Employers value new employees who have the ability to think on their feet, evaluate and organize information, solve problems and focus their thinking. You can enhance these skills by taking classes and getting involved in projects that allow you to exercise critical judgment, acquire and evaluate information, make decisions and solve problems.

Courses

Courses throughout the G.E. Program contribute to the building of problem solving and critical thinking skills. For example:

Critical Thinking in the Arts provides students with the tools to analyze and critique works in the visual and performing arts. In classes from Natural Sciences and Mathematics, students learn both the logical and analytical skills found mathematical relationships and the scientific method. In addition, they learn to think abstractly as they analyze and consider theoretical relationships. Coursework from the social sciences provides students with the opportunity to analyze the social construction of history, beliefs and behavior.

A sample of elective or major coursework includes:

• American Studies 346 - American Culture Through Spectator Sports
• Anthropology 300 - Language and Culture
• Art 461 - American Art: 20th Century
• Comparative Religion 305 - Contemporary Practices of the World's Religions
• Computer Science 313 - The Computer Impact
• Computer Science 315 - Social and Ethical Issues in Computing
• English 323T - Cultural Pluralism in American Literature
• History 386B - American Social History
• Music 351B - History and Literature of Western Music
• Philosophy 310 - Ethics
• Political Science 310 - Political Behavior and
  Motivation
• Women's Studies 312 - Multicultural Identities and Women's Experience

Experiences

• Volunteer for a telephone hotline
• Become a student mediator
• Participate in SLI workshops
• Actively participate in class discussions
• Join the debate or speech team
• Become a member of a student committee, council, or board
• Start or join a book club
• Arrange for an internship related to your major
• Read the newspaper
• Follow professional publications
• Join your professional associations
• Write a research paper
• Work or volunteer in a clinic or hospital
• Brainstorm on a group project

"At Enterprise, it's not what you know, but the problems you solve that make the critical difference. Developing these skills while you are a student will give you a competitive advantage when looking for a job with us."
Dave Dutchen, Regional Recruiting Supervisor, Enterprise Rent-a-Car