DEH Session on Choosing a Minor
On June 13, 2023, the Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) arranged an informative online session titled "Choosing a Minor" to provide undergraduate students with the necessary insights and guidance to select a minor field of study alongside their primary degree in English literature and linguistics. The speakers of the session were professors and lecturers from the different departments that currently offer minor courses to DEH students.
The session commenced with a welcome note from Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, Head of the Department of English and Humanities. The first speaker of the session was Ms. Nandita Tabassum Khan, Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Coordinator of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ). Ms. Khan briefly explained the four study concentrations of the MSJ courses offered as minors and highlighted their direct connection to the communication and media industries. She also discussed how pursuing a minor in MSJ would enable English and Humanities undergraduate students to acquire significant skills in digital media, along with enhanced analytical ability, which would likely benefit their future prospects in the corporate world.
Following Ms. Khan's segment, Mr. Sudeep Chakravarti, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for South Asian Studies (C-SAS), spoke about the Minor in South Asian Studies offered by C-SAS and provided a comprehensive discussion on how the courses are interdisciplinary in nature and deal with issues such as Climate Change, Globalization, Sustainable Development Goals. He also mentioned that the principles and philosophy of C-SAS courses align with the principles of both DEH and MSJ curriculum, making the course contents easily accessible and relevant for the students.
Dr. Mohammed Ashikur Rahman, Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Program Coordinator of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), then proceeded to explain the courses specially designed for the Minor in CSE. He informed the audience that these courses include at least one mandatory structured programming course and three ICT-based courses. Furthermore, Dr. Rahman provided a detailed explanation of the contents and objectives of these courses, emphasizing their relevance and importance in today's digital age.
The next speaker of the session was Ms. Rumana Liza Anam, Assistant Professor, ULAB School of Business (USB). Ms. Anam emphasized that pursuing a Minor in Business would greatly expand students' career options. She specifically highlighted the significance of focusing on Finance and Accounting as part of the minor program, noting that it would make students strong candidates during their job search period.
Following this, Md. Emon Rahman, Research Associate of the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), took the floor to discuss the study objectives of the Minor in Sustainable Development offered by CSD. He explained how completing a minor in Sustainable Development would nourish the students' analytical capacity and provide them with a strong foundation in this field. Mr. Rahman emphasized that the Minor in SD would open doors to research opportunities and also lead to career opportunities aligned with the study objectives of Sustainable Development. He highlighted the relevance and importance of this field in addressing global challenges and creating a sustainable future.
Finally, Professor Shahnaj Husne Jahan, Head of the General Education Department, provided insights on how minor courses differ from GED optional courses. She explained the conditions under which a student might consider opting for GED optional courses instead of pursuing a minor in a specific field. Professor Jahan emphasized the importance of students' passion and interest in selecting their courses, encouraging them to choose subjects that genuinely intrigued them. She also addressed several student questions along with Ms. Arifa Rahman.
Towards the end of the session, Ms. Nusrat Tajkia, the BA coordinator and Lecturer of the Department of English and Humanities, expressed her gratitude to the speakers and extended her appreciation to all the participating students for their active involvement. The session was emceed by Isra Tahiya Islam, Teaching Assistant, DEH.
Report by Rafia Sultana (222013076)
