The liberal arts are a field that is controversial in some circles! While graduates from liberal arts programs will tell you how much their studies opened their minds and changed their lives, other people aren’t quite so sure of the benefits.
Critics of liberal arts programs will question your return on investment, and it’s true that it isn’t quite as obvious as it is for degrees like finance or business.
However, liberal arts programs provide graduates with a huge range of transferable skills that are the foundation of a successful career.
Adaptability in a changing world
Liberal Arts Programs have a strong focus on critical thinking and encourage those that study them to be conscientious and aware of issues in the world around them.
These two skills put liberal arts graduates in a strong position to succeed as the world evolves and changes in ways that we can’t yet predict.
The combination of awareness and critical thinking means that liberal arts graduates are able to spot opportunities both for change and profit that other people may not be able to, which makes them attractive propositions for employers and also means that they can thrive in their own business enterprises.
Having a wide range of skills also means that liberal arts graduates are in a good position to thrive in any number of careers, making it the perfect choice for people who don’t want to tie themselves down to one thing.
The most successful people in the world are those who spot a new opportunity and seize it, not those who follow a path that has already been prescribed.
Which careers does a liberal arts degree open up?
That being said, there are well-defined, more traditional career paths that a liberal arts degree can open up for you.
The creativity, communication skills, and ability to solve problems that your degree gives you makes you the perfect candidate for a career in:
- Advertising
- Events
- Finance
- Writing
- Teaching
- Web development
- Social work
- Graphic design
- Marketing
- Journalism
- Art
Most of your actual training for a job will take place while you are in it. A liberal arts degree gives you the skills to absorb that knowledge and the original thinking that helps to create real change.
CEOs who prove the worth of a liberal arts degree
If you’re looking for an argument that will convince your naysaying family members, liberal arts degrees have helped to launch the careers of numerous successful men and women:
- Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, credits his liberal arts degree with giving him the courage he needed to leave his hometown of Brooklyn and keep dreaming.
- Michael Eisner, the former CEO of Disney, used the combination of his creative and business expertise to help him make excellent shows that were also profitable.
- Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, said that studying the transformation between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance helped to shape her approach to the technological revolution.
If you pursue a subject that you are genuinely passionate about, you are far more likely to find the inspiration that leads you to your dream career.
