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Department ofEnglish

Why English?

Class of 2006

Class of 2006

Michael Rhoads, Class of 2006

Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary, Office of the Governor

I didn't plan on being an English major when I started at SCU. I was drawn to the program, however, after a few engaging classes with challenging (and persuasive) professors.

I didn't plan on being an English major when I started at SCU. I was drawn to the program, however, after a few engaging classes with challenging (and persuasive) professors. The experience I honed in my English coursework - concise, effective writing; thorough, critical reading; analytical, innovative thinking - helped me excel in my other major (political science), in law school, and in my career as an appellate attorney. These skills are emphasized across the curriculum at SCU, but the expertise and intense focus the English department brings to these core skills make the major stand apart. Now, whether I am writing a brief, reading a court opinion, communicating with a client, or arguing before the court, it is my English major I most rely on—and most appreciate.