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Choosing a Program
Choosing a Program
As a Carleton University Tour Guide, this time of year I talk to many students who are at the important decision making point of which university to attend and what program to choose. Since I am involved in three different programs at Carleton, I thought I would share some of my thoughts on why I chose each program. Of course, this is just my personal perspective. If you have any specific questions about the programs, it’s a really good idea to give the Undergraduate Recruitment Office or the specific department a call. They will definitely be able to answer any questions that you might have!
Journalism/Communications
I started out my time here at Carleton in the Journalism program. I am so glad that I took that year of Journalism because it really helped me figure out what direction I wanted my education to move in. When students ask me why I made the switch from Journalism to Communication Studies, I tell them that it was a personal preference. I found that the Journalism program was amazing, I learned so much. For me personally, however, I came to realize that my passion really lay in other areas of communication such as public relations. I found that the Communication Studies program was better suited to explore these interests. Within the Communication Studies program, I also liked that further along in my studies I had the option to choose a concentration. I eventually chose the concentration: Image, Politics, and Persuasion. The professors in both programs are extremely dedicated and thorough in their instruction.
Human Rights
As part of my electives in first year, I took an Introduction to Human Rights course and fell in love with the subject from day one! As such, I decided to add Human Rights as a second major. The professors in the Human Rights program are very engaging and bring so many different perspectives and experiences to their teachings. Each Human Rights class I have taken at Carleton has challenged me and truly contributed to my personal growth and development as a human being. I have met so many amazing people through the Human Rights program at Carleton – from guest lecturers to other students in my classes. I find the program fosters a close and very supportive community of people, who share a passion for the subject as well as diverse experiences and opinions. If you are considering a major in Human Rights, or just taking the course as an elective, I would definitely urge you to give it a try!
Sexuality Studies
I also decided to add a minor in Sexuality Studies. For me, Sexuality Studies fits very nicely with my Human Rights major. Once again, the Sexuality Studies program is a made up of a close community of supportive staff and students who are all dedicated to expanding their knowledge on the topics of gender and sexuality. What I value most about my time in the Sexuality Studies program is how it has taught me to think critically and how much I have learned from other people’s knowledge and experiences.
When it comes time to make the decision about what to study at university, keep in mind that it’s not the end of the world if your interests change. You can see that I was able to slightly shift my studies into new and different areas and you definitely can too! If you are a little confused about what major you want to choose, try to take electives in subjects that interest you. This way you have the foundation courses that you need to explore those subjects further in your later years.
Good luck with your decisions everyone!
Posted on May 11, 2012 | Category:
Cailey 
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