Question: What do the humanities mean to you?

A: The humanities are a part of my identity. I recall an aesthetics course I took that explored both art and creativity. We analyzed the concept of beauty, among other topics, and explored the criteria for beauty and meaning in the arts. The humanities are more than classes you take to fulfill requirements; from them, you learn about values and the role that those values perform in your life.

Q: How can you add what you learned from the humanities to a resume? What relevant professional skills do the humanities teach you?

A: The humanities can be added to your resumé in a variety of ways. The humanities provide you with transferable skills – skills that can be used in almost any walk of life. Among the most important of these are critical thinking skills and communication skills. The relevant professional abilities provided from the humanities can not only be woven into a resume but can also be demonstrated by the way one presents oneself in an interview. These are underlying values a person has and can bring into a professional setting. Another advantage of the humanities is that they can help us to be more amenable to helping others.

Q: Does achieving a humanities degree limit the number of jobs you can get/ What jobs are out there for humanities degrees? 

A: Contrary to the opinions of some individuals, a degree or minor in the humanities doesn’t necessarily limit the number or types of jobs for which a student could apply. The skills you develop in one of these disciplines can actually help a job search. This depends in part on the types of jobs for which you apply. Another consideration: You can earn a humanities degree or minor and have another degree or minor in a subject that enables you to develop a combination of specific work-related skills and the soft skills that are so important for success in many careers. Each ASU degree program has a set of Program Learning Outcomes in ASU Degree Search that help to identify the types of skills that a student would develop in a given major. In addition, degree search provides a list of career opportunities that are open to a student who majors in that field. This list of possible career opportunities is not exhaustive, though.

Q: How can the humanities be used in a professional setting aka- how can you transfer your skills from paper to a real workplace setting?

A: The humanities teach you both transferable skills, such as critical thinking and communication skills, the ability to identify and analyze fundamental assumptions and specific skills for those who plan to pursue graduate degrees in their given major, or even professional degrees, such as a JD or MD. Further, training in the humanities helps individuals to develop values. The humanities teach you how to have not only a fully functioning mind but also a fully functioning heart.

Q: Who should get involved in the humanities,whether it be through a degree, a minor, a certificate or some classes? 

A: Anyone can get involved in the humanities. There are so many interesting topics for all types of interests and many reasons for studying the humanities. For example, I worked with a biological sciences major who added a minor in religious studies. Her goal was to go to medical school. She added the minor so that she would be better able to understand and thus help her future patients.

Want to learn more about Humanities Career Paths? Visit: Humanities Career Paths.