STEM Majors Should Test Out the Humanities

Last week marked my second time attending the MSU career fair and while there were not many employers catering to the humanities, many employers I spoke to told me the same thing: the Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, (STEM) industry has to increasingly rely on technical writers because scientists and engineers aren’t capable of writing legible and clear reports. Several employers I spoke with disclosed that they think the quality of writing in their industry has tanked in recent years. I originally believed that because STEM majors are required to take basic writing courses such as technical writing,nothing more is necessary. 

   However, a cursory internet search revealed people arguing on forums about why STEM majors can’t write, a plea from the Washington Post for more STEM majors with liberal arts training and a report from the National Institute of Health outlining how scientific writing can be improved. 

   I’m sure the STEM majors reading this are thinking that they are already way too busy to take a writing class or that they got into STEM to move away from the humanities. When I started as a writing major, I hoped to never take a math or science course again. However, I found that I actually loved the math course I was required to take and I often considered taking another one as an elective because it made me a better critical thinker. 

   Writing courses can do the same for STEM students. Besides improving the clarity of your writing, it will give you the tools to speak and write eloquently as a communicator. Writing courses often teach us how to develop and express our thoughts and feelings. Through this we learn how to communicate with absolute clarity. This is a valuable asset in any job setting. 

   In a STEM career, being able to explain complicated concepts to industry outsiders will clearly make you indispensable to your company. Exposing yourself to a diverse variety of studies is vital in order to create a well rounded student entering the workforce. 

    Learning these skills in tandem will help you to broaden your worldview, listen better, become open to different ideologies and come up with creative solutions. Writing can also transform you into a quality leader. If you can listen well, understand what people need to hear and communicate clearly then you are a dynamic asset in any industry.

  Coming out of college with a few extra writing classes on your transcript and utilizing the confidence you’ll get from those classes will give you an edge. Engaging in multiple genres of study shows employers that you are a multidimensional and highly educated individual. It may seem like too much extra work right now but taking extra writing courses will set you apart from your peers and give you the leg-up you need when you enter the professional world.