A common dilemma of soon-to-be students is whether an Bachelor's in Humanities is worth it and what are their chances of landing a good job after they graduate. Buckle up and let’s explore why a B.A. in Humanities pays off both in terms of academic and professional success.
Is a Bachelor’s in Humanities worth studying?
If your heart is with studying Humanities, but your mind tells you otherwise, here’s some food for thought that will convince you a Bachelor’s of Arts in Humanities is actually a Bachelor's you should consider:
- No less than over two-thirds of Humanities graduates get hired in the private sector.
- About 60% of American CEOs are Humanities Bachelor’s graduates.
Humanities focuses on all aspects related to culture and creative life, including most disciplines outside exact sciences. As such, the main areas of study are:
A Bachelor’s of Arts in Humanities might be right for you if you’re passionate about communication, knowledge about people and ideas, and creativity. Bachelors in Humanities nurture open-mindedness and flexibility, as the core philosophy behind Humanities is that people are innately subjective, and all research should mirror that.
Main reasons to study a B.A. in Humanities
Because STEM degrees are growing increasingly popular, many look at Humanities as the Cinderella of Bachelor’s studies. And they are not that far off, if you consider that Cinderella did become a princess. So, let’s see why studying Humanities is as good as studying sciences. Here are some to-the-point reasons:
- You learn to analyse people and events and how to logically support your opinions
- You’ll be able to make complicated ideas sound simple
- There are as many jobs for Humanities graduates as there are for graduates of IT and Maths
- You’ll learn how to pitch an idea and deal directly with people
- You’ll make others jealous with your cultural knowledge
- Humanities studies challenge you emotional intelligence and soft skills
Types of Humanities degrees you can study abroad
There are two types of degrees you can go for undergraduate studies in Humanities. You can go for
- Associate degrees in Humanities
- Bachelor’s degree in Humanities
The Associate Degree is the most popular in the field of Humanities because it combines different courses or specializations to match students’ broader interests.
A Bachelor’s degree in Humanities offers you an overall perspective on selected topics across the Arts and Humanities, helping you gain fundamental knowledge and social skills. Sought-after BAs in Humanities are:
- Bachelors in Creative Writing in Canada
- Bachelors in History in the United States
- Bachelors in Liberal Arts in the Netherlands
- Bachelors in Literature in the UK
- Bachelors in Languages in Ireland
There are also Humanities rankings, if you want to go directly at the university with the best-taught degrees.
Careers with a Humanities degree
The big question for prospective Humanities undergrads is how does being well-read translate into a decent pay check? The answer is not that mind-bending as you might expect: employers value creativity and critical thinking as much as technical skills or training. If you have both, you’re a winner.
So, don’t be surprised to discover many industries have job openings for you after you get your Humanities degree. Here’s where you can find awesome jobs:
Journalism and Publishing
Surprise! A lot of journalists have a degree in Humanities rather than Journalism, which gives them the communication and analytical skills they need to cover news stories. Also, the publishing industry needs the eye for details and the ability to spot a great narrative that Humanities graduates have.
Advertising
Advertising is all about creative thinking and making people react to positively to ads. As a Humanities graduate you bring both to the table, thanks to your study of society, culture and literature.
International Relations
If your studies focused on a particular culture, you have a great chance of landing jobs at embassies in other countries as a cultural attaché. You’ll be the most qualified person to understand that country’s culture and represent your own. Even more so if you specialize in International Relations.
Teaching
If you're passionate about your subject, pass it on to others. The skills you learn in your own degree program can be taught to the next generation while you gain academic prestige. Even more so if add a philosophical touch to your teaching style.
Top paying Jobs to get with a Bachelor’s in Humanities
Yes, it’s possible not only to get a job, but also a well-paid job with a Bachelor’s in Humanities. PayScale has ranked some of the most financially rewarding jobs for Humanities graduates. Here they are:
- Content Strategist – you’ll need a Bachelor’s in Journalism so that you can put in place great strategies for editorial and marketing content. The average pay is 87,000 USD/year.
- Communications Director or Manager – a Bachelor’s in Communication will prepare you to lead the communication policy of companies and institutions. The average pay is 86,000 USD/year.
- Content Marketing Manager – Communication and Marketing go hand in hand when you’ll need to plan the marketing content that helps companies grow. The average pay is 76,000 USD/year.
- Technical Writer or Editor – All those nights trying to understand Shakespeare during your English Language & Literature studies will pay off when you’ll be hired to find creative ways to make technical terms understandable. The average pay is 71,000 USD/year
- Managing Editor – if you study Journalism, you might find a job where you will not only edit, but also manage an editorial team. The average pay is 68,000 USD/year.
- Proposal Writer – following your degree in English Language & Literature, you can apply for a job where your creativity and good writing skills are used to obtain funds and financing for different projects. The average pay is 65,000 USD/year.
Also check out online Bachelors in Humanities.
There’s always something to do with a B.A. in Humanities. If you put passion in your studies and use your perseverance and ambition at your job after you graduate, you’ll never regret having studied Humanities.
You can also take your career one step further and go for a Master's degree. You'll increase your knowledge even more and you can become one of the top minds in your field.