ENGL 290 - Having it All: Life, Literature and Career

FDR: HL Literature Distribution
Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes
Credits: 3

Prerequisite: WRIT 100. Are you considering an English (or Arts and Humanities) major but unsure of how it will help you find a job? Are you intrigued by how contemporary authors write about becoming adults, finding happiness, or growing up in a certain time, place or body? Are you hoping to pursue what you love as opposed (or in addition) to what will lead to a high salary? Through memoirs, personal essays and coming of age novels, along with studies of the value of the liberal arts, this class explores ways in which college students can have it all. We look at literature to understand how authors make sense of personal experience and fulfillment, and we apply the findings of happiness studies to career design and exploration. Self-reflective exercises and brainstorming build students’ sense of what they enjoy spending time on, and this guides their investigation of potential career paths. Along with introducing students to alumni working in a variety of industries, this class teaches practical skills for job searches: resume design, online profiles, networking, interviewing, searching and applying for positions, or pursuing post-graduate opportunities.