Many specialized professions require graduate degrees: law, international relations and the social sciences among them. A liberal arts major can be excellent preparation for these professions. For instance, many practicing lawyers studied philosophy as undergraduates. Likewise, a history or English major can lead to a career in public service.
One of the skills consistently desired by employers is the ability to communicate effectively in writing. Whether the business is a financial firm, a publishing company or a consulting agency, its employees must be able to summarize facts, propose new ideas, and engage in constructive criticism. The writing skills gained from a liberal arts education can lead to a competitive advantage in the workplace.
One word that defines the new media is "hyper-literacy." Web design, blogging, texting and tweets are new forms of individual expression that require innovative uses of language. Skilled writers will have mastered these formats in the future and incorporated them into new styles of socialization, including marketing. A liberal arts education can be a platform for adapting language to these uses and discovering the language of the future.