Sometimes it’s easy to forget
that everyone comes to college for
a purpose: to get a degree which
would then lead to a job. In recent
years this goal has become scarier,
since the economy is rough and the
job market is a tight.

While there are jobs experiencing
growth, many traditional college
degrees don’t fall within these
areas of growth. Some areas such
as accounting, sales and the service
industries are growing, the liberal
and fine arts areas are having a
tough time.

To try and help the situation
some schools are attempting to
make students more prepared for
their futures. According to a New
York Times article entitled “Making
College ‘Relevant’, changes are
occurring all over the nation. The
University of Louisiana no longer has
a philosophy major; Michigan State
University is eliminating American
studies and classics; and even the
University of Texas at Austin has a
class called “the English Major in the
Workplace.”

Susan Dollar, director of the
Career Services at UTSA, says that
the job market is rough, especially
in liberal arts, fine arts and the
sciences.

“There are opportunities for
students to apply, but not many,” she
said.

But is UTSA making any changes
to address these concerns?
According to Katherine Calucci,
director of the COLFA Advising
Center, there won’t be any dramatic
changes at UTSA. However, she
states that “there will be some new
programs initiated soon, but I expect
them to follow the same format of
degree plan as we have had in the
past.”

Dr. Bridget Drinka, English
department chair, mentioned some
of these programs and changes,
saying that the university is “thinking
about how students will get jobs”
following graduation.

One of the best ways students
can prepare for the job market is to
make themselves more marketable.
Dollar says the state of the economy
is resulting in jobs demanding much
more from applicants.

“There is no money for hires, so
the easiest way for companies to save
money is by dropping personnel,”
she said.

Calucci says that most of the
problems graduates are having
finding work “is attributable to
their inability to market themselves
properly or not being able to
continue their education to achieve
their career aspirations.”

Doing an internship while in
college can help students chances of
success following graduation. “If you
haven’t had an internship, you’re at a
disadvantage”, Dollar said.

“There are too many people out
there looking for work, and without
the hands–on experience of an
internship you’re not hirable.”
For many majors like English
internships are necessary.

Drinka says the English
department is “growing our
internships and its really helping.”
She also points to non-profit
organizations as being an excellent
resource for internships and
learning.

There are still advantages to
some of the “riskier” degree plans,
however.

“I feel COLFA is the heart of
the university,” Calucci said. “Our
programs are built so our students
receive a well-rounded educational
experience, but it is also up to
the students to take advantage of
the opportunities built into their
degree programs, learn to market
themselves and the skills and
knowledge they’ve acquired.”
Drinka points out that within
just the English program there are
many different routes students can
go take.

“We’re thinking of how students
can find jobs,” she said. “We have
three concentrations in creative
writing, technical writing, and
language arts. We’re trying to expand
our courses to help the students.”