GW English News: Student Outreach, Minor for Business Majors, Engaged Humanities
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| Prof. Holly Dugan. Naishi Jhaveri | Hatchet Staff Photographer |
You may enjoy reading three recent pieces from The GW Hatchet on recent undertakings by the GWU English Department.
First, a fine piece on our outreach to students and alumni. As the article notes, we are trying our best to connect with current majors, prospective majors, and all those who might be interested in a literature course — as well as bringing our alumni back to visit with our current students. Drop us a line if you have additional ideas!
Next, a nice overview of our new minor in English for business majors. Department Chair Marshall Alcorn says it best: ““For as long as I have been at GW I have been told by business school faculty that business students need to know how to write, how to communicate and how to think ‘outside the box. The English department teaches these skills very effectively.”
Last, a beautiful editorial on the value of the humanities to the GW undergraduate experience mentions that:
Humanities courses encourage students to think differently and ponder real-world questions, and that’s just as valuable as gaining skills for employment. Sometimes, a well-rounded education means needing to feel a little uncomfortable. If we never get out of our comfort zones and expose ourselves to new ideas, we won’t grow as students and individuals.
The English department recently created a new minor for business school students. It’s an innovative venture to give students in a technical degree program a way to learn how to communicate, write and think creatively. Other departments at GW should take notice of the English department and the business school’s joint project, and students should seize opportunities to take classes outside of their comfort zones – especially in the humanities.
The English department has also increased outreach to attract students to their classes. Humanities programs tend to be smaller, and amid budget cuts, it seems these programs and departments are some of the first to lose faculty and resources. The English department’s step is proactive, and it’s exciting to see that other schools, like the business school, are helping emphasize the importance of humanities.
