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SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 9:19 am
by ponyboy
I take part in career panel discussions from time to time, including one a couple of years back at SMU. So I'm curious:

What was your major and what are you doing now? Was it a difficult path -- or did you roll right in to grad school in a discipline related to your undergraduate studies? And are you happy in your chosen profession?

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 9:59 am
by PonyTime
This is the program Ben Hicks is pursuing.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:14 pm
by Stallion
Attorney

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:40 am
by dalpony
Attorney

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 8:22 am
by One Trick Pony
Beach Bum

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:16 pm
by PK
One Trick Pony wrote:Beach Bum

Winner...when you can afford it. 8)

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 5:02 pm
by Greenwich Pony
Majored in History and Medieval Studies.

Am an attorney and CEO of a communications company. It took hard work and time, but I'm happy and the job certainly is a new challenge every day.

All joking aside, (I don't get to quote Peter Abelard every day), I do use the skill set taught by a liberal arts degree virtually every day.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:22 pm
by dcpony
I'm currently a reporter for a national business news outlet. I've also worked in public relations for a telecom trade industry group, international law firm and as a Democratic Party consultant.

Looking back at my time at SMU, I'd say the rigorous analytical writing requirements in many of my classes helped me get into grad school, and definitely helped me stand out compared to my peers who majored in journalism, public relations and business.

On a side note, many of my MBA buddies who are in middle and upper management at major corporations around the country have complained to me about how younger workers they manage, especially those who've gone the BBA route, seem to not know how to write emails in complete sentences, much less write a memo.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:41 pm
by tristatecoog
"those who've gone the BBA route seem to not know how to write emails in complete sentences, much less write a memo." But they have a marketable degree. Haha.

My wife double majored at a liberal arts school and now teaches in Dedman College.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 11:24 am
by PonyTime
dcpony wrote:On a side note, many of my MBA buddies who are in middle and upper management at major corporations around the country have complained to me about how younger workers they manage, especially those who've gone the BBA route, seem to not know how to write emails in complete sentences, much less write a memo.


Tell them to stop hiring TCU BBAs into their companies! JK - I really think it is a millennial thing and not just the business majors - you have to have observed how even journalism has changed and what now qualifies as journalism today vs 20 years ago.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 9:02 am
by smusportspage
"you have to have observed how even journalism has changed and what now qualifies as journalism today vs 20 years ago."

One of my pet peeves with today's journalism is the overuse of the "unnamed source". I get why it is used as a journalistic tool but it is very disingenuous for the most part and leads to lazy journalism.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 9:32 am
by ponyboy
My pet peeve is the requirement that you conform to a particular political bent. Journalists are supposed to report and not bring personal opinion, however enlightened and straight-from-the-gods that opinion might be. I'm shocked to find it's happening down at Baylor, of all places. My son's a journalism major and he is de facto required to subscribe to a set of political opinions in order to pass. Pretty sad, regardless which side of the political fence you are standing on.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:49 pm
by smusportspage
Very sad that is the case at Baylor but I am not surprised.

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:26 pm
by Stallion
"Journalists are supposed to report and not bring personal opinion, however enlightened and straight-from-the-gods that opinion might be."

In the words of UT Journalism major Walter Cronkite-that's a bunch of bull-crap. Regurgitating facts is not journalism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcSeecx-Z1E

Re: SMU Liberal Arts Majors: What Do You for a Living?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:33 pm
by horsemanx
ponyboy wrote:I'm shocked to find it's happening down at Baylor, of all places. My son's a journalism major and he is de facto required to subscribe to a set of political opinions in order to pass. Pretty sad, regardless which side of the political fence you are standing on.

That is just ridiculous! With the lack of neutralism in reporting there is basically no watchable or readable news anymore and it sounds like they are teaching the next generation of journalists the same way. Scary.

Not too surprised to hear this is happening at Baylor though when you look at their recent hypocritical past.