Why should you major in the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences?

“Why are you majoring in <insert any arts, humanities, or social science>?!? You’ll never get a job!”

Does this sound familiar? Students contemplating a major in the liberal arts and social sciences frequently hear that life beyond undergraduate will be rocky unless you have a “marketable” degree in a pre-professional program. But the data do not support that anxiety.

The links below have three major takeaways. First, the skills you gain while pursuing a major in the liberal arts and social sciences will prepare you well for a multitude of career paths. Second, studying the liberal arts and social sciences produces priceless experiences that can help you live a deep and satisfying life. Third, you can become a more informed and responsible citizen by engaging with the liberal arts and social sciences.

The CLASS faculty look forward to showing you just how valuable a major in the liberal arts and social sciences can be. Click on the following sources to see what awaits!

• “Shocker: Humanities Grads Gainfully Employed and Happy” by Scott Jaschik writing for Inside Higher Ed (February 7, 2018)
• “The Surprising Thing Google Learned About Its Employees—and What It Means for Today’s Students” by Valeria Strauss from The Washington Post (December 20, 2017).
• "Putting Your Liberal Arts Degree to Work" by Domingo Angeles and Brian Roberts writing for the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (August 2017)
• "The Unexpected Value of the Liberal Arts" by George Anders writing for The Atlantic (August 1, 2017).
• "How to Make a Liberal Arts Degree a Career Asset" by Annie Fisher writing for Fortune (May 12, 2016)
• “College’s Priceless Value: Higher Education, Liberal Arts, and Shakespeare” by Frank Bruni from The New York Times (February 11, 2015).
• “New Report Documents That Liberal Arts Disciplines Prepare Graduates for Long-Term Professional Success” by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (2014).
• “Don’t Dismiss the Humanities” by Nicholas Kristof from The New York Times (August 13, 2014)
• “Lax Education in Humanities, Social Sciences Sparks Outcry” by Cory Turner from National Public Radio (June 20, 2013).
• “It Takes More Than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success” by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (2013).
• "Putting Liberal Education in Perspective" a TEDx talk by student Ria Mirchandani from Brown University