There are many students that love to learn about humanities. They love to learn about art, history, philosophy, culture, and everything that comes with this major. But many students are afraid of there will be no career available to them if they pursue a Humanities degree.
It makes sense if you worry about this too. It often doesn’t seem clear to what jobs humanities will be applicable to.
What’s helpful in understanding how the study of Humanities can be applied to jobs is in understanding two things:
- The skills you gain from this degree
- How to use these skills to move yourself towards a career
What Skills does Studying Humanities Give You?
Here are some of these skills:
- Researching:
You will at times be required to look deeper into a subject outside of class for assignments such as giving presentations. You’ll present to the teacher and to your classmates what you’ve found on the subject.
- Critical Thinking:
You’ll spend much of your time in class looking at different artforms. You’ll be taught how to recognize common patterns and messages. It will help you recognize the intentional efforts made by those who created these artforms.
- Understanding Claims, Theories, and Arguments:
You’ll learn many differing philosophies and beliefs. You will recognize how past beliefs have progressed to modern culture’s beliefs today.
- Defend and Communicate:
You'll defend your positions on beliefs and artforms you study. You will learn to see things from other people’s perspectives. Through this, you will be able to communicate and connect with those around you.
How Do You Use These Skills to Get a Job?
There is a wide variety of jobs that Humanities graduates go into. Even if it doesn’t initially seem to fit, once you understand how to market the skills you gain, it’s easier to see where you can go.
Here are some common areas that students pursue with this degree:
- Education
- Law
- Medicine
- Library Science
- Travel
- Writing and Publishing
As shown when learning humanities, it gives you many desirable abilities. Many businesses have expressed how these skills are needed, yet many employees don’t have them.
As you recognize the knowledge and abilities you are gaining, make sure to make note of it in your resume.
This makes Humanities a good degree for career pivoting. This term essentially means moving your focus from one initial career to another without having to start from zero.
What about Grad School?
It’s likely essential to go to grad school if you want to teach Humanities or have a higher initial position in jobs that specifically require a Humanities degree. However, if you plan to focus more on career pivoting, then it might be best not to go to grad school.
Some general things to think about when considering grad school:
- Pros: It’s likelier for you to make a bigger amount of money faster as you continue in your career. You will likely be more valuable to the company you work for.
- Cons: It’s expensive going to grad school and will take a few more years of education.
What you can do is understand both what you want to learn and where you want to go. Everybody needs the skills that a Humanities degree gives, you just need to decide where to apply them.
Make humanities your major and lead your career where you want it to go.
Sources
National Endowment for the Humanities: About the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Humanities Alliance: Career Success.
Church News: “Endowment Hosts Scholar.”
American Academy of Arts & Sciences: Job Satisfaction of Humanities Master’s Degree Recipients.
UC Santa Cruz: What Can I Do with My Humanities Degree?.
Ithaka S+R: “Measuring the Economic and Civic Value of the Humanities Workforce.”.
American Academy of Arts & Sciences: "The States of the Humanities.”.
University of California: “Humanities Skills Are Transferable Skills.”