strengthen your knowledge of the English language through the study of plays, poetry, novels, and mythology. 18th Century Women Poets is only one of the online courses you can look forward to in our bachelor’s degree program.
Earn your BA in English and prepare for a career in copywriting, editing, teaching, or journalism. Visit our program page to learn more about our flexible online format, up-to-date course offerings, and affordable tuition options. Apply now if you’re ready to follow in the footsteps of your favorite feminist writers.
Sources:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gertrude-stein
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gertrude-Stein
http://www.gloriasteinem.com/about
https://www.theamandagorman.com/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/06/books/toni-morrison-dead.html
https://poets.org/poet/sylvia-plath
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sylvia-Plath
http://margaretatwood.ca/biography/
If you’ve ever texted ‘LOL’ or used the word ‘selfie,’ you’ve participated in history. The English language has never stood still. Every generation leaves its mark, from Shakespeare’s coinages to social media slang.
Language is ever-changing, and nowhere is that clearer than in the evolution of the English language. Additions like “blousette,” “gatekeep,” and “pumpkin spice” may seem inappropriate to traditionalists but are quaint in comparison to the words and phrases of Old English, the earliest form of the English language.
The history of the English language is punctuated by violent conquests, blending cultures, and intellectual enlightenment. It’s a fascinating story, one without a clear beginning or end. We do, however, have to start somewhere.
Here’s how the English language evolved throughout history, starting with its first main period: Old English.
To understand the history of the English language, we have to travel back to the fifth and sixth centuries, when the Jutes, Saxons, and Angles (known collectively as the Anglo-Saxons) settled in England. Their dialects formed the earliest version of English—what we now call Old English.
Each tribe spoke a distinct dialect similar enough for members of different tribes to understand each other. The four dialects spoken by the Anglo-Saxons are:
English continued to evolve as other languages and cultures were introduced to the Anglo-Saxons. St. Augustine arrived at the end of the sixth century, leading to the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity and the influence of writing and Latin on their language.
Vikings speaking Old Norse invaded in the eighth century, influencing the evolution of the English language. Old English and Old Norse were similar enough for speakers to understand each other, but encounters like these reveal how the English language has changed over time.
Still, these early forms would be unrecognizable to modern-day English speakers—a fascinating chapter in the history of the English language.
How foreign can Old English really be? Take a look at the opening lines and translation of the epic poem “Beowulf,” which was composed by an unknown author sometime between the 7th and 11th centuries:
You could argue that English got its start in the ninth century, when England became a unified kingdom under King Alfred the Great. At the time, Viking raids were seen as a form of divine punishment for sins stemming from ignorance.
So, Alfred, along with a group of scholars, translated Latin books into West Saxon and distributed them to his people. West Saxon became standard Old English: the first standard language of England.
William the Conqueror, leading an army of French-speaking Normans, invaded England in 1066 and defeated King Harold Godwinson to become king. As a result of the Norman Conquest, three languages gained dominance: Anglo-Norman French (spoken by the elite), English (spoken by the general populace), and Latin.
Latin was the language of learning throughout Western Europe and became the standard language in England after the Conquest. When Latin wasn’t appropriate, French was spoken.
This period is known as the Interregnum (“between reigns”) and lasted from about 1250 to 1400. English ceased to be a written language, and the establishment of a standard English was, for a time, abandoned.
Taking place sometime between the 14th and 17th centuries, the Great Vowel Shift was a phenomenon that changed the pronunciation of English vowels, specifically “long” vowels.
For example, the /a:/ became /e:/ so that the “a” in “name” was no longer pronounced like the “a” in “father.” If you come across a word that’s pronounced nothing like it’s spelled, thank the Great Vowel Shift.
As French and Latin waned in popularity, there was a push in the 16th century to make English England’s national language. Writers and scholars set to work establishing a written standard, one founded not on West Saxon but on the varieties of English spoken throughout London.
All attempts to codify English failed until Samuel Johnson published “A Dictionary of the English Language” in 1775. Other dictionaries came before, but none contained such elegant definitions or detailed quotations, and its principles would influence later dictionaries for the next century. Johnson saw fit to define only the general vocabulary of his time, a view his successors did not share.
At the behest of the Philological Society of London, the Oxford University Press and James Murray began work on a “complete” dictionary in 1879. Murray and his editors may have bitten off more than they could chew, however; it took them five years to reach the word “ant.”
Completed in 1928, the first copy of “A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles” spanned 12 volumes, defined 414,825 words, and contained 1,827,306 citations. A revised and second edition were published in 1933 and 1989, respectively. We now know this reference work as the Oxford English Dictionary.
Countless plays, poems, and novels have been written in English since the time of “Beowulf.” With every new work published, the language evolves, no doubt to the delight of dictionary editors. This does, however, make mastering its principles a challenge—but one that’s rewarding for lovers of language and literature.
The story of English is still being written, and you can be part of it. If you love exploring how words evolve, consider deepening your knowledge through one of UT Permian Basin’s online English programs.
