What made you choose this major?
My interest in the topics has existed since high school. I saw college as a way to expand on these interests and the professors in these departments, and English in particular, have only encouraged these academic pursuits.
How has what you’ve learned prepared you for your future?
The courses I have taken within my major have all worked to develop my ability to think critically, write and speak—skills useful to a wide variety of jobs and positions. For my specific professional aspirations in archiving and teaching, the double major has helped me to narrow down and focus on a few career paths to achieve these goals.
What opportunities have you had to work closely with a faculty member and what impact has that had on your education?
I’ve found that within my major the small class sizes work much to the benefit of students seeking to get one-on-one work with professors, and I would say that some of my best friends at Carroll are the professors. Over the past summer, I got to work closely with a professor in the English department on a Pioneer Scholar project which analyzed the function of art in A Clockwork Orange. The work never dulled and one thing that stood out early on was that in discussing what needed to be done next, the professor and I would just be having conversations, it became less of a formal meeting to go over a schedule and more a friendly conversation.
What’s one unique experience you’ve had relating to the coursework for your major?
In the Philosophy of Art class, the class played a role-playing simulation as a way to use and experiment with the various theories of art we had learned about over the past several weeks. Everyone got really into their characters and made excellent use of the learned material.
How has Carroll enriched your growth as a person outside of the skills you’re learning in the classroom?
I have been able to complete my double major and a minor in four years, while steadily increasing the amount of extracurricular activities, including participation on the track team, organizing department gatherings, recruitment for the PPE major, applying for and beginning the Pioneer Scholar project, attending academic conferences and volunteering time at the local history museum as I explored the possibility of moving toward archival studies as a profession.
If you were recommending your major to a prospective student, what would you tell them?
In recommending these majors to students I would emphasize first the kind of education they will be getting with the professors and size of the department, and that these majors are really flexible leading to great possibilities for double majors and minors depending on their interests.
Learn more about the Philosophy, Politics and Economics program