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According to the Oxford Dictionary, professional is defined as “a person engaged or qualified in a profession.” In this advanced speaking and writing course, students will engage in a semester-long research project to examine definitions of professionalism across a variety of disciplines and contexts. Students will research to question, what goes into creating standards, and what-and who -- do they serve? For instance, when a 17-year-old at Banana Republic is asked to remove her box braids to avoid “looking urban;” or a trans employee is fired for violating a nebulous dress code; are these examples of larger issues of dominant cultural biases concerning the concept of “professionalism” in the workplace? Through course readings, library sources, and primary research, this course questions if employers and institutions establish specific standards that draw a line between those who are a “good fit” and those who are not. Students will compose a research proposal/presentation, creative genre modes assignment, and final presentation with visual aids to interrogate questions like: How does the dominant culture define professionalism? How do those definitions change depending on discipline and context? How do concepts of professionalism influence/affect intersectionality? All first-year students who have taken Reintro and all students at the sophomore level or above are welcome.