UTPB offers two online English programs that provide students with a deep understanding of American and British literature in preparation for academic, legal, writing, and marketing careers. Affordable and online, our programs cater to professionals from around the country who are interested in turning their passion for English into a worthwhile career.
Our online English programs are:
Visit our program pages to learn more about or online BA and MA in English, or if you’re ready to get started, apply now to your program of choice. You’ll find yourself in the company of readers, writers, and grammarians at UT Permian Basin.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language/Historical-background
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hyFIEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR6&dq=history+of+the+english+language&ots=Ucq0fIUiFL&sig=Guf14Hiyx9-53WEoUcK6s2uP3AE#v=onepage&q&f=false
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43521/beowulf-old-english-version
https://www.britannica.com/topic/A-Dictionary-of-the-English-Language-by-Johnson
Are you fascinated by vampires, haunted houses, or the macabre? If you nodded at any of those horror tropes, chances are you’ve encountered (or at least heard of) Gothic literature. From the timeless terror of “Frankenstein” to modern-day Gothic thrills like “The Haunting of Hill House,” Gothic literature draws us into the creepy underbelly of…
More than 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide. So, how did English become the “international language?” It didn’t happen overnight. English is closely tied to major historic events, trends, inventions, and media that connect the world today. How English Became a Global Language Today, English boasts the most speakers globally. But how did its reach come…
Many of us have experienced misunderstandings due to miscommunication. For example, you might ask your partner to help with a chore around the house, shouting, “Can I get a hand?” They reply, “Be there in a minute!” But five minutes later, you’re frustrated—because to you, “a minute” means exactly 60 seconds, while to them, it…
The American continent before European contact was home to around 60 million people, with up to 18 million living in North America and divided into more than 500 diverse nations and tribes. The westward expansion of incoming European settlers who coveted the rich resources and fertile land in North America resulted in a purge of most indigenous nations, driving them into either reservations or extinction.
This dramatic shift in the lives of Native American people is chronicled in an online course from The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Master of Arts in History program entitled HIST 6341: Native North America: Contact to Removal. Read on for a preview of what you’ll learn in this rich online course and how to join your fellow historians in earning your graduate degree from UTPB.
The Paleo-Indians migrated to the North American continent from Asia around 40,000 to 14,000 years ago and developed into diverse cultures. These communities were thousands of years old by the time Europeans arrived. While tribes like the Lakota of the Great Plains remained semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, the indigenous nations of the Midwest were urbanized engineers and traders. The Iroquois League that formed as a confederacy in the Northeast is the oldest participatory democracy still in existence today.
Cahokia, an ancient city that was located in modern-day Illinois, was the largest and most sophisticated urban center until the rise of large midwestern cities in the 18th century. At its height, this complex built by the Mississippian culture was a metropolis made of plazas, monuments, shops, ball fields, a solar calendar, and middle-class and elite neighborhoods.
When European settlers arrived as early as 1000 A.D., many indigenous people welcomed them with caution and hospitality. Every part of the country was bustling with autonomous nations when Christopher Columbus laid claim to the land in 1492.
Although some tribes had strained relationships with colonists, others traded and helped struggling settlements. In 1621, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people shared a harvest feast that was later declared a U.S. holiday: Thanksgiving. The discovery of abundant resources and farmable land, however, started an ever-moving trek by the U.S. government to expand westward that quickly complicated and strained Native and European relations. Officials frequently broke treaties to gain access to the coveted land, and many spread propaganda that depicted the indigenous nations as backward and barbaric.
Indigenous people were ordered to Americanize through “civilization programs” and adopt Western religion and culture. Many resisted, resulting in hundreds of years of war. Epidemics like smallpox, brought by infected settlers, may have caused a mortality rate of up to 95% among the indigenous population.
Despite ongoing treaties and meetings between indigenous nations and the U.S. government, the expansion of the United States into Native land occurred much faster than expected, and the first reservation was established in 1786. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 displaced Natives out west, which many tribes resisted. Approximately 4,000 Cherokee died on a forced march now known as “The Trail of Tears.”
1890’s infamous Battle of Wounded Knee was a result of U.S. officials banning a growing religion called the Ghost Dance. The resulting massacre killed 150 Sioux and marked an end to armed Native resistance against the United States.
“The land is sacred. These words are at the core of your being. The land is our mother, the rivers our blood. Take our land away, and we die. That is, the Indian in us dies.”
By 1900, only 237,000 indigenous people remained. Indigenous people living on reservations today are challenged by barren lands, poor living conditions, a struggle to retain their identities and way of life, and a lack of government assistance. Reservations often serve as radioactive dumping grounds, accounting for high cancer rates among the population.
Graduate students interested in this subject and pursuing a Master of Arts will want to consider enrolling in Native America: Contact to Removal (HIST 6341) as part of UTPB’s online MA in history program.
