If you are among those more interested in the human experience and perception of the wonders of science and nature, chances are, you have or will opt for a degree in humanities. Since studying humanities requires extensive investigation and reporting, graduates not only become experts in their fields but also make for great researchers. In addition, there is an excellent focus on the study of language for humanities students, making them masters of the written and spoken word.
A humanities degree develops effective communication and problem-solving skills in students and prepares them for diverse roles in different niches. Since recruiters today also look for soft skills, for instance, time management, communication, and organization, you can be sure of developing all these skills while pursuing a humanities degree. Therefore, humanities graduates have several career options to choose from, among which many require strong research and reasoning skills. However, the minimum education requirement for some job roles could be a bachelor’s degree, whereas some specific job roles may require a master’s degree in a particular niche.
Hence, if you want to find an impactful role after completing your humanities degree, read on to explore some meaningful career paths.
Six Career Options You Can Consider with a Humanities Degree
Whether you opt for a degree in social sciences from your local community college or enroll in an humanities degree online in a specific niche from a reputed university, you will definitely acquire the above-discussed skills and pursue a career of your choice.
- Psychologist
Psychology is the study of human behavior and the inner workings of the human mind. Psychologists primarily develop theories through observation and research. However, if you opt for a clinical or counseling psychology degree, your work also includes identifying, understanding, diagnosing, and treating mental health disorders.
Most psychology-based humanities courses focus on understanding and tailoring human behavior to achieve positive outcomes. It allows students to develop an intrinsic understanding of the human psyche and develop useful theories to help people. As a psychologist, you can have a meaningful career assisting people in dealing with their mental health problems or carrying out valuable research on human behavior to improve people’s lives.
- Social Worker
Social work is the ultimate service to humanity and a great career option for humanities graduates looking to make a difference and do good. The field is focused on protecting the vulnerable and underprivileged such as orphans, the poor, the elderly, and other affected groups. Social work entails a variety of roles, such as fundraising, caretaking, volunteer work, activism, lobbying, and policy-making.
As a social worker, you can work independently, with a non-profit, or with the government in departments such as social services. In all cases, the work you do is to improve the lives of people by fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves and helping bridge the gap between the different factions of people in society.
- Healthcare Program Director
Healthcare administration is an excellent field for humanities graduates who wish to work in the health and medicine industry. Healthcare program directors work in or run non-profit organizations focusing on healthcare delivery and facilitation. Their role entails looking after one or more programs in place by a specific organization, such as vaccination, mental health, female reproductive health, and others.
As a healthcare program director, your job will include supervising the execution of a program, as well as the department operations. It will require you to have strong communication skills and a deep insight into the working of a group to provide the best possible output in your program. Fortunately, you can easily learn these things while pursuing a humanities degree.
- Writer
You can opt to become a writer after completing your humanities degree. During the program, students write, edit, read and research as per the assignments and tasks provided, which ultimately prepares them to pursue their careers as writers. If you have exceptional writing, editing, and research skills, you can work as a writer in different fields, for instance, finance, marketing, journalism, business, and tech.
- Legal Assistant
If you are good at working in a team and have excellent communication, research, and organization skills, then you can work as a legal assistant to a lawyer. While pursuing a humanities degree, you are focused on writing, researching, and critically analyzing facts and data that essentially prepare you for various roles, including that of a legal assistant. Your job will primarily include drafting documents and communicating with witnesses and clients.
- Journalist
A bachelor’s in journalism is usually a must for a career in journalism. However, a humanities degree can also suffice. Such a degree equips you with vital communication and analytical skills for journalism. As a humanities student, you develop the ability to examine events, gather and authenticate information, and, most importantly, master the art of storytelling – a vital trait of a successful journalist.
- Teacher
Another field for humanities graduates is teaching. Regardless of your major, your humanities degree will have you all set for a career as a teacher. The in-depth research skills and advanced knowledge of your specialized field make you a prime candidate for teaching. As an educator, you can help impart knowledge and shape young minds positively and effectively.
Not to mention, the critical perspective you develop as a humanities student helps you keep an open mind, which is a highly valued quality in teachers. By listening to your students’ opinions without prejudice and allowing them to present a different perspective, you will not only improve their learning experience but also increase your knowledge.
Final Words
A humanities degree is a versatile qualification that, besides just academic expertise, allows you to develop many skills required in professionals today. Critical thinking, people management, effective communication, empathetic understanding, etc., are all qualities in emotionally intelligent people. With a degree in humanities, you can learn all these skills and excel in any field you choose while also working towards making a positive impact in the world.
