What Can I do with Liberal Studies Degree

I dropped out of college at age 21. Now age 25 the closest I can come to graduating in a degree is Liberal Studies bachelors. After age 21 i worked mostly in retail like T.J. Maxx. So what are my career options after I graudate a degree in Liberal Studies if I decide to at least finish in something. I would like to get married and not work an 11 hour job as a nurse assistant.

 

A liberal studies degree means (in general) that you've learned some critical thinking skills and have learned something of more than one academic discipline -- and should be able to write and express yourself with clarity and logic. That's of value to an employer, I'd think.

In itself, it's not specific job preparation but it IS a means to "check the box" that says you have a Bachelor's degree. That simple thing greatly increases the number of jobs you can be considered for. And you will have "learned how to learn" - a skill you'll probably need on-the-job.

Well, a degree won't guarantee that ... but I can't see how it would hurt. :smile:

Johann

 

Johnny, what can you make of this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7fchtEJpy8

Seriously, after taking your diploma and turning into a pterodactyl, you should realize that you can do just about anything you want with the degree. So much has to do with having one compared to what it's in. Not true in all cases, sure, but you'd be surprised. If getting one in liberal arts means getting it much sooner, do it.

If you subsequently feel the need to have a qualification in a particular area, go get a master's. (Engineering and similar fields excepted, of course.)

 

I hear they are hiring at Chick-Fil-a... :smile:

And their are Federal & State jobs a plenty that just require a degree. A Lot of local companies as well are just looking fir something who can learn & think. A Liberal Arts Degree helps in those situations.

 

Liberal Arts Degree = Ding, fries are done; Ding fries are done; Ding fries are done.

In all seriousness, you can apply it toward another field of study to advance into a graduate program. But outside of that, most employers are not going to find much utility from a degree in Liberal Arts.

 

So what entry level jobs can I get into after completing Liberal studies degree and great advantage I have is work experience under my belt.

 

OK - not that much use in the workplace, in and of itself, if you say so - although I worked, back in the day, with such grads in a business environment -- and they were, as a group, very fast learners and mostly made successful careers for themselves in marketing, management and other areas.

One thing you CAN do. You can check off the box that says you have a degree. That will enable you to apply for 'way more jobs. And then you can get to the workplace -- and that can be really hard without the degree.

Yes - it can be difficult to find a job with this degree. But is it not more difficult, with no degree at all?

Johann

 

Maybe not so difficult, if you have a welding certificate, or electrician's papers. I realize that - but it's beyond the scope of this particular discussion.

Nelson Bunker Hunt once said, "a billion dollars isn't what it used to be." I realize a garden-variety arts degree isn't worth what it used to be, either. But I still hesitate to discourage a person from earning one. I still think that provided it's attainable with little or no debt, a liberal arts degree is better than the alternative (no degree at all).

Johann

 

Absolutely Johann, one can check-off the “I have-a-degree” box. Outside that … a liberal arts degree is essentially a meaningless academic credential to industry.

P.S. The A.L.M. degree from e.g., Harvard Extension School would likely have value; however, not via the liberal arts degree … but the Harvard brand /reputation.

 

DyanBermeo, there are many jobs that just require any degree. The parents of one of my colleagues told her to study what she loved and the work would follow. It did. She loves her job as an educational consultant even though her degree is in Spanish, which is unrelated to the work she does.

That being said, if you are unsure about getting a liberal studies degree, tell us more about your work experience and what credits you have already earned. Someone here might be able to suggest another degree that would work for you. Also, what type of career do you think you might like to go into?

 

I'd just finish the degree. You can always add on to it in the future.

 

Good advice. Far better to have a Liberal Arts degree than a bunch of credits.

 

In my opinion, for someone who doesn't love school, Liberal Studies is going to be torture. Liberal Studies is an entire degree made up of English, math, social science, history, etc. with lots of reading and writing in topics that may or may not interest you. Now, for someone who loves school, this is a great degree. For the purpose of an adult already in a career, and they don't need specific new skills (just to "check the box") then Liberal Studies is also an excellent option because it's a very flexible degree in terms of which courses can be used and how those courses can be completed (online, through testing out, etc) For someone looking for a direct route to the workforce, Liberal Studies is not it.

If career options are truly your main goal, you need to pursue a degree whose purpose is career training. If, for example, you went to college for nursing, you'd graduate and BE a nurse. If you went to college for automotive technology, you'd graduate and BE an automotive tech. If you know what you'd like to BE, then work backwards and find out what degree is required to be "that job." This is the path to cultivating a career- first you get the training, then you get some job experience doing the job, and then you may (or may not) find it useful to get additional education (though not necessarily a degree).

Good luck!

 

Good point! I didn't think of that. I guess I just threw it in the general studies/interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary degree basket, which I've seen to me more flexible.

I say figure it out ASAP and get started. One thing I regret most is not figuring out things a lot sooner. It took me too long to decide on a school and major. I wanted to complete a traditional major, but in the end the multidisciplinary studies degree was my best option. If I would have decided a lot earlier, I would have graduated in 2010 vs. 2012.

In the end I felt comfortable with my choice because of my military service, community college training (AAS in electrical technology and certificates in diesel mechanics and industrial maintenance), and wastewater treatment experience (since 2004) with my current company.

 

Point taken.

I won't argue with that, either. Why not? Because it works!