HIST 6341 confronts the challenging history of American settler-colonialism. You’ll take a detailed look at North America before European contact, the period of indigenous removal and extermination, and how indigenous tribes adapted and persisted. Students will also learn how the inclusion of ethnohistory—the study of cultures and indigenous peoples’ customs—changes the master narrative of our history books. HIST 6341 is taught entirely online and asynchronously, meaning you can study anywhere and anytime you want.
Our online MA in history program prepares you to think critically and analyze how our past shapes who we are today, including how we can understand and prevent repeating tragedies like the Native American genocide. The skills you’ll learn are applicable across multiple career paths like management, politics, teaching, writing, and law enforcement. Our program is affordable, flexible, and there’s no GRE requirement for admission. Earn your master’s degree in as little as two years!
Become a force for change and a leader in any profession. Join the Falcon Family!
Sources:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171896/pre-colonization-population-americas/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Native-American/Native-American-history
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/202203/t20220302_10647120.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnohistory
https://www.worldhistory.org/Pre-Colonial_North_America/
https://www.ncpedia.org/american-indians/european-contact
The Harlem Renaissance wasn’t just an artistic movement: It was a cultural revolution that redefined Black identity in America. In the 1920s, Harlem became the epicenter of a creative explosion in literature, music, and art, as Black Americans sought new opportunities and self-expression. The movement gave rise to legendary figures like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Duke Ellington whose influence still shapes American culture today.
But what sparked this extraordinary era of innovation? What led to its decline? And how did it transform Harlem and beyond? Below, we explore the forces that fueled the Harlem Renaissance and the lasting impact it left on the world.
By the 1920s, the American economy was booming. American youth rebelled against pre-war cultural conventions and rigid traditions with the rise of speakeasies, short hairstyles, and, of course, jazz—a genre deeply rooted in African American musical traditions. Created through a fusion of ragtime and blues, jazz was more than just music: It was an expression of freedom and cultural defiance.
While Harlem was originally intended as an upper-class white neighborhood, excess housing left many buildings empty. This opportunity appealed to Black New Yorkers and those fleeing oppression in the South.
As Harlem filled with musicians, poets, and artists, it became the heartbeat of the Jazz Age. Legendary venues like the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom hosted performers such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith, shaping the sound of a generation. Harlem had become the center of a movement that redefined American culture, bringing African American artistry to the mainstream while challenging racial barriers.
The flourishing new music, art, fashion, and theater scene quickly translated to the literary world. Alain Locke published his famous work “The New Negro” in Harlem in 1925, which featured a collection of stories by African Americans that detailed their lives and struggles after the Civil War. His work coined the term the “New Negro Movement,” which became synonymous with the Harlem Renaissance.
In 1921, poet Langston Hughes arrived in Harlem and pioneered “jazz poetry”: an infusion of jazz beats into lyrical written works, seen in some of his poetry, including:
He would become one of the most defining poets of the movement.
Hughes joined other Harlem Renaissance writers like Wallace Thurman and Zora Neale Hurston to create the controversial and influential journal Fire!! in 1926. Zora Neale Hurston would eventually publish the classic “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” which was greatly influenced by her time in New York.
In 1935, a race riot forced the closure of the bustling Cotton Club. That event, in addition to the looming Great Depression, marked the end of the Harlem Renaissance. However, its influence on American culture was indelible.
African American life was brought to the forefront and acted as a challenge to the Jim Crow-era laws of the age, prompting a rising spirit, pride, and commitment to change and, eventually giving rise to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The literature and the arts born in the Harlem Renaissance inspired many other contemporaneous writers across the world, especially in France and the Caribbean, and served as a vessel to change the face of American culture.
“The best of humanity’s recorded history is a creative balance between horrors endured and victories achieved, and so it was during the Harlem Renaissance.”
–Aberjhani, historian, columnist, novelist, poet
If you’re interested to learn more about literary movements like the Harlem Renaissance, consider exploring our course “American Literature Since 1865” (ENGL 2328), part of our online BA in English program. As part of the General Requirements for the BA in English, students will also learn about the Jazz Age with our course “Jazz, Pop & Rock” (MUSI 1301).
A BA in English can help you develop the key skills needed to become a better writer and researcher—and hone your critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well. Our BA in English is affordable, convenient, flexible, and completely online, making it easy to study from anywhere in the world.
UT Permian Basin is home to some of the “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” according to U.S. News & World Report. And as a future graduate with a BA in English, you can go on to pursue your professional or academic journey in fields such as:
Ready to delve into history’s defining movements through the eyes of influential writers while developing your own writing skills? Join our online BA in English program today!
