Many graduate students in English literature doctoral programs hope to one day emulate their professors and become full-time, tenured academics. A tenured professor’s primary function is research. They develop their knowledge of a specialized topic, often the same they studied as a graduate student, and publish their findings in books and articles. Tenure offers assurance that the university provides a respectable income regardless of the course of the research, and therefore allows complete academic freedom. In exchange, the professor teaches a few classes a week and shares their expertise with students.
Life as an adjunct lecturer is another option for English literature Ph.D.s who want to work in academia. Adjunct lecturers find employment on a contractual basis at universities or community colleges. An adjunct lecturer’s contract pays them to teach a certain number of classes per week for a semester or a year. At the end of the contract period, it is up to both parties to decide whether to renew the contract. Adjunct lecturers have a lot of professional freedom, and most tenured professors began their careers as adjuncts. Of particular interest for adjuncts are liberal arts colleges, which specialize in the humanities.
Outside of academia, there are job options that draw upon the editing, research and writing skills developed over the Ph.D.’s career as a student. An English literature doctorate recipient has demonstrated exceptional research capabilities in the development of a thesis, and typically has published a few academic articles. These factors appeal to the employers of journalists and editors, as they show familiarity with the standards and practices of publishing and writing. English literature Ph.D.s can find employment at newspapers or magazines as writers or editors, or join the editorial team of a publisher. There are many publishers that focus on English literature, including large companies like Penguin and Norton.
Other options for English literature Ph.D.s are museums and libraries with a focus on literary research. Archival libraries like the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Harry Ransom Center specialize in the study and preservation of literary texts and artifacts. These types of institutions hire English literature Ph.D.s to help organize exhibitions, study newly discovered texts, and write and edit academic publications. Specialized museums hire English literature Ph.D.s for many of the same reasons. Museums like the Steinbeck Library and the Faulkner-focused University of Mississippi Museum at Rowan Oak employ experts to deliver presentations and serve as an in-house resource.