Brenda Said:

What types of jobs are available for a person with a Liberal studies major? Is teaching the only option?

We Answered:

In the not too distant past, people with a 4 year degree were considered literate and therefore responsible for a great many jobs in corporate America. With specialization in the business world, not to say a whole separate category of Business majors, the Liberal Arts major is destined to be something of an anachronism; not many people want you except for formal dinner parties. To further rain on your parade, getting a teaching certificate usually requires a certain number of education hours.
The problem is twofold: first, companies are less willing to go through the training process for people who will just move on to better jobs before they get their investment out of them. Second, a college education is fast becoming the new High School certificate. I have been very disappointed at the general knowledge of the liberal arts students for the last 15 years, at least. It used to be that Liberal Arts made one a well rounded person, but more and more I see graduates who understand very little about the world, ignorant of English grammar, geography, basic scientific principles, history and even things in their specialty areas like art and psychology. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to rewrite a memo written by an English or Journalism major! In today's business, they just want someone who can do X well. It may be sad, but it seems to be true. Lastly, even in schools, they are looking more for teachers who will teach the science, math or technical things.
My advice to you is to try and find some subject matter which you can stomach and will give you a decent job after you get out. Unless you get an advanced degree in your liberal arts area, I'm afraid people will only want you to work at KFC. Even that advanced degree will only take you so far, unless it ends up being a PhD. It takes a long time to pay off that tuition and you will begin to resent your friends who are telling you about their BMW’s and their jobs as computer code writers.

Jamie Said:

What jobs are available with a BA in Liberal Studies?

We Answered:

Pretty much the same as if you had an undergrad degree in History or English. You can sell yourself as a well-rounded person. If you have good communication skills, especially writing and grammar, you are miles ahead of most graduates. Also if you have learned good research, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, that is a good selling point. What kind of job you get depends on your interests, connections, and work experience. You can try entry-level positions in PR, marketing, and sales. I strongly recommend volunteering for a nonprofit to get some experience. You can assist with PR, fundraising, or volunteer management. That's how I started my career.

Rebecca Said:

What kinds of jobs can I get with a degree in Liberal Studies?

We Answered:

What CeeCee is true but you will need someone to help you get your foot in the door. Most companies will use your college degree as a clearing house for those who are selected to interview. So, if you look at job boards you will find listed on each job opening the college degree they are looking for and in some cases the GPA. If you don't have the degree you are unlikely to get an interview. Unfortunately, this world looks for the square peg to fill the square hole and most people hiring don't want to go any further than that. Are you thinking about the Liberal Studies degree because you are unsure as to what career path you want? If so you may need to address that issue. I know one person who did the Liberal Studies, went on to a graduate degree and last I heard was working for a cruise line and loving it. Best of luck!

Timothy Said:

what kind of job after liberal studies undergraduate?

We Answered:

Actually, a lot of employers don't want specific college degrees, as long as you graduated. They want to know that you are able to learn, are motivated enough to have completed a degree and are trainable. They will often put you in their own training programs which will teach you the job. So look into different fields in which you have an interest, and start applying!

Janice Said:

does any one have a degree in 'Liberal Studies'? what jobs are available to you?

We Answered:

I have a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts. This degree IS NOT intended as specific career preparation unless you're planning to teach. It is the "jack of all trades" degree of undergraduate study and serves a very good purpose for those that don't need or want a specific vocational education but would rather learn "lots of cool stuff".

It is excellent preparation for graduate school as long as you plan your coursework to meet the admission requirements of the program you want to enter for the master's degree.

It's also good preparation for those that want to write for a living. The breadth of knowledge is needed in that career field these days.

You can usually plan the exact coursework of a major in liberal arts. In this way, you can create all manner of interesting specializations that have value in the world. The problem is that when you go to apply for jobs and put "liberal arts" as the major, HR will often say "we don't need a liberal artist this week".

The bottom line (just my opinion) is that the bachelor's in liberal arts serves those that do not need a degree in a specific discipline. When asked "what do you do with a degree in that?" I generally respond "I think, very well."

"Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies" and "good job with good income" don't traditionally go together. You'll need some quality work experience and personal achievements to accomplish that goal with that degree.

If you want to know "lots of cool stuff" just "because", then the Liberal Studies major is perfect.

It's also ideally suited for people that have a lot of college credit from many sources in a variety of fields who want to wrap a degree in anything.