Search the Sunday classifieds and you are not likely to find
a posting for a “Liberal Artist.” A study of the O*Net
dictionary of job titles will yield occupations from
accountant to zoologist, but will ultimately produce the
same confounding result. Nevertheless a
liberal arts degree
program is very practical. There is a strong case for
pursuing an education for education’s sake--and studying
what interests you--as opposed to trying to predict the
future job market. Market-based degrees that are “hot”
today, may not be tomorrow. Liberal arts majors do not
narrow their focus to one field of study, or receive
specialized training for a specific job after college.
Instead they get to choose from a broad range of course work
in disciplines as varied as philosophy, sociology and
foreign language. The result is a well-rounded job candidate
able to think critically and creatively. Hold a liberal arts
degree and you are not only marketable, but in demand.
“Liberal arts majors can do most anything they want to do,”
says Pat Hunn, academic advisor for Liberal Studies at
California State University, Chico. “Our experience has been
that most [employers] want bright, well-rounded college
graduates whom they can train.”
“We look for transferable skills rather than a specific
major,” agrees Tracy Jones Jackson, Human Resources Director
for Sleep Train, a company with 850 employees. “Liberal
arts
majors are flexible.”
Critical thinking and problem-solving are just two skills
that make liberal arts majors attractive job candidates.
“Especially in the insurance industry, we actively sought
liberal arts majors,” Jackson, who also worked for Apple
Computers and State Farm Insurance, adds. “It is highly
regulated. There is [extensive] training and there are tests
to pass. You need to be able to read and absorb a lot of
information and discern what is important.”
Jackson goes on to characterize liberal arts majors as
“highly promotable.” Because they don’t have expertise in
just one field, “they are open to work in different
capacities.”
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What Can I Do With a Liberal Arts Degree?
