This is a natural question that many students (and their parents!) ask when they begin college and again when graduation approaches. If you’re wondering this, you’re not alone.
Think about it … the student majoring in, say, accounting or nursing is undoubtedly anticipating a career as a practicing accountant or nurse, and needs no explanation of what he or she can do with the degree. But many students who major in the liberal arts do not plan on careers related directly to their degree. They’ve studied their chosen subject because of their passion for it, but upon graduation will begin careers in business or management or some other field … and that’s normal.
Study of the liberal arts prepares you for a career by instilling those attributes that employers repeatedly say they want when they hire college graduates – the intellectual skills of critical thinking, analysis of information and effective expression of ideas. In this sense, the liberal arts provide the ultimate job training. The liberal arts prepare you not just for landing that first job, but for your promotion in a few years … and for your second and third jobs. Evidence indicates that today’s college graduates will have multiple careers before they retire – that is, careers that are distinct from each other, complete switches from one to the next. Focus on the intellectual skills you gain through your studies – in precision of thought and communication – and then seek a career in a field that you care about, and don’t limit your plans by thinking that you have to find something related to your major.
Dream big, find something you have passion about, and then pursue your dreams with the confidence that your studies have given you a firm foundation for building your future!
Alumni Outcomes
An education in the liberal arts offers great freedom in choice of careers. See what some of our graduates are now doing … and please check back periodically as we update our references.
English
- Valerie Maholmes, Director of the Social/Affective Development, Child Maltreatment and Violence Research Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute, Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health – ’80 English major
- Paul Huegel, President, Somerset Medical Center Foundation – ’83 English major
- Piera Accumanno, Vice President of Political Activities, Deutsch Bank – ’92 English major
- Christine McNamara, Vice President, Director, Content and Partnerships, Penguin Random House Consumer Marketing Development – ’92
- Theresa Concepcion, litigation associate attorney, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC, Philadelphia – ’04 English major
French
- Leonardo Palumbo has served as a Senior Policy Coordinator for Eurohealthnet in Brussels – ’08 French major, minors in Italian and International Studies
- Kaitlin Hoesch, Executive Director and Special Projects Manager, the Pentagon Memorial Fund – ’10 French major
History
- Gerard Fazzio, Assistant Principal, Lafayette Township School – ’81 History and Geography double major
- Kristian Dyer, sports journalist – ’03 History major
Italian
- Emilia D’Albero, Junior Education and Events Coordinator at La Scuola di Eataly in New York City – ’15 Italian major, minor in French
Linguistics
- Kurt Keena, now pursuing a graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Montclair State University – ’13 Linguistics and Spanish double major
Philosophy
- Arielle Rodriguez currently a graduate assistantship at the University of Oklahoma – ’15 Philosophy and Classics double major with minors in Religion and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Studies
- Rika Dunlap completing a PhD in philosophy at the University of Hawaii, Manoa – ’07 Philosophy major
Political science
- Sal M. Anderton, private practice attorney and local township elected official – ’95 Political Science and Philosophy double major
Psychology
- Jennifer Cobuzzi received a PhD from American University and has worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania – ’08 Psychology major
- Ellyn McColgan, recipient of The Margaret and Herman Sokol Award for Alumni Achievement and Civic Leadership, senior executive in the financial services industry, NASDAQ OMX board member, MBA from Harvard Business School – ’75 psychology and social studies education
- Keyla Silva, founder and Executive Director, the non-profit IndaCares – ’10 Psychology major