An English major can take you anywhere.
This fact, frequently articulated by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, was communicated to a broad audience at the annual meeting of the Modern Language Association in Austin, Texas, last week.
There, Robert Matz, senior associate dean in the college, took part in a session on advocating for the English major, particularly by making the case for its practicability for potential students, but perhaps more importantly for their parents and for policy-makers who sometimes believe that only majors in fields such as STEM are practical.
Inside Higher Ed reported on the panel discussion, noting that Matz’s argument for the career-attractiveness of an English degree is bolstered by US Census Bureau data , as well as the observations made by experienced faculty members. A student inclined to study literature, Matz argued, but who is funneled by concerned parents into a business or STEM educational path, is not likely to be as successful as a student who loves his or her major. And students who are not engaged by what they study are less likely to go on to have successful, or fulfilling, careers.
“I am gratified that Inside Higher Ed chose to share its account of the MLA panel,” said Matz. “Countering the inaccurate perception about the employability of English majors is important, not just for English departments, but for our students and prospective students.”