A humanities degree offers many professional options, including work in the creative industries, writing, psychology, and marketing. Several employment opportunities directly entail utilizing the understanding of human behavior.
This article examines the 27 humanities majors careers available and what to expect from each one.
Humanities majors are what?
Students who study humanities receive training in rhetoric as well as in the skills of expressing themselves through writing and speaking. Students must take a few communications classes because one of the main objectives of the humanities is to educate students on effective communication. Reading for class assignments is extensive, with a focus on works by ancient Greek and Roman authors.
Additionally, they will participate in class debates and be required to write original content. Humanities majors will practice their ability to speak and write as well as discover how to use language to apply philosophical, historical, and literary themes as well as to change attitudes and behaviors.
Why do humanities matter?
The benefits of studying the humanities are numerous. Studying other people’s languages, histories, and cultures through the humanities promotes a greater awareness of other people. The topic also illuminates the moral, spiritual, and intellectual frameworks through which people from all over the world and across history have attempted to make sense of the world. Students might learn empathy from this, and that might promote social equality and fairness.
Humanities courses benefit individuals personally by fostering their ability to write and read critically. Students learn how to think creatively and approach each problem from various angles in this topic. More importantly, humanities teach pupils how to reason critically and rationally when presented with nuanced and frequently subjective data.
Humanities majors careers
Below are a few of the more typical career options you could investigate with a humanities degree:
1. Diplomatic agent
National average yearly salary: $79,129
Primary responsibilities: When dealing with foreign dignitaries, diplomatic representatives in humanities majors careers represent a state or nation and bargain on its behalf. They gather with other diplomats to discuss policy, plan transactions, and uphold constructive ties with foreign countries.
2. A salesperson
National average yearly salary: $69,775
Primary responsibilities: A sales representative’s job in humanities majors careers is to come up with strategies for better promoting a company’s service or goods to leads like customers, distributors, and dealers. To do this, it is frequently necessary to network with others and cultivate customer relationships on a professional level. This can be achieved by offering samples or giving working examples of the service or product.
Educational qualifications: Employers often need at least a high school diploma in terms of education. With a humanities degree, you’ll probably be familiar with behavioral science.
3. Executive trainer
National average yearly salary: $87,096
Primary responsibilities: Executive coaches in humanities majors careers assist executives and other experts in managerial roles in achieving their professional objectives. They discuss career goals and desires with their clients before formulating a plan to carry them out on time.
4. A sign language interpreter
National average yearly salary: $64,287
Primary responsibilities: The communication barrier between hearing persons and those who are deaf or hard of hearing is filled by a sign language interpreter in humanities majors careers. They typically have a strong command of both English and American Sign Language, which makes use of gestures, body language, and fingerspelling.
Education requirements: Unlike most careers requiring a bachelor’s degree in the humanities or arts, a sign language interpreter is not required to hold an undergraduate degree in ASL, English, communication, or interpretation. However, many hiring managers prefer candidates who have taken courses in ASL or deaf culture. The majority of ASL interpreters hold at least an associate’s degree in the field.
5. Proposal manager
National average yearly salary: $95,729
Primary responsibilities: A proposal manager in humanities majors careers is in charge of all of the business’s proposals, from initial preparation to the final presentation to the client. They organize documents, come up with proposal ideas, and convince clients to take their offers into account.
6. A public relations specialist
National average yearly salary: $60,605
Primary responsibilities: Public relations managers in humanities majors careers are in charge of developing and upholding the public perception of their clients or organization. To increase interaction, they aid in the creation of press releases for the press and create a transparent link between the client and their client’s customers.
By doing this, the client’s brand identity is established, and advertising gains from the visibility. PR professionals frequently have to analyze all published materials and even finance events for the benefit of the business. In addition, they react to any public issues that can harm their reputation.
Education qualifications: Having a degree in the humanities guarantees that you can comprehend and interact with people to uphold their public image. While having a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or any other business-related discipline is preferred by employers, having strong writing abilities can also be taken into account.
