How a humanities major can be of great help to others

Having been a professor and dean of humanities, Andrew Curran has seen his fair share of students not believing in the practicality of taking humanities courses. This unfortunate misconception stems from society’s notion that very few career options make a difference in the world, career options such as those in the field of medicine, engineering, and law (although it still boggles Mr. Curran how people can’t see that law is intrinsically connected to humanities)

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Be that as it may, Mr. Curran has stood firm in his belief that countless majors in humanities have gone on to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

As mentioned earlier, humanities can lead to a career in law. In fact, a huge percentage of humanities majors have opted to take this road and have become lawyers who have helped people in all sorts of ways. A strong foundation in humanities can help someone appointed or elected to a government office in creating a community that benefits everyone in it.

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A considerable number of humanities majors have also become educators and guidance counselors as well, helping mold the minds of future generations. Even those who took up languages have helped people from all corners of the globe connect in one way or another.

Andrew Curran cites these and many more reasons why humanities courses may perhaps be the best choice for students who dream of making a difference in the lives of others.

Andrew Curran is a professor of French at Wesleyan University. He specializes in the history, culture, and thought of 18th century France, with key interests in the history of race, the history of medicine, and the life and works of Enlightenment polymath and philosopher Denis Diderot. For similar reads, click here.

The wondrous connection between the study of humanities and a career in science

Andrew Curran has believed for a long time that the study of humanities can help a person branch out to a lot of different fields. One of these fields is in science and research.

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 It’s a lamentable fact how many people perceive humanities as a waste of time and impractical. The truth, however, is that humanities is anything but impractical, including for those people looking to start a career in science.

On that note, here are a number of facts that connect humanities to a science career.

Knowledge of the importance of science in human history

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People who have studied humanities know just how important science has been to the progress of humanity as a whole. Humanities subjects teach people about the development of countless scientific discoveries in various fields throughout the ages. History and philosophy, in particular, unveil how science had to break free from reigning superstition.

Preservation of scientific techniques

While the knowledge of science may become outdated over time, Andrew Curran mentions that experience in the humanities help a person adapt to changes in one’s career quite easily. He has noticed how students who have gone through courses in humanities are more efficient when it comes to independent learning and reflection, both of which are indispensable qualities of any professional in the field of science.

Andrew Curran is the William Armstrong Professor of the Humanities and Professor of French at Wesleyan University. From 2009 to 2013, he was the Dean of Arts and Humanities. For similar reads, subscribe to this blog.

The top seven advantages of studying abroad

Among the great treasures of going to college is having the opportunity to study abroad. It opens doors for a student to learn about a foreign country and experience the beauty of other cultures. Here are the top seven advantages of studying abroad:

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Studying abroad promises Personal growth. It gives a student the opportunity to further their academic knowledge in the context of another country’s culture. It broadens horizons and encourages students to tackle challenges they would not have encountered while remaining in their home country. For a professor like Andrew Curran, studying abroad hones language skills. While they’re at it, students can also <b in a company or academic institution headquartered in a foreign country.

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Spending a month to a couple of years abroad to study allows the discovery of new interests and development of new skills. Exploring cultures enables immersion in different cultural perspectives. Many students who study abroad love the experience as they can make lifelong friends and share amazing memories with them. It’s great to have friends and acquaintances spread across the globe.

As for many educators, including Andrew Curran, there are many important skills that can be developed by virtue of being a foreign student. It’s important to remember that part of learning about different cultures is cultivating a sense of pride for one’s own, and building confidence.

Studying abroad isn’t reserved for the financially capable. Many scholarships abroad are available for students from all walks of life.

Andrew Curran worked as the Dean of Arts and Humanities at Wesleyan University. He is the William Armstrong Professor of the Humanities and Professor of French. Head over to this page for links to similar articles.

These types of college essays are a disaster – but here’s how to fix them

Writing a college essay can involve one or more common mistakes, including trying to be clever, shaping it too much into an autobiography, or thinking too much about where you want to go: college. There are so many things that you need to forget in order to produce a good essay. College is a dizzying thought: you need to clear your mind, and simply focus on the task at hand. Here are, for instance, the types of college essays that you should steer clear of.

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The complete autobiography
The essay isn’t a total autobiography. For one, it can be truly overwhelming (not to mention impossible) to attempt to put your whole life into a single piece. Instead, experts suggest narrowing your focus and writing about a specific experience, quirk, or hobby that reveals something personal and telling related to how you think or what you value in life. It should also highlight your strengths or illustrate an aspect of your personal background.


The Reader’s Digest story
This essay starts exactly like one – avoid it by not using the verb “to be.”

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The ‘everything’ essay
This disaster of a college essay touches on more than two ideas or topics at once. While your topic can range from personal to trivial, it should be carefully chosen, challenging you and sparking your natural creativity and insight. Read your essay questions or prompts twice, take time to think about what is being asked, and let it really sink in before letting those ideas flow. Answer questions like: Where do you feel most alive? What are your most important relationships? What makes you different from your peers?

The kilometric speech
One key to a good college essay is effective pruning. Cut, make the content super tight, and ensure that the end of every sentence organically gives rise to the next subject. Make everything flow. Beware forced transitions, too!

Andrew Curran is the William Armstrong Professor of the Humanities and Professor of French at Wesleyan University, where he also served as the Dean of the Arts and Humanities from 2009 to 2013. He specializes in the history, culture, and thought of 18th century France, with key interests in the history of race, the history of medicine, and the life and works of Enlightenment polymath and philosopher Denis Diderot. Read more on this site.

Four fascinating facts about 18th century French fashion

25 million people lived in France during the eighteenth century, far more than in England or anywhere else in Europe. As the center of European civilization, France generally set the standard in taste, be it architecture, music, or in fashion. Here are four of the more fascinating facts about this last category: French fashion.

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 The sway fashion held
Louis XIV, who died in 1715, loved being a fashion icon (before his conservative turn in old age). With his massive wigs, red-heeled shoes, and fabulously expensive and intricately stitched clothing, Louis XIV was the antithesis of practicality. His obsession with fashion, which trickled down to every fawning aristocrat at Versailles, gave the industry tremendous power, and also gave rise to trade guilds that came to dominate the business, even today. It was during the 18th century that fashion effectively became part of French law, business, and culture.

Giant balloons and hair styles
Probably the biggest and most ludicrous example of an inspiration for French fashion at the time was the hot air balloon, which was invented by the Montgolfier bothers. What might have seemed like an outrageous source of art, the hot air balloon became a leading trend in hair style. Elle a l’air d’une mongolfière ! [She looks like a hot air balloon]

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Weekly fashion gazettes
Fashion was so dominant in 18th century France that revues were printed and distributed on a weekly basis. Even if the number of subscribers was quite low, these publications made their rounds among the higher classes, and accelerated French fashion styles.

The waste of clothing
Despite its expense, fashionable clothing quickly become outdated, was discarded or given away a near-weekly basis by some of the wealthiest fashion plates. And this was even true of some the accessories. This fickleness and capriciousness made the best milliners and other clothes-makers richer than many other trades people.

Andrew Curran, Ph.D., is a member of the Romance Languages and Literatures Department and is currently on the board of Critical Philosophy of Race and Diderot Studies. He is a language and humanities professor at Wesleyan University. For more on Dr. Curran and his work, go to thissite.