 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Learn about Graduate & Professional School
|
|
WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN WRITING SEMINARS? Overview Overview Imaginative writing (whether a story, a poem or an essay) is the other conversation we have with our fellow humans. Through literature, we learn what it's like for others to live in the world. Learning how to write a poem or story—to convert our own experience into a shaped narrative or arresting metaphor—is to send back to the world our own report.2 With a degree in Writing Seminars from JHU, you have the opportunity to give the world your story. Degree Options Undergraduate:
Graduate:
The field of professional/creative writing is vast and ever changing. While your major in Writing Seminars may influence the career path you choose, it is not the only factor. Internship and research experience, extracurricular activities, and the skills you develop as a result of your academic and out-of-class experiences all influence the career paths of Hopkins students. Internships and Research Experiences To be competitive in today’s job market, it is important you apply the knowledge gained from coursework to the workplace. Employers value the academic preparation Johns Hopkins University provides, but they want to see your ability to employ knowledge outside the classroom. Internships in professional work environments are an excellent way to apply the knowledge you will obtain through the Writing Seminars program. Research experience in literature and writing also provides opportunities to showcase your transference of skills from coursework to the workforce. To learn more about internships, consult the Career Center at http://www.jhu.edu/careers/students/internships/internships.html. Extracurricular and Volunteer Activities Employers want to see your ability to work on a team and to lead a project. Involvement in extracurricular and volunteer activities is the most effective way to develop and hone these skills. Meet with your Career Counselor and/or Academic Advisor for more information on volunteer opportunities and extracurricular activities. Develop Skills and Abilities Associated with Writing As a Writing Seminars major, you not only have the unique opportunity to specialize in the skills needed to study, analyze, and critique literature, but you will also learn to apply these skills to your own creative writing work, developing the craft of writing as a skilled reader and writer. There are many other skills you will develop as a Writing Seminars Major:
Other skills you will acquire as a JHU student transferable to careers in writing: Communication
Work Independently (Initiative)
Organization and Accuracy
Critical Thinking/Analytical Skills
Research and Investigation
Additional skills may be applicable depending on what career path you choose. Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor to discuss the skills necessary for your individual career plan. Career Paths for Writing Seminars Majors As a writer, there are many possible professions and career paths. Producing quality, publishable writing is always a primary emphasis, and this can happen in various forms such as freelance writing for any subject from pharmaceutical drugs to tractor magazines, grant-writing, technical writing for company manuals, and/or text-book writing. However, you can also use your skills as a writer for other professions such as teaching writing, editing, reviewing manuscripts, and/or seeking graduate and phD programs. As a Writing Seminars major, you can explore which career path best illuminates your writing talents. Listed below are actual job titles that JHU alumni acquired with their degree in Writing Seminars:
Industry Application of Writing Seminars Majors Quality writing is pertinent to every career field. Detailed, expert training in writing form and technique is a valuable skill for the professional workforce today. In addition to publishing your work, the skills you develop as a Writing Seminars Major can apply to several other industries: Writing Seminars graduates from John Hopkins University go into a variety of fields. Since 2005, the Career Center has surveyed recent graduates about their academic and career plans six months after graduation. Here is a summary of their responses Hopkins Alumni in Writing Seminars Josh Siegel, Filmmaker, Self-Employed inCircle - a professional and social networking site for Hopkins students and alumn where you can identify alumni by career field, major and orgnaization. LinkedIn.com -a professional networking site where you can identify Hopkins alumni. Join the LinkedIn Johns Hopkins University Alumni Group to add over 4000+ alumni to your network. The Career Center is here to help you navigate the graduate school search process. Click here for guidelines and preparing for Graduate School and Professional School. For information on the specific programs, the best people to talk to are the experts in your field you wish to study, faculty members and graduate students in that specific discipline. We strongly encourage you to talk with your advisor and other faculty members with whom you have a good working relationship. This will also help when you request letters of recommendation. The Career Center has a handout to guide you in asking for letters of recommendation. Professional Associations and Honor Societies Involvement with professional associations is a great way to further explore your potential career paths as a Writing Seminars major. These groups will not only provide materials and further resources to help you make your career decision, but they also provide essential networking benefits. In addition, many professional associations have student chapters at JHU. Links Department of Academic Advising-Writing Hopkins Career/Major Information Sheets inCircle - a professional and social networking site for Hopkins students and alumni where you can identify alumni by career field, major and organization. LinkedIn.com - a professional networking site for where you can identify alumni and other professionalsby career field and organization. Spotlight on Careers (username: lacn/ password: summit 09) The Association of Writers and Writing Professionals (AWP) http://www.awpwriter.org Endnotes: 1 Description of Writing Seminars Major, Johns Hopkins University Office of Academic Advising http://www.jhu.edu/~advising/majors_writing.htm 2 ibid 3 ibid |
 |
||||||||||||
|
