Elizabethtown College English Department

Have you ever considered double majoring or minoring at E-town? Students are encouraged to enjoy academic variety by taking courses from different concentrations, and this can foster a desire to double major or minor.

Choosing to include English as a dual major or minor can enhance the skills you have when entering the workforce. There are many majors that are clearly complementary, and luckily, English is a great counterpart to other fields of study.

What do I get out of a double major in English?

The obvious benefits of taking on an English major or minor include strong critical thinking and writing skills. Beyond using these abilities for literary analysis and professional writing, students can use them to offer proof of strong communication practices.

Every student could benefit from the skills that an English major offers. The curriculum has strong course elements that impart transferable skills to further them in their careers. Dr. Matt Skillen, an Associate Professor of English and English department chair, believes that any field of study could be strengthened by English-based skills.

“All fields and disciplines have communicative and interpretative characteristics. In my opinion, English majors are experts in reading, writing, analysis and communication. If these skills are necessary in a given field, the English major is the expert in the room,” explained Dr. Skillen.

How does an English major help me with employment?

A job candidate that walks in for an interview with experience in their field and practiced English skills to boot is going to look very attractive to employers. Today it is often not enough to just be a reliable worker. You must be able to perform skills that will offer a benefit to employers.

Emily Soltys, who majors in both Sociology-Anthropology and English Professional Writing, has learned from experience that employers favor those with supplementary professional abilities.

“I completed an internship for my sociology major at SARCC (Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center). As soon as my supervisor found out that I was an English major, they had me proofread emails, help with grant proposals, and had me redo brochures, posters, and presentation boards,” said Soltys.

How Would I Balance a Double Major Course Load?

An understandable concern about deciding to double major is whether you’ll be able to navigate the required courses of two majors with ease. Dr. Skillen considers the English major to be moldable in order to fit courses from other majors in to your schedule.

“The English major is one of the more concentrated majors at Elizabethtown College.  That is to say, many students who declare an English major will have some room in their schedules to explore other content areas.”

Tyler Rossi, a junior theatre and English professional writing double major, recommends that prospective double majors look further into the curriculum they want to pursue by speaking to faculty. Academic faculty understand how scheduling really works in the major, and can recommend a savvy course of action.

Rossi advocates for speaking with your current academic advise first. “If you are considering it seriously, talk with your advisor. After that, I’d talk to some of the faculty in the English department.”

What if I’m still unsure?

Some courses that count towards an English major are also available as Core classes. You may find it beneficial to take an English-based class to satisfy your Core, while also deciding if an English major is something you could see yourself achieving.

Dr. Skillen remarks that “the Core program was originally designed to give students a variety of learning experiences across several disciplines. This is supposed to serve as an entry point for those who want to explore other programs and interests.”

The liberal arts based curriculum at Elizabethtown College gives students the chance to take courses from diverse majors. You will find that this program offers students the chance to pick up new skills and knowledge over their four years.

Emily Soltys’s takeaway from dabbling in more than one major is that “being qualified in two different fields shows that you’re a well-rounded individual”.

If you continue to feel unsure about where to take your college career, learn from Tyler Rossi, who says, “it took me three semesters and flopping between two other majors to make this choice. College can be overwhelming at times – especially with the fact that you are trying to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. Take a deep breath; it might take a bit, but you’ll figure it out.”

Author Bio:

Kerry Anne Serody is a senior at Elizabethtown College. She is currently working toward a double major in professional writing and business administration. In her spare time, she can be found listening to spoken word poetry and baking apple pies.

 

 

 

Tags: careers, writing