Janszoon

Well, you've actually shifted the goal posts here a bit. We started off talking about English majors but then you switched to talking about liberal arts majors in general. Which would you like to talk about?

And before you jump any conclusions about what my personal convictions are, keep in mind that I too have very much of a niche degree and career path.

Who exactly do you want to compare them to? People without a degree? People with a mechanical engineering degree?

Your comment about writing skills is actually pretty funny. Employers may expect people to have them but you'd be surprised by how few people actually do. And just like you no doubt have engineering skills far beyond the typical English major, the typical English major has writing skills far beyond yours.

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lucifer_sam

I did shift focus a bit, my bad. I was using the English major as an example but I was applying it toward all degrees within the liberal arts spectrum.

And actually, it's funny that you mention it, but right now my career field is as expansive as mechanical engineering field itself is. Grad school is really where you orient your focus towards a specific field, but mechanical engineers are in demand in virtually every major industry.

I find your own perspective somewhat humorous on the matter. What common job would require the expansive knowledge of an English major over someone who's simply competent at writing professionally? There's a ceiling for knowledge in all careers where further pursuit simply becomes academic, I think you reach that level much quicker in an English major than an engineering one.

You're definitely right though. Communication skills ARE prized in industry, (and not just communications industries!) but I don't believe an English degree is necessary to see those promotions when writing requirements are mostly satisfied by being an able technical writer.

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first.am

Janszoon

I gave some examples earlier: copywriter, editor, proposal writer, grant writer, journalist.

Because basically everyone is able to write I think this is a common misconception, but the fact is that being a great writer is a skill that is as difficult to obtain as any other professional skill.

No offense but I think your view on this is somewhat myopic. Look in other, non-technical areas and you'll see situations where being an able technical writer is definitely not enough. For example, in the kinds of industries I work in—such as advertising, marketing and publishing—great writers are a key part of the equation.

__________________
A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man

Time & Place

25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die

last.fm