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Business degrees are liberal arts too, but computer science is not liberal arts ( a branch called MIS is )
We can roughly divide careers into two distinct areas : science ( including plumber, sheel metal worker ) and liberal arts ( including finance/accounting )
In business-related degrees,
courses in economics, human resource, marketing, organization behavior are liberal arts oriented courses,
courses operations research and MIS are something between liberal arts and science ( some business graduates who want to specialize in operations research or MIS think like industrial engineer or computer science professional , respectively, or already have background in engineering or IT outside their business educations )
courses in finance/accounting are completely liberal arts, but some way in doing exercise problem similar to science ( like doing math, practice a lot , following logics )
The business disciplines are almost never classified as liberal arts. These are applied professional subjects. MIS is not a liberal art either. However, there are actually several colleges that classify computer science as a liberal art. It has much more to do with mathematics (not just adding and subtracting figures) and physics than any business discipline. The liberal arts are highly theoretical and often research oriented.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daward
Psychology is also something between liberal arts and science, actually it's completely liberal arts, but some clinical psychologists like to call themselves doctors
That's because they are doctors. Anyone with a doctorate is a doctor. The title is not only for medical doctors.
The short answer is there is no set career path for liberal arts and humanities majors. However, that is true of almost ANY major outside of a few very specific fields such as accounting or medicine.
I majored in history as an undergrad with the original intention of becoming a K12 teacher. When I realized that I was not equipped to handle a classroom full of students, I panicked. Realizing I needed to get whatever relevant experience I could, I interned at a corporate archive my junior year and at a publishing company my senior year. Through hard work and a little luck, I landed an entry-level customer service position at the publishing company. The first 3-4 years were a bit of a slog as I worked various low-paid administrative positions. However, I learned a lot of excellent practical experience in those first few years. I tried different things and eventually landed in the Marketing department as a Research Analyst. Once I realized that Market Research was the right career for me, I went back to school for my MBA part time.
The lesson I learned looking back is that experience is everything. At the time I thought those administrative positions were a waste of time and that I was heading nowhere in my career. However, I frequently draw on things I learned initially in those positions. Any experience you can get is key to future success.
The bottom line is that you have to go out there and figure it out for yourself. Figure out where your strengths are and then build on those areas. It can be a little scary at first, but a relatively intelligent, hard working lib arts graduate can do quite well.
My daughter graduates this week with a history degree...though she is going on to take a Masters, I have no doubt she could get a good job. She has interned in some very interesting places and gotten high recommendations from every single one, including some that were instrumental in getting her into her next program. Once she graduates from that, she will have a wide variety of choice. Especially as she is passionate about her particular field of interest -- which is a rather select group anyway.
Figure out what your core interest is...not just 'history' but 'medieval textiles' or 'Pre-Columbian trade routes'...and focus on meeting the people and doing the work that will get you the job that will use that knowledge. In history careers, everyone seems to know everyone else so don't burn any bridges!
You are not limited to elementary school or 'fast food', no matter what anyone tells you.
I volunteer at a local history museum and was asked to do a presentation for a school career day for those with an interest in history. Some possible careers:
History teacher
Museum staff
Archeologist
Set designer
Costume designer
Appraisal, restoration, sales of antiques (think Pawn Brokers, American Pickers, Antiques Roadshow) Become an expert in some area
Genealogist
Why did you major in history? What is your main interest? If you find that, then you might need to supplement your degree, but you could be happy and successful. Business? Direct a museum. Art? Restoration or appraisal or design. Teaching Certification?
A liberal arts degree is something you get if you're not certain of a career path yet still want a piece of paper (which most living wage jobs require today)
I have a couple of friends with lib arts degree. One is a WalMart manager and another delivers groceries on a motor route working for tips.
Most of the project managers I have worked with over the years had liberal arts degrees.
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