Sources:
https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/the-aristocrat-of-harlem-the-cotton-club
https://www.ipl.org/essay/Impact-On-The-Harlem-Renaissance-PKBEYCNNPC48R
https://www.britannica.com/event/Harlem-Renaissance-American-literature-and-art
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/145704/an-introduction-to-the-harlem-renaissance
At the iron gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the most infamous extermination camps of Nazi Germany, the chilling phrase “Arbeit macht frei” (“Work sets you free”) still casts a haunting shadow. These deceptive words led into one of history’s darkest chapters. Beyond that gate, more than a million lives were brutally ended. Auschwitz-Birkenau was just…
Are you fascinated by vampires, haunted houses, or the macabre? If you nodded at any of those horror tropes, chances are you’ve encountered (or at least heard of) Gothic literature. From the timeless terror of “Frankenstein” to modern-day Gothic thrills like “The Haunting of Hill House,” Gothic literature draws us into the creepy underbelly of…
What do virtual historical sites, AI-powered poetry analysis, and digital art galleries have in common? They’re all part of the growing world of digital humanities, where technology meets the study of human culture. From history and literature to art and beyond, digital tools are reshaping how we explore and connect with the past. Curious about…
More than 21 million dead, most of them civilians. The map of Europe redrawn. World War I—a conflict associated with the introduction of tanks, bombers, advanced artillery, chemical weapons, and trench warfare—left an indelible mark on civilization and the collective human psyche.
History might’ve played out very differently, however, had a driver not made a wrong turn while chauffeuring a dignitary through the streets of Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina in the summer of 1914.
Let’s look at the incident that reverberated worldwide and answer the question once and for all: How did World War I start?
The 1914 visit of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, to Sarajevo remains one of the most consequential occurrences in modern history. Ferdinand was a member of the Hapsburg (Habsburg) family, a dynasty that dated back to the Holy Roman Empire.
His open-topped car journey through the capital of a country that his own country had annexed just a few years prior was ill-advised to say the least. A terrorist group of Serbian citizens—whom Ferdinand referred to as “scoundrels” and worse—attempted to assassinate Ferdinand by lobbing a grenade at his car. The explosive detonated, damaging another car, but all three occupants of Ferdinand’s car were unharmed.
This was not the end of the story, however. Following that assassination attempt, Ferdinand continued with his plans to visit a local government office. He then directed his motorcade to visit a hospital where people injured in the earlier blast were being treated.
Along the way, Ferdinand’s driver unintentionally turned onto the wrong street where an armed Serbian teenager, by coincidence, was walking. As the driver realized his mistake and tried to back out of the street, the teen shot Ferdinand and his wife Sophie at close range. Both died within several minutes. Ferdinand’s successor, his great-nephew Karl, was forced out of power a few years later, marking the end of the Hapsburg monarchy.
One wrong turn caused the world to take an immense turn for the worse. Ferdinand’s assassination is widely considered to be the catalyst for World War I, aka the “Great War,” with Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia soon after the incident. Existing regional conflicts, increasing nationalism, militarism, imperialist expansion, an arms race, and other factors also played a role.
Let’s briefly review how the Sarajevo incident catalyzed a conflict that would engulf other parts of the globe until a true world war was raging.
Just as the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina stoked the assassination of Ferdinand, European colonies in Africa—where world powers including the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium had claimed large portions of land during the prior decades—were drawn into the conflict as they chose to fight for independence from their colonizers rather than fight for them in the larger war.
Honoring a 1902 agreement with Great Britain, Japan fought on the side of the Allies in World War I, going after German ships in its own waters and attacking a German naval base in China. Russia entered the war as an ally of Serbia, and its disastrous involvement—led by Tsar Nicholas II—was an inciting factor for the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Romanov dynasty.
More than a century later, World War I remains a gripping subject. The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Master of Arts in History program can help you unpack the Great War in a 16-week course devoted to the topic. HIST6348 World War I will enlighten you with detailed background and context for the war and its lasting effects. The 16-week online format of our courses facilitates an in-depth examination of important historical events from the United States and around the world. And there are many other program benefits:
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, consider expanding your knowledge and professional potential with a graduate degree. Our MA in history helps you develop critical thinking, communication, analytical, and other transferrable “soft” skills that, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and Forbes, today’s professionals must possess. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that master’s degree holders earn about 18% more than bachelor’s degree holders and are more likely to be employed. Our MA in history prepares you for doctoral-level studies, law school, advancement within your current career, or a transition into professional areas such as:
Gain a broader understanding of the past as you strengthen your future with our online MA in history program. Apply now!
Sources:
https://www.biography.com/political-figure/franz-ferdinand
https://www.history.com/news/the-assassination-of-archduke-franz-ferdinand
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/obituaries/archives/archduke-franz-ferdinand-world-war
Summer isn’t just about vacations and sunshine (though we appreciate those irreplaceable aspects, too). It’s also when some of the most important historical events and global milestones took place. From the birth of a nation to a cultural revolution and even a journey to the moon, these three historical events happened during the summer months…
The Boston Tea Party is one of those historical events that most Americans know about, though for many the details are somewhat sketchy. (Spoiler alert: It wasn’t a party, and no tea was consumed, though it was the focus of the event.) The Boston Tea Party was actually a revolutionary statement to Parliament and the…
Every fall, families in Mexico and beyond gather to honor the lives of their ancestors in a tradition rooted in ancient beliefs. This is Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead. It’s a celebration with origins that stretch back thousands of years to the time of the Aztecs and the…
If you’re considering a degree program as an entry point to a rewarding new career or greater earning potential, you have many choices. One path to higher earning potential may surprise you, however.
