Hi. Im currently majoring in journalism. I am required to pick an area of concentration (same as a minor) and I’m a little conflicted. I dont know yet if I actually want to have a career as a journalist, but after doing extensive research, I have decided that it is a good major that I will enjoy and that IS employable in fields other than journalism. (YAY!). Possible minors:
English: seems good except I’m worried that it might be redundant to do an english minor since I’m majoring in journalism.
Anthropology: I like learning about different cultures
Public relations: more writing but I dont really want a career as some kind of a professional manipulator or whatever.
Humanities: classes about romans, greeks, etc… sorta like philosophy & history combined.
Basically I just want to hear from anyone who has studied any of these subjects and tell me how they have enhanced your career, life, etc..
At the end of the day, I know that I must make the decision for myself.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:38 am
Minors can go one of two ways:
1. You pick something that is complementary to your major, that will work to enhance your degree for the sake the degree and jobs in that field.
2. You pick a minor because it is something that you are really interested in but that you either don’t believe you could find work in that area or didn’t figure out you loved the subject that much until you were too far into your major.
An area of concentration, in my mind is a bit different. If you are getting a journalism degree, you are picking an area of interest that you would maybe want to research as a journalist. Since you already know that you can get a job outside that field, you now have to decide if this area of study is really going to be used to get a job, or if it is just picked because the subject is of interest to you.
Personally, English is redundant.
Public Relations can probably really enhance your standing out in a pile of resumes when looking for a job outside of journalism - PR can be used in a variety of ways. Skills such as the small talk that goes on with customers is learned, as well as marketing, etc.
Anthropology would be cool…if you did go into journalism the knowledge of other cultures would really come into play. Also even if you didn’t go into that field, a wider knowledge of the various cultures of the world can really help you out in the work place.
I have a degree in Art History and one in Religious Studies degree and I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked at my work (manufacturing) how a certain religion/culture is going to take the way we write a letter to a customer, etc.
Honestly, I would choose an area of concentration that you are truly interested in learning about. It will make it easier to keep up the grades and studying. And even if it doesn’t seem “marketable” you can make it attractive to a potential employer. You already have done some job research, so you know that already. Pick the one you are most interested in, you can’t go wrong that way.