“Allegory of the Seven Liberal Arts” (photo cred: terminartors.com)
A liberal arts degree can range from language, literature, history, anthropology, to philosophy, law, classics and drama.
Telling someone that you major in liberal arts is sure to bring varying responses, ranging from a sympathetic, “so you want to teach?” to sometimes a blunt, “what the hell will you do with that degree?”
With the on-going recession, and the abundance of horror stories about BA graduates unable to find anything other than jobs in retail, majoring in these “less practical” degrees is certainly not for those who desire instant job security. It’s impossible to expect job offers handed immediately your way after graduation, but if you work towards your dreams and look for opportunities, a degree in liberal arts can be a very rewarding experience, especially when it comes to travel!
In fact, there are LOTS of opportunities, as long as you are willing to look for them. In university, I’ve worked (and was paid) as the editor for my university newspaper, sold my art in art sales, and worked as a freelance travel writer. I’ve studied, interned and worked abroad, and in August, I will be working as an English teacher in Germany!
Anything is possible.
Here’s a few ways a liberal arts degree can help you travel:
– It makes you a better communicator.
– You develop strong skills in problem-solving, interpersonal skills and a strong work ethic.
– A knowledge of world history and culture can help you put your travels into context, and find meaning in places other travellers may overlook.
– Liberal arts majors are generally great with words and a good story-teller. This is great for those looking to freelance as a writer on the road, or work as a travel writer or blogger.
– Liberal arts majors are always encouraged to take language courses, and being bilingual (or multilingual!) can open up the doors to a wide range of opportunities abroad.
– It makes you more passionate about global affairs, which translates well into jobs working for NGOs, which allows you to use your passion to make the world a better place.
– Common jobs by humanities majors include working in: journalism, public relations, the government, publishing, teaching, and marketing. Many of these jobs are great for traveling or working abroad!
– Lastly, as a fun fact, here’s a few famous people who have majored in English: Vin Diesel, Jodi Foster, Stephen King, Allen Ginsberg, James Franco, Susan Sarandon, Harrison Ford, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Matt Damon.
new reader here! love this post! we too often get told that our degrees will get us nowhere! but i think that the fact we arent limited by a specific job field in fact just opens more doors! yay to travelling! yay to liberal arts degrees (and English degrees! haha)
Yes, for sure! It’s pretty liber-ating, hehe 🙂
So true! Not that people in other degrees aren’t open-minded, but I found liberal arts (especially at the graduate level) really preaches attempting to understand other people and cultures before jumping to conclusions. It’s honestly one of the most helpful skills I’ve gained for any career/life experience. Sometimes I wish I had a cut-and-dry career to be funneled into, but it’s kind of nice to know I have so many options.
That’s really good to know! I’m thinking of doing my masters sometime in the future! 🙂