You may have heard from well-intentioned family members or advisors that English is a degree to avoid if future employability and earning potential are important to you. Yet data shows that English degree holders outperform tech professionals in earnings — even as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports salaries for U.S.-based tech professionals averaging in the six figures.
Tech professionals may start out with robust salaries, but that premium can be short-lived. Professionals with English and humanities degrees often out-earn them over the course of their career. This may seem like a disconnect, but there’s solid reasoning behind it, according to The New York Times. Technological change is constant, and some skills can become obsolete very quickly. This obsolescence puts more experienced tech workers at a disadvantage compared to professionals entering the workforce with up-to-date skills, and it can cause industry veterans’ earnings to stagnate.
Skills That Last and Earnings that Surpass
Skill obsolescence isn’t an inevitable risk for all graduates. English majors sharpen written and verbal communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and other respected “soft” skills that are broadly applicable in professional life and beyond. This may be among the reasons the U.S. Department of Labor and Forbes cite soft skills among the most highly sought-after abilities by employers. The American Bar Association also cites these skills among the most important when applying to law school.
Translating employment to earnings, The New York Times states majors in liberal arts subjects like English more often pursue careers in business, management, law, and other generally high-earning fields than tech majors. This explains why, though tech professionals may earn more early in their career, English majors often end up surpassing those earnings in the long run. If English is your passion, you can leverage your mastery of the written word in a broad range of fields without sacrificing financial success.
Programs That Prepare You for Higher Earning Potential
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers online English degree programs to match your education and professional experience. Each is a valuable credential that can prepare you to thrive in a variety of rewarding careers.
Online Bachelor of Arts in English
This program explores the English language and culture in all its complexity through literature and other creative works from Shakespeare to Spielberg. Our BA in English enables you to:
Online Master of Arts in English
This program takes a deeper dive into English language and culture and connects aesthetic, cultural, historical, psychological, and social themes in literature from yesterday and today to current cultural, psychological, and sociopolitical realities. If you’ve completed or are about to complete a bachelor’s degree, we invite you to apply to our MA in English, which allows you to:
Earning Potential by the Numbers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—the go-to source for job statistics in the United States—a higher degree can translate directly to higher earnings. See for yourself:
Bachelor’s degree holders have median earnings:
~ 38% higher than those of associate degree holders.
~ 32% higher than those who’ve taken college classes but haven’t finished a degree.
Master’s degree holders have median earnings:
~18% higher than bachelor’s degree holders.
BLS data also shows that an individual’s likelihood of being employed increases with each successive level of education they complete. Let’s look at some of the jobs which an English degree may help you achieve and their pay, many of which approach or exceed six figures:
An Affordable, Convenient Way to Earn Career Credentials
As you’re working toward a degree that can help you secure a high-paying position, you’ll save with English programs that offer some of the most affordable tuition rates of any accredited university of our stature. We accept many forms of financial aid, and our financial aid office can help field your questions about the process. Once enrolled, you’ll experience unequalled flexibility, learning on your own schedule from anywhere in the world. There’s no better way to earn a degree that can help you get ahead while maintaining your current work and family responsibilities.
Give your earning potential a boost with an English degree from UTPB! Apply today.
“Painting is silent poetry, and poetry painting that speaks.” This phrase, first attributed to Simonides from Plutarch’s “Moralia” and later reiterated by the Roman poet Horace in “ut pictura poesis,” holds true even today. Writers have shaped—and simultaneously been influenced by—great works of art throughout history, and sociopolitical and cultural movements started by impactful literary works often develop in parallel with artistic movements.
Impressionism
The art movement known as impressionism initially developed in 19th-century France as a form of rebellion against the rigid rules of classicism.
Classical painters used historical elements and mythology containing literary overtones in their work. In contrast, impressionist painters strove for more personal and accurate depictions of reality and, unlike classical artists, painted outside to take advantage of natural lighting. French artist Claude Monet’s 1872 painting “Impression, soleil levant,” which translates to “Impression, Sunrise,” is credited as the movement’s namesake, arguably also giving rise to impressionist literature and impressionist music.
Modernist writers like Katherine Mansfield and Virginia Woolf were greatly influenced by impressionistic art. Virginia Woolf’s short stories and novels frequently used imagery and stream of consciousness to show an emotional world rather than a factual one. Similarly, composers of this time used impressionism as an antithesis to the rigid Romantic and Classical musical styles of the age, instead opting for more suggestive harmonies and timbres. Pianist Claude Debussy created a series of books with his opera “Broillards,” which is structured like a musical poem.
