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How UNC Asheville Students Choose Their Academic Paths

Major Choices: Studying Arts and Sciences

By UNC Asheville

February 4^th, 2022

We’re taking the final dive into every major at UNC Asheville, from accounting to women, gender, and sexuality studies, across all disciplines. In this section, we’ll meet students who have found a passion for studying their topics to explore their interests.

Find Part 1 here on double majors, Find Part 2 here and Part 3 here on this collection on other majors.

DARBY MITCHELL

Darbs Mitchell is a senior majoring in art with a concentration in drawing with a minor in indigenous studies.

Mitchell has been artistically inclined since they were a teenager, so they choose to major in art to build upon their technical skillset. After taking a Cherokee language class for their language requirement their sophomore year, they fell in love with it and wanted to explore the indigenous studies program as a minor.

“I’d like to tell anyone going into the arts program (and especially the BFA program), do not overload yourself with expectations. I walked into college wanting to be a sculptor, and I’m walking out of it as an illustrator. Take the time to immerse yourself in each new media and you’ll find that the concentration chooses the artist. Also, don’t skip studio classes,” stated Mitchell.

Mitchell’s favorite class within their art major was ART 404:Drawing IV with Tamie Beldue, professor and department chair of art, because of the freedom with each project, allowing them to have more time to explore conceptuality and the meaning of their art while meeting some great friends from the class.

“The most challenging parts of my major were the first few shaky steps I had into my first BFA class. I had no clear idea what concept I was putting behind my art and I suffered because there wasn’t a real vision in my head for my body of work and what it meant,” said Mitchell. “The most rewarding part of my major came right after that when Covid-19 first hit, and I was literally stuck inside of my house with nothing to do but draw. All the personal time I had with my art made me able to start creating my own voice and finding my own artistic interests, all of which eventually cobbled together into a successful graduation exhibit.”

Mitchell is tetrachromatic, meaning they have four cone types in their retina instead of three, which allows them to see a wider spectrum of color than most people. Ironically, they only draw in black and white.

“When I lived on campus, my favorite places to study were the library (cliche, I know) and the coffee shop in Highsmith Union. I have many fond memories of rolling up with no sleep to a gang of my friends crowded together around a table in the library so we could study for finals,” stated Mitchell.

Mitchell hopes to use their degree to get into the medical illustration industry after they graduate.

“Regardless of your major or year, enjoy yourself! I’d never say that college was the best time of my life, but it certainly contains some of my best memories,” Mitchell said. “Covid has put an enormous damper on the campus experience and I doubt we’ll ever truly go back to normal, but make the best of it while you can. And wear your masks.”

How UNC Asheville Students Choose Their Academic Paths

SAM DECKER

Sam Decker is a senior graduating in December 2022 who is double majoring in English and classics.

Decker said she chose her majors to follow her interests, regardless of what opportunities she will have after graduation. She had always loved literature and fell in love with Latin in high school. Her passion for those studies has driven her throughout her college career, even when the classes got challenging.

“Before going into my English major (I'm a literature concentration), I honestly wish I had mentally prepared for how many papers I would have to write over the course of my undergraduate career—and I know it won't get any easier whenever I go into graduate school. This could apply to multiple majors,” said Decker. “As for classics, and primarily the languages and literature concentration, I would tell students to prepare for a LOT of translation. It'll make up the majority of the credits you'll have to take, and you'll have some amazing professors guiding you along the way, but there's a ton of it! Definitely don't leave your work for the last minute—and make sure to engage with what you're translating. The point isn't just to have a ready translation for class, but also to have a solid understanding of what you just read.”

Decker's favorite class in her classics major was the GRK 405: Greek Genres & Periods, a course on women’s voices in Greek literature with Sophie Mills, professor of classics. She stated that the Classics department is fantastic at offering new classes with interesting subjects, such as women’s voices in Greek literature.

“One of the biggest surprises for both subjects was probably how much there was for me to learn and engage with. There are so many lenses through which to analyze texts, so many themes to follow and identify over time, and the professors in both departments have the experience and the training to take broad subjects and flesh them out into incredible detail. I'm always learning more than I ever expected in any of my classes,” said Decker.

Decker hopes to become a professor someday, likely in English, but she is still exploring other options.

“The good thing about humanities-related degrees is the number of skills they teach you that aren't specific to one career path. Knowing how to communicate clearly and effectively, how to engage with others, how to present your own opinions succinctly, and how to approach new topics with an open mind are invaluable in any field, so I know that regardless of what I end up doing for a career, I'll have more than a few things going for me,” said Decker.

She spends most of her time in Whitesides Hall, especially this semester because she took a classics class with a heavy course load this fall. She was frequently wandering to all the classrooms and offices as well as sitting in the main floor lobby.

“I do want to mention that I think a lot of people underestimate the value of a humanities degree. We, unfortunately, live in a world where they aren't as valued or won't get you paid as much, but for anyone considering it, I want to stress that it IS worth it. Expanding your worldview—and maybe even your own understanding of how you think, what you think, or even how you view the world—will change you for the better,” stated Decker.

EMILY CADMUS

Emily Cadmus is a senior majoring in history.

She came to UNC Asheville after spending 12 years as a pastry chef because she wanted to get a degree in history.

“It has been challenging to manage the workload, but the amount of time I dedicate to my studies has been an essential part of meeting my own internal standards of success,” stated Cadmus.

Her favorite class has been HIST 395 History Internship with Ellen Pearson, professor of history, and Roy Carroll Professor of Arts & Sciences, because it allowed her to experience research and collaboration with professional historians and apply her research in a context outside of the university.

“I have been surprised at how much this endeavor has fostered my personal growth and self-confidence,” said Cadmus.

She hopes to be a public historian in the Asheville area after graduating.

“Research can be tedious and time-consuming, but also profoundly interesting and very important to success in any history program,” stated Cadmus.

When she is not studying in the individual study rooms on the second floor of Ramsey Library, she is busy being a parent to 5-year-old twins.

EMMA FOUNDS

Emma Founds is a senior majoring in chemistry with a neuroscience minor.

“Oftentimes when people look at chemistry, they'll read something the first time and think ‘I don't understand that, so I must not be smart enough.’ That's really discouraging to new students, and I think that's a common misconception. Chemistry students are not ‘smarter.’ Anyone can do it. It just takes time and effort to read something over and over again and practice it until it makes sense,” said Founds.

She has found that undergraduate research has been the most difficult as well as the most rewarding part of being a chemistry major.

“There are so many times where I'm working in the lab and reactions don't turn out the way I wanted them to and I have no idea why. However, it's so rewarding to look back at everything I've done and see all that I've accomplished at the end,” stated Founds.

Founds spends most of her time in Zeis doing lab work and studying in Highsmith.

One of her favorite classes was PSYC 322 Sensation and Perception with Dr. Tracy Brown, professor of psychology, which is an elective for her neuroscience minor. She especially liked the units they did on the complex science of eyes and vision.

She is unsure of what she wants to do next but she could see herself happily working in a lab.

“Undergraduate research is the most difficult and the most rewarding. There are so many times where I'm working in the lab and reactions don't turn out the way I wanted them to and I have no idea why. However, it's so rewarding to look back at everything I've done and see all that I've accomplished at the end,” stated Founds.

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