7. The human resources director
National average yearly salary: $95,794
Primary responsibilities: The director of human resources in humanities majors careers is responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources management at a corporation, including hiring, remuneration, benefits, and employee relations. They create effective personnel management policies, which help to shape the corporate culture.
8. A human resources professional
National average yearly salary: $52,800
Primary responsibilities: HR professionals in humanities majors careers are in charge of a company’s hiring, retention, and staff turnover. All possible candidates are subjected to interviews, assessments, and background checks to determine their suitability for the position. Increasing employee awareness of corporate policies, the payroll process and benefits management are among additional duties.
Education qualifications: Employers choose applicants with a Bachelor of Science in human resources or a closely related discipline, including the behavioral sciences. Being able to approach others and any issues they run into at work is a huge plus.
9. Technical writer
National average yearly salary: $60,993
Primary responsibilities: A technical writer in humanities majors careers is in charge of simplifying complex and technical information for use in instruction manuals and guides. They assemble instructions and operating manuals for customers and also for the support personnel in enterprises, producing how-to manuals.
These professions are typically found in the IT sector since complicated information must be communicated and comprehended by a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds.
Education qualifications: A college degree is typically needed for technical writing professions. Job candidates for specialized positions should have knowledge or experience in fields like programming, web development, information technology, or engineering. Although employers favor applicants with a bachelor’s program in journalism or English, any college degree will do. Technical writers can operate as freelancers in addition to working for companies or agencies.
10. An editorial strategist
National average yearly salary: $76,405
Primary responsibilities: A content strategist in humanities majors careers is an advertising professional who plans the kind of content that a firm should publish. They oversee a plan for producing those deliverables and decide which types of articles, videos, and photographs are most interesting to their audience.
11. Travel agent
National average yearly salary: $59,523
Primary responsibilities: Planning, organizing, and managing hotel, transportation, and leisure for customers traveling alone or in groups are the responsibilities of a travel agent in humanities majors careers. They must be aware of the time to plan daily itineraries and organize travel. A travel agent can simplify the client’s life by doing all the research and booking work for them, saving them the trouble of having to figure out where the best places to travel are.
They frequently take their trips to travel places to gain personal knowledge so they can advise their clients. Differentiation is prevalent in this industry, with some businesses catering only to elders or people in their younger years.
As a result, the client’s brand identification is strengthened, and advertising gains from the exposure. PR professionals frequently have to analyze all published content and even finance events for the benefit of the business. In addition, they react to any public issues that can harm their reputation.
Educational qualifications: Having a degree in the humanities guarantees that you can comprehend and interact with people to uphold their public image. While having a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or any other business-related discipline is preferred by employers, having strong writing abilities can also be taken into account.
12. Development director
National average yearly salary: $98,674
Primary responsibilities: Development directors in humanities majors careers are in charge of organizing their organization’s fundraising plans. They allocate the fundraising budget, forecast revenue from fundraising activities, and cultivate connections with significant donors.
13. An archaeologist
National average yearly salary: $57,666
Primary responsibilities: An archaeologist’s primary responsibility is to investigate the history and behavioral evolution of humans. This is accomplished by identifying the physical traits, linguistic traits, and cultural traits of individuals from all over the world. Archaeologists in humanities majors careers continually put their theories about the lifestyles people have chosen throughout history to the test. Utilizing the current excavation tools and database programs to store newly acquired data are both necessary parts of this operation.
Education qualifications: You can work as a lab technician or assistant with a bachelor’s program in anthropology.
14. Manager of regulatory affairs
National average yearly salary: $109,318
Primary responsibilities: A regulatory affairs manager in humanities majors careers is responsible for managing communications with government agencies on behalf of their company and making sure they adhere to legal requirements. They set up compliance processes, plan inspections, and apply internal regulatory oversight within their company.