The Pre-Raphaelites of Mid-19th-Century England
Pre-Raphaelitism was a countercultural movement formed in response to the restrictive rules of Victorian art and writing, impressionism, and the negative sociopolitical impacts of the industrial revolution. The Pre-Raphaelite style revived Medieval and Renaissance elements of religion, the supernatural, and fairy tales. Painters were deeply impacted by prominent writers of the time and sought to emphasize the interconnections between art and literature. For example, “Lady Lilith” (1866-1868) by painter-poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti explored sexual oppression. He was influenced by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s biblically themed play “Faust.” Elements of Pre-Raphaelitism are evident in the work of important authors like Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Morris, and Walter Pater. Composers of the mid-19th-century were similarly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite love of medieval themes to challenge the rapidly changing times. Interestingly, the movement’s longevity seems to have endured far past initial expectations: Pre-Raphaelitism saw resurging popularity in the print and media as recently as the 1980s.
Modern Media
The movie industry that rose up around Hollywood in the early 20th century was a new form of visual art dependent on the literary material provided by scriptwriters and authors. Breakthrough novels of the time—such as Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” or Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty Days”—have been adapted into timeless, defining, Oscar-winning films.
Likewise, many great modern operas have been repeatedly adapted from classical works of literature, like William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Other classics like “Carol,” “Room,” and “Dracula” are operas adapted from their literary counterparts that have become Oscar-nominated hits.
Explore Literature’s Influence on the Visual Arts Throughout the Ages
If you’re eager to explore this subject in more detail, consider our course “Literature and the Visual Arts” (ENGL 6332), part of The University of Texas Permian Basin’s MA in English program. Students taking this course will develop an in-depth understanding of British and American literature as it’s represented in art and music throughout history, focusing especially on impressionism, Pre-Raphaelitism, and major operas.
There are no formal prerequisites: only 24 English undergraduate credits or admission into our master’s degree program.
Your Degree at Your Pace
Our MA in English program is entirely online and can prepare you for a lucrative career in teaching, writing, communication, advertising, civil service, or education—and even lay the foundation for a doctorate degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, students graduating with master’s degrees make about 20% more than a working professional holding only a bachelor’s degree.
Our program is affordable, convenient, and flexible—and motivated students may accelerate their studies and finish in as little as one year! Join The University of Texas Permian Basin online and see why our program is unlike any other. Apply for our Master of Arts in English today.
Sources:
https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Tragedy/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4348797
https://www.britannica.com/art/Impressionism-art
https://www.ipl.org/essay/Visual-Art-In-Literature-Analysis-FKLBGR7ESJF6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressionism_in_music
https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/music-reads/love-and-desire/10784514
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199799558/obo-9780199799558-0054.xml
https://artincontext.org/famous-baroque-paintings/
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/impressionism-music-explained
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctvn96f6d.8
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question is perhaps never more relevant than when college hopefuls are filling out applications and considering their intended major. Some students make the mistake of choosing a major and locking themselves into a career path they’re not sure about. Others may decide to switch majors but will have already sunk costly credit hours into a subject they’re no longer interested in.
All this time, they could have been working toward a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Humanities.
A BA in humanities is ideal for students who don’t want to be tied to a single career path. Students in humanities degree programs can keep their options open and, once they graduate, explore one or multiple career paths. We’ll be discussing the myriad benefits of a humanities degree, but first, let’s talk about why settling on a single career path might not work for everyone.
There’s no question that college leads to greater opportunities. Bachelor’s degree holders earn higher salaries (over $30,000 more each year), have lower unemployment rates, and are more likely to have employer-provided healthcare. About half of all jobs require at least an associate degree, so if you’re interested in a secure, high-paying job, college attendance is a must.
Higher education is a wise, albeit costly, investment. To make the most of it, students tend to start on a career path as early as possible. (The hustle is real!) Affordable, accredited online programs can significantly reduce tuition costs, but the overall expense and pressure to declare a major can push students into career paths that may not be lucrative or fulfilling long-term options.
Interested in becoming a clinical psychologist? Better pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology. That way, you can move on to a master’s program and eventually a doctoral program. Ten years from now, you could graduate with a doctorate in psychology, having passed your exam, defended your dissertation, and completed a one-year internship. Hopefully, you’re still interested in psychology by then.
This approach works for many students, but not everyone stays on their chosen career path. Priorities change, and people change — not just in college but throughout life. So, where does this leave students who understand the benefits of a college education but aren’t sure of what to major in?
A BA in humanities provides a deep understanding of human culture, focusing on shared values, beliefs, and attitudes. Humanities programs typically include courses related to:
Humanities programs are concerned more with developing well-rounded individuals than with training students in a single area. That means helping students develop their critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills so that they may see the world and its people from differing perspectives. Students should expect a lot of speaking, reading, and writing in humanities courses.
At first glance, a humanities curriculum may seem to be composed of unrelated courses. However, courses are carefully selected to provide students with essential “soft skills.” Soft skills are a mix of personal habits and personality traits employers are looking for, many of whom value soft skills over technical skills. Examples include:
The focus of a humanities program is not to provide a single skill set but to develop capable, well-rounded individuals able to acquire any number of skills. Graduates are equipped with a more worldly, contextualized outlook and a stronger understanding of what motivates those around them, giving them a distinctive edge in the workplace. Humanities degree holders tend to be easy to work with and communicate in a clear, cordial manner whether speaking with someone face-to-face or communicating through email, phone, or social media.
