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Friday, 5/30/97 UCLA to offer English minor to students Fall Quarter ACADEMICS: Addition said to enrich university experience, enhance professional prospects

By J. Sharon Yee Daily Bruin Contributor UCLA's English department, already the largest and one of the highest-ranked programs in the nation, has one more thing to boast about: its newly approved minor. The minor, which will be officially offered Fall Quarter 1997, seeks to "enhance students' major programs with the benefits of intensive study of English language and literatures," as stated in the proposal submitted to the College Executive Committee and Undergraduate Council. "We feel that not only will students benefit from the minor morally and emotionally, but also professionally," said Thomas Wortham, vice chair and director of undergraduate studies in English and writer of the proposal. In recent years, a large portion of students entering UCLA medical school have received their undergraduate degrees in English, he added, highlighting a trend of medical schools looking beyond science-centered applicants. However, many students, Wortham said, may also be interested in pursuing the minor because they recognize "the importance of effective communication, critical thinking and acquaintance with literary culture." Though the idea of an English minor was brought up in Fall 1995, when the university announced the addition of minors to the curriculum, the actual planning and discussion did not occur until earlier this year. After receiving approval from the College Executive Committee and Undergraduate Council in late April, the Academic Senate gave its final approval for the establishment of the minor earlier this month. Data regarding the success rate of students enrolled in the minor and the availability of the minor at other UC schools was gathered and carefully analyzed before finally deciding to embark upon incorporating an English minor at UCLA. According to the proposal, no additional courses or faculty resources will be required in order to support the program. Janel Munguia, an undergraduate counselor in the English department, addressed common reasons why students tend to refrain from majoring in English. "The false assumption is that the only thing people can do with an English degree is teach," she said. Munguia also mentioned parental pressure as another reason why students choose more vocationally oriented majors. Over the past couple of years, many students have come into the counseling office inquiring about the requirements of an English minor, hoping to incorporate their interests in English with their science studies. "Many students feel that a minor in English will strengthen their skills in whatever major they are pursuing and make them more attractive to prospective employers," she said. Prior to the incorporation of the minor, many students in the past have opted to double major, which, as Wortham noted, is very difficult and can place an added burden on students. "A minor will definitely be an attractive option to many students," he said. Wortham not only discussed the benefits of the student in the program but also the benefits of the department adopting the minor. "Bringing in bright, highly motivated students from other majors also helps enhance the department because it brings in different outlooks and perspectives," he said. Lynn Mizrahi, a fourth-year English student and the undergraduate representative to the Undergraduate Faculty Committee, addressed the benefits of an English minor. "Literature isn't just a good story," she said, "It also helps to hone one's analytical skills. It is not just the content of the story itself but the form as well." Mizrahi also discussed the common preconceptions about a study in the English field. "Many people have the idea that it's a really easy major and that the material is not the same as studying something like calculus or physics, but people don't realize how much more depth there is in literature," she said. Manguia emphasized the fact that the eight classes required in the minor were chosen to reflect the strength of the English department. The preparation courses for the minor (except for the foreign language requirement) parallel those of the major. The required lower division courses are the basic courses: English 10A, 10B and 10C with a grade of C or better. The required upper-division courses are five courses selected from English 100-197, including 142A (Shakespeare) and one other course that focuses on English literature written before 1900. All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better. "The minor offers the opportunity to get a different spin on a general, liberal arts education," Mizrahi said, explaining perhaps the biggest benefit students will receive. "The study of literature is empowering because it allows you to pay attention to, in great detail, not simply the way words are read on a page but how things are actually being said," she said. Wortham explained what he considers the best reason for creating the English minor. "We wanted to create something for UCLA students that may be useful in their professional careers," he said, "But, more importantly, in their desire to be a more complete human being." Related Links: UCLA's English Dept.

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