<p>Ideally, I'd like to major in english and end up on track for a PhD from some good school, then end up on tenure track somewhere. I wonder, is such a labor-intensive path worth my while? How many open slots would there be at major colleges for a PhD candidate and eventual career candidate several years down the line?</p>
<p>Well, what are you thinking about specializing in? If you have a more unusual specialization, you'll always find universities willing to take you on. Richmond is continually getting or looking for new professors to add some new blood and fresh ideas.</p>
<p>To be perfectly honest, the outlook for academics is rather bleak, particularly for those in the humanities. Colleges are increasingly shifting to the use of non-tenure track professors and visiting professors. In fact, it's common to hop from one job to the next before you can settle down and (if lucky) get tenure. The likelihood of finding a teaching job depends a great deal on what's available when you graduate and what your specialization is. Northwestern may have a spot open for a visiting professor in Old English and historical linguistics, but that doesn't do you much good if you specialized in colonial American literature! You'd have very little say in where you get to teach and live, and there is intense competition for academic positions. I've heard that the ratio of applicants to hires is 100:1, although I'm hoping that's not true. </p>
<p>On the flip side, there are worse jobs out there. Where else do you get paid to teach only 5-6 hours a week, be allowed to research whatever you want, have vacations off, and get a sabbatical every 6-7 years?</p>
<p>It is a vagabond existence in humanities.....but private companies love english majors....they generally can write, edit etc. Hard to find people who can write well. How about that novel in your head???</p>
<p>atlmom -
what kind of positions at private companies do english majors usually get?</p>
<p>lol. writing a novel. that would be fun as a side-job.</p>