But:

Perhaps Dyan has already successfully handled a significant amount of the "torture" of the Liberal Arts curriculum. She doesn't say how many credits she still has to achieve, but she did state she perceives this as the quickest route to a degree in her circumstances. And that seems to be important.

Career-oriented degree? Multi-disciplinary? Both are great suggestions - as long as Dyan is interested in more than "checking the degree box." It's fine with me if she is -- or isn't. Her choice. I know we'll all do our best to help, either way. :smile:

Johann

 

Yeah I have work experience in retail and in sales and in tutoring. The only degree Im close to obtaining is a a Bachelors in Philoshophy Bachelors in Liberal Studies. I have an associates degree of arts this summer.

 

Congratulations on the associates degree!! Finishing my associates degree opened up some opportunities for much better jobs, especially when they knew I had that degree and was working on finishing the bachelors.

What kind of job would you like to have?

 

Here is my work history Dyan Bermeo | LinkedIn

Im looking at these two programs two complete a degree. Im thinking of just getting it done.

BA in General Studies http://ucenter.ehclients.com/pdfs/degrees/2013_EIU_BA_GenStudies.pdf

Ba in Liberal Studies http://ucenter.ehclients.com/pdfs/degrees/2013_UIS_BA_LibStudies.pdf

 

Yeah I like to help people and have great customer service skills. I enjoy making people laugh and smile. I like to help people Im a passionate person and people person.

I decided to just finish a degree either in Bachelors of General Studies or Bachelors of Liberal Arts. Which ever one takes most of my credits I will pick so I can graduate fast.


Here is my works history. Dyan Bermeo's Experience

Sales Floor Associate/
TJ Maxx
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; TJX; Retail industry
November 2013 – Present (7 months) Mundelein,Illinois

Compare merchandise invoices to items actually received to ensure that shipments are correct.
Design and set up advertising signs and displays of merchandise on shelves, counters, or tables to attract customers and promote sales.
Receive, open, unpack and issue sales floor merchandise.
Stock shelves, racks, cases, bins, and tables with new or transferred merchandise.
Take inventory or examine merchandise to identify items to be reordered or replenished.
Answer customers' questions about merchandise and advise customers on merchandise selection.
Clean display cases, shelves, and aisles.
Itemize and total customer merchandise selection at checkout counter, using cash register, and accept cash or charge card for purchases.
Pack customer purchases in bags or cartons.
Requisition merchandise from supplier based on available space, merchandise on hand, customer demand, or advertised specials.
Stamp, attach, or change price tags on merchandise, referring to price list.
Transport packages to customers' vehicles.
Retail Associate
Party City
Privately Held; 5001-10,000 employees; Retail industry
October 2013 – November 2013 (2 months) Mundelein, IL

Deliver exceptional customer service through personal contact with customers while assigned to various positions: Roadside Character: Dress in a designated costume standing outside to attract customers to our store. Dress the part and bring em in! Greeter: Greet each customer, direct them as needed, distribute hand baskets and flyers and thank them for shopping our store. Seasonal Floor Associate: Provide customer service within assigned zones which include Halloween decorations, props, supplies or every day categories. Picture Wall Associate: Greets customers, explain our picture wall process and communicates costume selections. Discuss and direct customers to accessories to complete their character. Service Associate: Verify stock on a costume selection and deliver it to the customer or designated associate. Costume Pick-up Associate: Deliver requested costumes to customers. Suggest recommended accessories and direct to designated associates to help complete their character. Accessory Specialist: Assist customers in turning costumes into characters with additional accessories and helping create costumes from our theme shops.
ID Technician
College of Lake County
Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry
August 2011 – August 2013 (2 years 1 month) Grayslake, Illinois

The ID Technician Student Worker will navigate and maintain the Student ID system. This position requires student workers to be dependable, have good work ethic, maintain excellent customer service and available to work at both the Grayslake and Southlake Campus. Technicians work with sensitive information.
Courtesy Clerk/Maintenance
Jewel Osco
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; Retail industry
July 2009 – August 2010 (1 year 2 months) Grayslake, Illinois

Bagger, or Bag boy, is an unofficial title given to courtesy clerks at supermarkets. The primary duties of a bagger revolve around putting groceries into a bag and then into a shopping cart. Upon requests, baggers may take the groceries out to a customer's car or supply other forms of service. Some baggers in stores will do this unless the customer refuses and wishes to bring their own groceries out. Depending on the store, other duties may include cleaning the store, cleaning the bathrooms, collecting carts, sweeping the store, fixing and maintaining the bottle recycling machines, giving customer assistance, putting items customers initially intended to purchase but changed their mind about at the register back on the shelf (usually called "back shop" or "returns"), and reorganizing products on aisles to make a more neat appearance (commonly called "blocking", "facing" or "conditioning"). The duties vary vastly depending on the store and union regulations, and some of previous duties in fact, are actually prohibited from being done at some stores by a courtesy clerk due to union contracts. The title of bagger is the result of an extensive evolution of the position of "courtesy clerk". The title "bag boy" was adopted for some time, until it was finally shortened to "bagger".
Recreation Assistant
Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association
Government Agency; 11-50 employees; Recreational Facilities and Services industry
May 2009 – August 2009 (4 months) Round Lake Park District, Illinois.

Assume certain responsibilities, primarily, the safety and instruction of recreational activity participants and Show Low DEAL after school participants. Position reports to the assigned Recreation Leader, or Recreation Coordinator with indirect supervision by the Recreation Services Director. Performs other duties as assigned or directed. Additional functions, responsibilities & qualifications listed on reverse side.