15. Copywriter
National average yearly salary: $54,623
Primary responsibilities: The primary responsibility of a copywriter in humanities majors careers is to develop screenplays, advertising copy, and content for website pages to produce leads for their business. When considering their target market and fundamental ideas for the copy, copywriters frequently talk with their clients about these topics. They frequently adopt a novel strategy of adopting the perspective of the consumer by developing a buyer’s persona. In the marketing and advertising sector, copywriters are frequently employed by agencies, in-house teams, or as independent contractors.
Education qualifications: Businesses prefer copywriters who have a client list, and many of them demand a bachelor’s qualification in English, advertising, marketing, or communications. Employers may recruit someone with excellent writing abilities if they are not always rigid with the requirements.
16. Training supervisor
National average yearly salary: $65,412
Primary responsibilities: Training managers’ main responsibilities in humanities majors careers include creating, organizing, and supervising employee training programs. After determining their team’s needs for personal growth, they either build unique training materials or find outside suppliers.
17. An art director
National average yearly salary: $72,920
Primary responsibilities: An art director in humanities majors’ careers creates the artistic direction for a marketing or advertising campaign. They coordinate the efforts of the creative team to create a unified vision for the appearance of the imagery and designs in a marketing campaign.
18. Social worker
National average yearly salary: $55,215
Primary responsibilities: A social worker in humanities majors careers assists those who are struggling with monetary, psychological, behavioral, and emotional issues. This activity entails identifying those who require assistance and observing the things they require and are capable of doing to better their living circumstances and integrate into society.
The majority of the clients’ social workers assist those who are struggling with illness, marital problems, and job loss. There are numerous specializations in this field of work, including helping persons with impairments, mental illness, or children.
Education qualifications: Employers frequently look for social workers with bachelor’s degrees. However, those with similar degrees in psychology, sociology, or behavioral science will have an easier time getting employment.
19. A communications director
National average yearly salary: $83,468
Primary responsibilities: The position of director of communications in humanities majors careers organizes the public relations, brand, and reputation of the organization or department. They are responsible for organizing press conferences and media releases, keeping in touch with press contacts, and handling the public perception of the business.
20. Historian
National average yearly salary: $82,539
Primary responsibilities: Historians in humanities majors careers use primary source research to produce original articles, books, and documentaries on historical themes. They offer advice on historical-related projects and do historical data analysis to determine the historical importance of a certain circumstance or artifact.
21. A high school instructor
National average yearly salary: $50,285
Primary responsibilities: The primary responsibility of a high school teacher in humanities majors careers is to provide students with the academic instruction they will need to succeed in college. Additionally, their duties may vary from school to school as some also assist students in acquiring the technical abilities required to compete in the labor market.
Education qualifications: This differs depending on the sort of institution you work in. Every state mandates that public high school instructors hold a bachelor’s degree. Most states, although not all, require individuals to declare a major in a particular field, such as chemistry, history, or the arts.
Private schools don’t require teachers to adhere to state requirements, in contrast to public schools. Another distinction is that, in contrast to private schools, all states do not impose certification or license demands on teachers working in public schools.
22. Editor
National average yearly salary: $54,709
Primary responsibilities: Content must be reviewed by an editor before it can be published. They spend their time examining the writing, content, and other materials to look for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation issues. It is part of their responsibility to make the content simpler to grasp for their intended audience, thus it will go through numerous revisions before being submitted for publication. The information is meticulously designed as a story that is captivating for their readers, and fact-checking is typically done to confirm the validity of sources. Additionally, editors in humanities majors careers regularly offer suggestions for stronger headlines to improve the writing.
Education qualifications: Bachelor’s degrees in journalism, English, or communications are preferred for editors. Employers also seek out candidates with great writing abilities. Those with expertise in disciplines like programming can also apply for specialized employment as editors. Understanding how to operate a computer is crucial because it is the editor’s primary means of departmental contact.
