for me, a well-rounded education
I had a great conversation with a former Sociology instructor, Dr. Wolf, last week about my education/career future. I’ve been in a quandary the past few months over whether to get a Business minor to go with my Sociology major when I head to the university in the fall. My initial reasoning was that since the direction in which I want to go has more to do with working within a social change NGO (nongovernmental org.) than as a social worker, a Business minor would give my degree a sort of “backbone” of business acumen…at least on paper.
Well, once I researched and found out that obtaining this “backbone” would mean taking nothing but Sociology and Business classes for the next two years (~55 Soc. credits + ~40 Bus. credits = total I need for Bachelor’s), I started to feel a real sense of dread. I need variety! Moreover, the thought of taking economics and marketing classes makes me want to bleccchh. So I scheduled coffee with the instructor and walked in there hoping and praying that she would tell me this Business minor business wasn’t necessary.
To make a long story short, after two hours of talking, I walked out reassured that a Business minor was not the way to go. The way to go is to use those 40-odd credits to diversify my skills instead, to take classes such as Grant Writing, Linguistics, Communications, Political Science, and Media. We discussed how business degrees are a dime a dozen these days and that the sorts of non-profits I would want to work for are the types that couldn’t care less about a conventional business education. She made an excellent suggestion regarding writing letters to various NGOs and foundations I admire and asking them the sort of skills for which they have the highest demand. Then once I hear back, I can gear my non-Sociology credits towards those needed skills. Brilliant!
It’s exciting to think that once I get out of school, my approach will be more about parlaying a wide variety of skills (including the web design, computer, speaking, writing, and people skills I already have) than about a limited degree-orientation. I am also relieved. Screw business! This summer I am going to spend some time researching organizations and foundations and learn more about what makes those facilitators of social change work. If you are in the Pacific Northwest, are there any non-profits you’d recommend I look into?