Studying English may not seem like something beneficial if you are studying something like accounting, but BYU-Idaho English professor Anna Durfee believes it could be.
Durfee, along with other English professors, are excited to announce the addition of two new minors within the English Department: Creative Writing and Technical and Professional Writing. The minors will be available to add as minors starting the 2023 spring semester.
Creative Writing focuses on creating a message that will resonate with an audience, while Technical and Professional Writing focuses on the provision of writing.
Durfee emphasized both minors would be beneficial to any degree.
“Either creative writing or professional technical writing would help give you those skills and those skills would be very noticeable on a resume when you're applying to jobs,” Durfee said. “To help just make sure that you have all that effective communication. That skill set, very much grounded in your professional career, allows you to focus on what you actually majored in.”
Each minor is 18 credits. They gradually progress you into the professional realm the English Department wants to prepare its students for. Durfee said people in the professional world are looking for employers who have a well-rounded skill set.
“The brain is capable of learning anything, whether it’s an innate talent or not. I actually see the whole ‘I’m not a very good writer, should I still minor in English or writing minor?’ as the best reason to minor in something – when you’re weak at it,” Durfee said.
To find more information on English minors, visit: https://www.byui.edu/english/