23. Chief Editor
National average yearly salary: $76,632
Primary responsibilities: Senior editors oversee the making of written material, choosing pitch ideas, and ensuring the quality of finished products. Chief editors in humanities majors careers assign duties to writers, give subordinate editors the responsibility of proofreading, set deadlines, and give final approval for publications.
24. A graphic artist
National average yearly salary: $53,892
Primary responsibilities: Graphic designers in humanities majors’ careers utilize art and technology to illustrate concepts with pictures. To determine what they require and how to integrate the message they desire in the shape of logos, graphics, or the structure of a website, they must personally meet with clients.
A graphic designer’s duties can include adjusting even the smallest aspects, such as the typeface used for texts or the format when writing blog articles. Since each of them contributes significantly to the company’s brand image, you can typically find this kind of activity intimately linked to a company’s advertising and marketing efforts.
Education qualifications: A Bachelor of Science in graphic design or a closely related discipline is frequently necessary for those looking for full-time employment.
25. Analyst
National average yearly salary: $71,471
Primary responsibilities: Analysts’ main responsibilities in humanities majors’ careers are to gather and research data to analyze patterns and trends. They give clients advice on the meaning of their firm KPIs and offer solutions for how to alter current procedures to get the desired outcomes.
26. Therapist
National average yearly salary: $69,881
Primary responsibilities: Therapists’ main responsibilities in humanities majors careers are to identify and treat patients that are suffering from mental and emotional disorders. They use psychotherapy and other counseling strategies to support the mental wellness of their patients.
27. Psychologist
National average yearly salary: $94,970
Primary responsibilities: Psychologists in humanities majors careers observe, interpret, and determine how individuals relate to one another and interact with their surroundings to research human behavior. By developing hypotheses in controlled settings and carrying out studies that either confirm or contradict their views, they frequently strive to figure out how people act, think, and feel.
Education qualifications: A doctorate in psychology is necessary to work in clinical or counseling psychology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are numerous rewarding career paths for humanities majors that leverage their unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives. The versatility of a humanities degree allows graduates to explore various industries, including education, writing and editing, research, non-profit organizations, government, and more.
Humanities majors bring critical thinking, communication, research, and problem-solving skills to the table, which is highly valued in today’s job market. By combining their passion for the humanities with practical skills and experience, humanities majors can find fulfilling careers that align with their interests and make a positive impact in their chosen field. Whether it’s in academia, arts and culture, social justice, or beyond, humanities majors have the potential to shape society and contribute to a more inclusive and empathetic world.
Frequently Asked Questions about humanities majors careers
- What career options are available for humanities majors?
Humanities majors have a wide range of career options available to them. Some common career paths include education, writing and editing, journalism, research, publishing, arts and cultural management, non-profit organizations, public relations, social work, and government.
- Are humanities majors limited to careers directly related to their field of study?
While humanities majors can pursue careers directly related to their field of study, their skills and knowledge are highly transferable. Humanities majors possess strong critical thinking, communication, research, and problem-solving skills, which are valued in many industries. They can apply these skills to various roles and sectors, making career options diverse and flexible.
- How can humanities majors enhance their employability?
Humanities majors can enhance their employability by gaining practical experience through internships, volunteering, or part-time jobs. They can also develop additional skills such as digital literacy, project management, and data analysis to complement their humanities background. Networking, building professional relationships, and showcasing their work through portfolios or publications can also enhance their job prospects.
- Can humanities majors pursue advanced degrees?
Yes, humanities majors can pursue advanced degrees such as master’s or doctoral degrees in their field of study or related disciplines. Advanced degrees can open doors to research, teaching, and leadership positions in academia, as well as specialized roles in fields such as cultural heritage preservation, museum studies, or archival work.
- Are there opportunities for entrepreneurship for humanities majors?
Absolutely. Humanities majors possess valuable skills in critical thinking, creativity, and understanding human behavior and culture, which can be advantageous for entrepreneurship. They can leverage their knowledge to start their businesses in fields such as writing, consulting, event planning, cultural and heritage tourism, or even launching innovative social enterprises that address societal issues.