<p>Hey CC people,
Next year I'll be attending VIllanova for either Civil or Chemical Engineering. However, I have an interest in theology, and I've found that I can fit enough courses into my schedule to be a theology minor. I do not wish to pursue this path if it will significantly hurt my chances at internships/jobs. So, what's the verdict? Will doing this hurt my future job prospects? </p>
<p>If you’re worried, just leave it off your resume. </p>
<p>Will it hurt you? Probably not. If you look at my many previous posts on the subject, I am not a fan (putting it mildly) of combining business and engineering in one’s BS degree. However, theology is so far different I don’t think it will hurt much.</p>
<p>The way it could hurt you is if, in taking courses in theology, you short change your engineering program and only get the minimum (or nearly so) classes taken. Many applicants I looked at back in my working days (I’m now retired) had many more classes than the minimum. Those applicants with the additional classes demonstrated, to me, that they were better prepared and had more interest in the field.</p>
<p>I would always ask to see a transcript for a college applicant, so there is no hiding what you took for classes. I was looking to see what classes a person took and the specific grades in those classes. My wife has been out of school for over 30 years and recently changed jobs. It amazed me that they asked for a college transcript as part of her employment application!!! </p>
<p>You always have a humanities (or some such) requirement in engineering school. My suggestion is to see if you can get your theology classes to meet a large part of that requirement and see if those classes alone satisfy your desire for that subject.</p>
<p>If I had two resumes for a CE or ChemE, the one with the theology minor would more readily catch my eye. </p>
<p>I tend to agree with geo. I’d be interested to talk to you about it.</p>
<p>Won’t hurt you but won’t help either.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t hurt you.</p>
<p>Read this article by Henry Petroski, a leading voice in engineering education. ASCE is headed toward requiring a fifth year of education for licensure, and they’re advocating more, not less of the “soft skills” such as you’d get in your Theology courses. <a href=“http://www.prism-magazine.org/nov11/refractions.cfm”>http://www.prism-magazine.org/nov11/refractions.cfm</a> Also this: <a href=“http://www.raisethebarforengineering.org/why-raise-bar”>http://www.raisethebarforengineering.org/why-raise-bar</a></p>