Soft skills are valued in virtually every profession. Don’t believe us? Think about it: Would you rather work with someone who doesn’t take part in meetings, tells inappropriate jokes in the workplace, or can’t write a business email to save their life?
LinkedIn’s 2018 Workplace Learning Report found that 92% of executives say that soft skills are as or more important than technical skills. Leadership, communication, and collaboration were cited as the most important skills for employees to learn from learning and development. Soft skills never go out of style and are only growing in importance with the rise of AI (artificial intelligence). “[T]hey are precisely the type of skills robots can’t automate,” reported LinkedIn.
Regardless of the degree you pursue, you’ll be given opportunities to develop soft skills. You may already be a team player capable of communicating, problem-solving, and empathizing with others. However, few courses of study are as focused on reading, writing, and speaking as the humanities. By pursuing a BA in humanities, you’ll gain a sought-after skillset that can open doors in a variety of career fields.
Don’t let the pressure of picking a career path stop you from earning a bachelor’s degree. The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online BA in humanities program that can instill you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate and stand out in modern workplaces. Taking an intense, multidisciplinary approach to understanding human cultures, this program looks at the fields of art, music, and history, among others that give life meaning. And our program is 100% online, meaning that you’ll be able to complete coursework on your schedule. Now that’s a flexible program!
Worried about your career path? Don’t be. Apply to UT Permian Basin’s online BA in humanities program and keep your options open.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190401-why-worthless-humanities-degrees-may-set-you-up-for-life
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/is-college-worth-it/
https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/the-skills-companies-need-most-in-2019-and-how-to-learn-them
If you’re wondering whether all master’s degrees require a thesis, you’re not alone. From MBA programs to Master of Science degrees, students often ask: Do I need to write a thesis? In this article, we’ll break down the differences between thesis and non-thesis master’s programs, including what each option involves and how to decide which is right for you.
A thesis is an original document a student creates in the final semesters of their program from research they’ve conducted on a topic related to their major. Often, it’s a subject connected to their current professional interests and/or future ambitions.
In writing a thesis, students demonstrate what they’ve learned during the entirety of their program. Before a thesis is accepted, the student must verbally defend it before select faculty from their college—essentially providing a persuasive summary of their work’s main points and findings. Thesis length varies but is generally 60 pages or more.
The research experience you’ll gain while writing a master’s-level thesis can be an advantage if you want to work as a researcher or in any professional role with a large research component. A thesis is also recommended for anyone planning to continue on to doctoral studies after completing their master’s degree. Many master’s degree graduates publish their theses in academic or other periodicals, which can help them establish them as authorities in a specialized academic area.
Writing a thesis takes up a portion of the credit hours of a master’s degree program. Since a non-thesis option doesn’t devote those hours to a thesis, it typically allows you to complete more classes and build expertise in a wider variety of topics. It also enables you to focus on building skills outside of research, e.g., communication, critical thinking, and analysis. Students who choose a non-thesis option must pass an exam toward the end of their program.
To help you better understand the key differences between thesis and non-thesis options, here’s a quick comparison chart that highlights the main factors to consider:
| Option | Thesis | Non-Thesis |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Original research and academic writing | Broader coursework or applied projects |
| Ideal for | Students planning to pursue a PhD or research career | Professionals looking to enter or advance in the workforce |
| Time Commitment | Includes dedicated research and writing hours | Allows for more elective coursework |
| Graduation Requirement | Includes dedicated research and writing hours | Allows for more elective coursework |
| Common In | Research-focused programs (e.g., MA in history) | Professional degrees (e.g., MBA, MA in communication) |
Still unsure about whether you need a thesis for your master’s degree? We’ve gathered answers to the most common questions that can help clarify your decision-making process. Below, you’ll find straightforward responses to help you better understand the thesis vs. non-thesis options.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s online Master of Arts in History program enables you to gear your studies toward your own academic and professional goals by offering thesis and non-thesis options:
Thesis Option: If approved, you will complete 24 credit hours (8 courses) from our core history courses and 6 hours of thesis work, for a total of 30 credit hours. You must successfully complete and defend your thesis during the semester of your graduation.
Non-Thesis Option: With this option, you are required to pass written and oral exams during the semester in which you’ll graduate.
Whichever path you choose in our program, you’ll embark on an enlightening exploration of history dating from the American Revolution to the most consequential events of the 20th century. Each course is dedicated to a single topic or era, enabling you to develop a deep understanding of the subject matter. Equipped with graduate-level credentials and expertise, you’ll be ready to achieve even greater success in your career.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with a master’s degree earn about 18% more than those with a bachelor’s degree alone. The same report shows that master’s degree holders also enjoy higher rates of employment than those with an undergraduate degree. What’s more, the U.S. Department of Labor and Forbes agree that the skills you’ll develop in our MA in history program—including spoken and written communication, critical thinking, and analysis—are among the very skills today’s employers are seeking in job candidates. Our master’s degree offers real professional benefits that start while you’re completing your degree and continue well after graduation.
