What does one do with a BA in Liberal Studies???

What career fields typically employ people with this kind of degree?

Please, no McDonald's, Burger King or "do you want fries with that" jokes.

 

They are not jokes!

A liberal studies degree will get you a shot at a low level management job in retail, or a low end clerical management job.

It will shave perhaps 6 years off the experience requirement to move up in an organization IMHO.

 

For me, and probably quite a few adult learners, a BA in Liberal Studies gives me a little check box next to 4yr/college degree, and that is about it. I already have a career which I enjoy, and it pays the bills, but I will make myself a slightly stronger candidate by being able to say that I have a degree, regardless of what that degree is in. I am in the process of getting my ticket punched, I am enjoying my studies, but they really have nothing to do with my career.

This is where having an already established track record in a field is an advantage much more so than having a degree. I am not looking for an entry level job, and so my concerns are different than someone who is. YMMV of course.

I have seen people with many types of degrees in many different employment situations. The fact that liberal studies may cover everything from English Lit. to Higher Mathematics makes this difficult to pigeon hole this degree into any one category of jobs. So much of employment depends on the individual, that except for extremely regulated fields, you will probably find at least someone with a general studies, or other "want fries with that?" degree in just about any profession.

 

Liberal studies programs were originally intended to prepare multiple-subject school teachers. In practice this usually means elementary school teachers. Liberal studies graduates often immediately enter teaching credential programs.

Other liberal studies graduates enter law school, I guess, or professional training in some other field in which a broad general education might be a plus.

And many jobs out there only specify that an applicant have a college degree, but don't specify the field. The degree would certainly work in those cases.

Often liberal studies programs are highly customizable, and can be adapted to meet individual needs. But the generic program is usually designed around the multiple-subjects credential requirements.

 

BillDayson has some good points.

One thing you can consider is to go to graduate school (e.g. Law, or MBA) or get your teaching credentials (1-2 yrs.).

You can always go to University of Phoenix (on-campus or on-line) and get an MBA degree (for what it's worth); this would certainly make you a better candidate for a professional job. UOP's MBA program has no specific requirements with regard to the major of your bachelors degree, they only require that you do have a BS or BA degree, and some work experience in any field (lie if you have to, they really don't care).

 

Law school, of course!

Nosborne, JD
(Whose BA is in Humane Studies)

 

Graduates with a BSLS from Excelsior have gone on to a wide variety of careers and been accepted to a wide variety of masters programs. Review Excelsior's "Live & Learn" magazine for stories of BSLS graduates.

I graduated from Regents (now) Excelsior and a majority of my credits were in engineering, business, and math. No one has ever questioned this degree on my engineering resume (either customers or potential employers). I was simultaneously accepted by both CSUDH and Embry Riddle, chose to do my MSQA at CSUDH and I am now finishing my Master Aeronautical Science at ERAU.

Incidently neither my diploma nor my transcript include "liberal studies".

 

Further to my previous posting, I looked through the Spring/Summer 2002 issue of "Live & Learn" and found people with a BA or BS in liberal studies have the following jobs (of course some went on to earn higher degrees):
Loss prevention director, author, human resourcer, librarian, student, writer/poet/musician, chiropractor, psychologist, ESL coordinator, Scout reach director/chaplain, nurse, novelist, MD in residency, naval officer, and statistician.

 

My suggestion, echoing Marko, is that you go to grad school (preferably a program with more focus). Frequently people have difficulty deciding between business, teaching, etc but I believe you'll find that a BA in Liberal Studies isn't worth all that much in the marketplace.
Jack
(who also has a BA in Liberal Arts and then went to grad school - Social Work)

 

Does anybody have a BA in inhumane Studies?

 

What does one do with a B.A. in liberal arts? Why, go on to an M.A. in humanities and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies, of course!


Cheers,

 

and then you can serve baked potato with filet mignon? just kidding, I think!

 

Indeed they do, Dan!

Adolf Hitler
Saddam Hussein
Osama bin Laden
Etc.................................................................

 

Joseph Q.

Your options have been given to you. Mostly. Perhaps you should look at starting a business. A varied background is essential to achieving success in that field. Just do something that you can enjoy if you choose that path.

Regards,
Tony

 

Get a job, go to graduate school, or join the military.

John

 

It can be argued that the first and last are the same (i.e. get a job = join the military) unless you define join the mailitary = get a career, which is a valid point in my point of reference.

 

If you wanted a commission in the Armer Forces, only a degree is required, what it is in is not always important.

Yes, it can also lead to law or medical school.

 

I have to disagree with Mike on this. I work in management consulting and find Liberal Arts / Liberal Studies degree holders to rank highest in our personality measures when placing mid and top-level managers. We found these grads rank highest in emotional intelligence, especially conscientiousness and openness to change. I know many private equity firms tend to prefer these personalities, especially those with high GPAs and a broad-based education, making them easy to train and reliable performers. Those who rank least desirable for upper-level management are ironically those who are strong oral communicators and those with high technical abilities, not matter the degree held.