What should you be taking outside the major?
While there are a variety of paths you can take to get a good education, consider some of these recommendations. Note that these are my ideas -- and reasonable people may disagree -- however they match the concensus of the department and many in our field.
- Regardless of which career path you choose, graduate school or bachelor level case management, you will be writing constantly, frequently under a time pressure. When you write well and rapidly, your evaluations in graduate school and on the job be higher. Take as many writing courses as possible.
- It is very likely that you will be speaking in public frequently in your career. Again, people judge the quality of your work by the quality of the products they see. I would recommend that you take at least Fundamentals of Speech -- especially if you have any qualms about speaking in public. My preference is that you take Advanced Public Speaking.
- For a variety of reasons, not least of which is the training in analytical thinking involved, I would recommend that you take as many mathematics courses as possible. We are currently recommending that you take Precalculus if you want to go to graduate school. I would also recommend taking one or more statistics courses offered by the Mathematics department.
- Similarly, I strongly recommend that you take a course in Logic. Good writing requires good thinking. Much of your future work will depend on you thinking logically, clearly and divergently.
- A proficiency in the use of computers will be expected in your jobs (and life) in the future. Our belief is that knowledge of word processing programs and spreadsheets (the Applications of Microcomputers class) is a minimal proficiency. We believe that an advanced microcomputers class is almost necessary.
- Many graduate programs ask that you take at least one laboratory science course as a way to develop your analytical skills as well as your knowledge of the material in a rigorous (rather than a "Mickey Science") course. University of Pittsburgh's social work program recommends Human Biology. This course makes sense to me for a student going in an applied direction, although others would make equally good sense.
- As the number of Spanish speaking people in our country increases, some proficiency in Spanish will become necessary. Knowledge of Spanish will be advantageous personally and professionally, especially if you are working in an applied area in the future. Take as many courses in Spanish as possible. I would strongly recommend using this as your minor (or mathematics, writing, computers. . .).
While these ideas are a good base, college is also importantly a time for exploration. Take literature courses as an opportunity for seeing people and the human condition from another point of view. Take history/political science/sociology courses in order to gain some sense of context for the human condition. Courses in gender or african-american studies, or world culture can engender a broader world view and increased respect for others. In other words, there is no right way to go through college -- but choose your courses wisely and get as much as you can from it!
Page by Jeanne M. Slattery (jslattery@mail.clarion.edu)
URL= http://psy1.clarion.edu/jms/outsidemajor.html
Last modified June 5, 1998
