UTC’s English undergraduates have three options to complete the Senior Capstone graduation requirement: the Senior Seminar class, a Senior Thesis, or an internship. Each has its own merits and may be more appropriate depending on which concentration a prospective senior may take. Savannah May, a current senior, is currently taking the Senior Seminar class with Dr. Jenn Stewart. Below is an interview conducted over email in which I asked…
My internship this semester as the Staff Writer and Social Media Coordinator for the UTC English Department has given me a new appreciation for the work that goes into every little update on social media, something that most of us (myself included) may not think about as much as we should in our digital age. My duties mostly centered around maintaining the Facebook and Twitter profiles for the department. This…
English Department Staff Writer and Social Media Intern, Noah Pace, recently had a chance to sit down with Laura Coker, this year’s Outstanding Graduating Senior in Rhetoric and Professional Writing, to ask her about she experience as an English major. Here’s what she had to say. Noah: First, what made you want to be an English major at UTC? Laura: I have always loved to read. . . . I was just…
As an undergraduate student in the English department, I’ve often found myself pondering the big questions concerning my future: What will I do when I graduate? What’s the job market like? Is graduate school a good option for me? I know I’m not alone in this mental exercise. Thankfully, the English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta recently held a panel with four former English students to help current undergraduates…
ENGL 3410: British Modernism 1900-1945) – Kizza British Modernism is an early to mid-twentieth century literary movement rooted in the Modernists’ desire to “bury Victoria”. The new millennium which opened with excitement but also apprehension enabled the Modernists to wage a battle against the Victorians. These brave adventurers captured the period’s overall sense of dislocation, despair, alienation, confusion, uncertainty, fear, etc.; critically analyzed and responded to political events and…
*The following is a guest column by Senior English Major Laura Coker. For my senior capstone project, I earned an internship at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County (CACHC). The CACHC offers services, such as counseling, medical support, and investigative services, to children who are victims of abuse. As their first English major intern, I was assigned the task of creating a manual for their internship and volunteer…
As we’ve already seen, faculty explained that internships give students an edge in the job market, and teach a wide range of skills that can’t be learned through coursework alone. Internships also look really impressive on a resume, demonstrating to employers that potential hires have the drive to apply themselves in a non-academic environment. It’s clear that our English faculty sees the value in pursuing an internship, but what…
1. The Liberal Arts (yes, including English!) are “tech’s hottest ticket”? It’s true. 2. 93% of business leaders said that “a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems” was more important that a job candidate’s major.” It’s true. 3. Intercultural skills, such as accepting different cultural contexts and viewpoints, will be vital in the 21st century. It’s true. 4. 97% of executives rate strong…
Working as an intern before graduating college can pay dividends for one’s future. The success of an intern is tied to complex factors, but it’s an opportunity for students to get actual work experience under their belt and get a feel for the professional world beyond college. One of the toughest transitions all students face after graduation is finding jobs related to their majors without prior work experience in…
Family and friends might think that being an English major leaves you with one option, teaching. But the reality is that your options are endless. Students can pick up on numerous skills that are viable for real world work environments. Employees are looking for communicators who can work productively with a team and coordinate effectively. They look for critical, innovative thinkers who can identify and solve problems. They want…