Do you have time-consuming professional and personal commitments? Many of our students do. Fortunately, our MA in history program has a 100% online, asynchronous format that allows you to set your own coursework schedule around any other obligations. You can complete coursework from practically any location that’s convenient for you. No GRE is required for admission, and you may be able to complete your degree in as little as two years.
We invite all career-minded individuals who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college to apply to our online MA in history program.
Sources:
https://www.gograd.org/resources/thesis-or-non-thesis-masters-degree
https://www.bestmastersdegrees.com/best-masters-degrees-faq/will-i-have-to-write-a-thesis-to-get-a-masters-degree
At the iron gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the most infamous extermination camps of Nazi Germany, the chilling phrase “Arbeit macht frei” (“Work sets you free”) still casts a haunting shadow. These deceptive words led into one of history’s darkest chapters. Beyond that gate, more than a million lives were brutally ended. Auschwitz-Birkenau was just…
On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb—named “Little Boy”—over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki. Between 110,000 and 210,000 people died, either immediately from the blasts or later from radiation exposure. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki heralded the end of World War…
Thousands of years ago, as flowers bloomed and the weather warmed, villagers in what is now Europe gathered to celebrate the vernal equinox. Communities gathered in open clearings, the air filled with the rich scent of burning herbs and fresh, damp earth. They placed eggs—symbols of renewal—on altars, and the sight of a hare darting…
How do you envision an English degree program? A series of vocabulary and grammar lessons with an emphasis on pronunciation?
In reality, an undergraduate English degree is not designed to teach you the English language but rather to complement your understanding of the language with an exploration of the rich culture of English-speaking people. In addition to providing a grasp of and appreciation for English literature from its foundations through to modern literary cinema, an English degree helps you develop important skills that will continue to benefit you throughout your life and career.
If you choose a Bachelor of Arts in English, you’ll develop crucial skills including communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork—all vital to your relationships with friends, family members, and coworkers. These so-called “soft skills” are among the key skills today’s employers seek in job candidates, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and Forbes, which means a BA in English can help you and your resume stand out.
Once you’ve secured a position, your English degree can help improve your salary prospects as well. Bachelor’s degree holders generally earn more than those with an associate degree or no degree, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that bachelor’s degree holders’ median earnings are about 38% higher than associate degree holders and 48% higher than those who have not finished a college degree.
So, what can you do with an English degree? Build highly marketable skills that will enable you to choose from a broader range of careers with greater earning potential and better job security. Sound appealing?
Let’s look at some of the industries, job titles, and prospective educational paths for English degree holders.
These are just a few of the diverse professional directions you can take with an English degree:
Field: Communication
Job title: Writer/author
Median annual pay: $69,510
Expected job growth 2020-2030: 9%
Field: Human Resources
Job title: Human resources specialist
Median annual pay: $62,290
Expected job growth 2020-2030: 10%
Field: Education
Job title: High school teacher
Median annual pay: $61,820
Expected job growth 2020-2030: 8%
An English degree program with a carefully constructed curriculum can help prepare you to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which can lead to careers in the legal field. Completing a bachelor’s degree in English will also position you to pursue graduate and post-graduate degrees, which can result in even more job choices, including management and executive roles, in addition to higher income potential. BLS data shows that the higher the degree you earn, the more money you can earn, and the more likely you are to be employed.
The University of Texas Permian Basin’s 100% online Bachelor of Arts in English provides everything you need to prepare for a rewarding future: vital, in-demand career and life skills, an LSAT curriculum, and a stepping-stone to a graduate program, post-graduate program, or whatever your ultimate academic goal may be.
Our program begins with a firm foundation of general education courses spanning topics such as college algebra, music, geology, and biology. Once you complete the program’s general education requirements, you’ll shift your focus to specialized English courses, where you’ll consider the works of pioneering writers such as Samuel Johnson and William Shakespeare, the oeuvre of influential film director Steven Spielberg, as well as related areas of study including rhetoric, composition, and semantics.
Having a bachelor’s degree on your resume can provide significant professional advantages. At The University of Texas Permian Basin, however, our online BA in English program starts benefiting students from their very first day of classes:
The flexible asynchronous format of our program enables you to complete coursework on your own schedule from practically any location in the world. No campus visits are required. That’s a tremendous benefit if you’re trying to manage work and/or personal schedules while earning your degree.
As an online UT Permian Basin student, you have access to extensive student services, including academic advising, technical assistance, and wellness services.
Our online BA in English program is led by the same acclaimed faculty who teach the campus-based classes and is built on an identical curriculum.
Our English bachelor’s degree program is an exceptional value. We offer competitive tuition rates that are more affordable than most regionally accredited universities of our stature.
See where an English degree can take you and how UTPB’s online learning option helps clear the path toward achieving your goals. Apply now!
Sources:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-for-english-majors