What Can I Do With a Liberal Studies Major?

Liberal studies majors interact with a broad scope of academic topics, making a liberal arts degree a highly marketable and flexible background when entering the job market. While your options are vast, attacking your academic and career paths with a strategic plan will utilize your liberal studies major to its fullest potential and give you a solid foundation to enter the job market upon graduation.
  1. Specialization

    • Structure your course load to emphasis an area of interest, such as history, literature, art or philosophy. Marketing yourself after graduation will be easier if you can show a body of work which emphasizes an area of interest. Employers will seek a well rounded employee who posses both the ability to write and the skills of a critical thinker. According to Diana Gehlhaus, an economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "the skills employers say they want most in a candidate, such as communication and critical thinking, are precisely those for which liberal arts students are known."

      Build a body of work you can place in a portfolio to enter the job market. Specialization adds value to your degree, so contemplate obtaining a minor in a subject that is of interest currently or that you could see being of value in the years to come. A business minor provides an excellent foundation for a number of liberal arts students and can be quite powerful when coupled with another area of interest, such as art. Another excellent supporting skill is teaching and pursuing a teaching certification can open many doors upon graduation.

    International Exposure

    • Study abroad for a period of time or take a "gap" year. International travel and studies provide a new perspective for your academic studies and philosophies on life. International travel instills a sense of adventure, independence and self-sufficiency that adds value to your liberal arts studies. Try to plan this time abroad during your sophomore or junior years in order to follow up your international studies with additional coursework at your college or university. International travel may open additional career options or passions you might not have anticipated and the additional time at a university will allow you to add a minor or coursework in this newly founded interest.

    Internships

    • Obtain internships that support your interests and your future career goals. If journalism is a consideration for your future, inter for a summer at your local paper as a writer. If Art History is your specialization, intern with a major Museum or art gallery. Internships will provide additional support to your studies and allow you to fine tune your skill set while still taking college courses and under the guidance of your professors.

    Graduate Degrees

    • Ensure that your academic grades remain high enough to pursue a Master’s degree either directly after completing your undergraduate or after several years in the job market. Having exposure to a broad range of topics will allow you to narrow your focus in an area of interest with a Master's degree and the emphasis on critical theory from a liberal arts degree will prepare you for your graduate pursuits.

    Leaving Academics

    • Once you leave the academic world, be sure to spend the time to market your liberal arts studies properly. Structure your resume and possibly a portfolio to show your collegiate achievements, specialized skills and real work experience obtained while pursuing your degree. Taylor this body of work for the job you are pursuing if possible or simply show your dedication to a topic of interest or project completed during your liberal studies. Potential employers will recognize and appreciate your expertise and ability to complete projects, regardless of whether the topic is specifically related to the field in which you are applying.

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