Do you want a college degree but aren't sure about your career path yet?
Do you want to dabble in different fields to explore your options and interests before committing to a specific profession?
If yes, then an associate degree in liberal arts is what you need. Let us explain why.
A Liberal arts degree provides a taste of multiple disciplines. It encompasses fields like philosophy, psychology, literature, communication, history, art, language, natural sciences, religious studies, and social sciences.
Even though liberal arts doesn't incorporate technical skill sets like engineering or architecture, you learn many 'soft' skills that are all the rage in the business and the corporate industry.
But that's not all. In this article, we'll highlight five lucrative career options if you've earned a degree in Liberal Arts.
Why is a degree in Liberal Arts worth it?
Before we dive into careers, let us explain why you should opt for a degree in Liberal Arts.
1. Broad-based education: A liberal arts degree covers various subjects, including literature, history, philosophy, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. This kind of education can help you become a more informed and critical thinker, able to analyze and solve complex problems.
2. Offers Flexibility: A liberal arts degree builds a strong foundation in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, needed to pursue careers in business, law, journalism, education, or government.
3. Offers Personal growth: A liberal arts degree can also help you develop new ideas by allowing you to think outside your comfort zone. You may also have the opportunity to build your leadership skills, work collaboratively with others, and gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and perspective
So, where to begin? A great way to start your educational journey is by opting for an
Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. An associate degree will equip you with the skills and experience to start entry-level jobs after a two-year program.
With hands-on experience in the field, you can go for advanced degrees in your selected area or switch to another profession.
Careers choices for the liberal arts degree
1: Project Coordinator
Liberal arts graduates are natural coordinators with effective interpersonal and communication skills and leadership qualities. Liberal arts graduates excel in coordination and communication roles.
Project coordinators coordinate within and outside an organization and ensure the smooth workings of various organizational projects by devising innovative solutions and using problem-solving skills.
Project coordinators have a wide array of industries to choose from. Government, non-profit organizations, healthcare, or small or large business ventures that require project coordinators and liberal arts graduates are a perfect fit for the job.
2: Public Relations Manager
Customer feedback, brand image, and customer satisfaction are the driving factors behind today's businesses. Public relations managers work with customers to create a sense of community and belonging within the company. Their job is to build a strong brand image representing company ethics to the general public.
Additionally, public relations managers link the customers with the company. They pass on customer feedback to the company heads and develop strategies to incorporate and improve customer engagement with their products.
Liberal arts graduates perfectly fit the bill. Effective communication is essential for a public relation manager, and liberal arts education program provides the best skill set for the job.
According to Glassdoor,
public relations managers earn a median salary of $67,157 annually, with an 8% job growth rate.
3: Social Worker
Liberal arts students excel in social work. Social workers assist people with their needs and problems and find ways to improve the quality of life in a community. From education to mental health issues, they deal with all kinds of problems their patients face.
Liberal arts graduates possess conflict management, interpersonal relationships, and problem-solving experience needed for social work. They are mostly seen guiding people in distress towards solutions and helping them find resources for their needs.
As a social worker, you can work in the field or take a back seat in designing policies, programs, and initiatives for various social work needs. You can work with government agencies and non-profit organizations or freelance in different areas like schools, disability centers, or corrections facilities.
4: Digital Marketing Managers
Another great career opportunity for liberal arts graduates is marketing management. As social and digital media transformed the mark-possessed advertising landscape. Nowadays, businesses spend millions on digital campaigns due to the reach and effectiveness of the medium.
Liberal arts graduates possess exceptional writing and research skills for the job role. They assist the marketing team in developing innovative strategies to engage the customers, manage the brand's online presence, optimize digital campaigns, and drive sales.
Digital marketing is an up-and-coming career with exponential growth opportunities. With an average salary of $65,960 per year, digital marketing is an ideal job for liberal degree students. Consider an
online marketing master's education if you're a working professional who'd like to take the course in your free time.
5: Archivists
Liberal arts degree emphasizes the importance of historical research and knowledge and connects the community with its past. This historical knowledge is invaluable in understanding and supporting progress within the community.
Archivists preserve the historical record of the institutions within a community. Archivists appraise and catalog records for easy access. They maintain records of the historical impact of policies and practices within an institution. This knowledge becomes the foundation for the improvement and development of new policies.
With Digital archives gaining popularity, archivists can expect huge job growth opportunities. This is where a liberal arts degree comes into play, as it instills organizational and detailed research skills in students and is necessary for archivists.
As an archivist, you can work with museums, government agencies, and private organizations. Archivists can expect to earn around $70,000 per year.
Final Thoughts
Job markets are rapidly changing, and employers seek candidates with diverse skills instead of one technical talent. Interpersonal relationships, leadership, communication, and conflict management are some of the most employable assets.
Associate liberal art degrees develop these sought-after qualities in graduates and set them up for success. It also helps students explore multiple disciplines without committing to any particular subject.
The ease and freedom of a liberal arts degree give students ample opportunities and time to engage with diverse fields and experiences and choose a career they can ultimately pursue. If you want to share your experience with a liberal arts degree, please comment below.