Why Choose the Humanities?
A Strong Foundation for a Fulfilling Future
A university education has always been about more than vocational training. At its best, higher education provides students with a broad, interdisciplinary knowledge base while cultivating critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a lifelong capacity to learn and adapt.
While some fields, such as engineering or computer science, appear to offer more direct career pathways, the humanities prepare students for a wide range of careers and for lives of meaning, adaptability, and impact.
Humanities Graduates Thrive in the Workforce
Contrary to common misconceptions, humanities graduates fare very well in the job market. A 2023 University of Oxford study, The Value of the Humanities, offers the most comprehensive analysis to date of the career trajectories of over 9,000 humanities graduates. Its findings are both compelling and encouraging.
Resilience and Adaptability
Humanities majors cultivate the ability to navigate ambiguity, think strategically, and adapt to evolving labor markets; traits that have proven invaluable in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing impacts of automation and digitization.
Diverse Career Paths
Humanities graduates enter a wide range of sectors including business, law, media, technology, and the creative industries. In fact, 21 percent of the Oxford graduates studied entered the business sector, with 13 percent each entering law and the creative fields. Increasing numbers are also entering ICT and digital communications roles.
Highly Valued Skills
Humanities programs allows students to develop skills in areas employers consistently identify as essential: critical thinking, communication, empathy, collaboration, complex problem-solving, and the ability to synthesize and present information.
Long-Term Personal and Professional Growth
Humanities graduates often report that their education shaped their values, sense of purpose, and capacity for ethical reasoning. Many cite a strong connection between their undergraduate studies and their desire to contribute meaningfully to society, whether by addressing global challenges like climate change, misinformation, or the ethical implications of AI.
Job Satisfaction and Financial Stability
While financial return was not the primary motivation for most humanities students surveyed, the average earnings of graduates were found to be well above the national average, especially for those in fields like history and modern languages.
Rochester Results
Oxford’s findings align closely with data from the University of Rochester’s Greene Center for Career Education and Connections, which shows that humanities majors pursue successful careers in law, business, education, public service, marketing, consulting, and beyond.
Employers are increasingly seeking well-rounded individuals who can think critically, communicate effectively, and adapt quickly—qualities that are at the heart of a humanities education.
Success Stories
Humanities in Action
At the University of Rochester, humanities alumni are achieving remarkable success across a wide variety of fields.
Will Givens '24, who double majored in Russian studies and political science, began his career as a paralegal and quickly distinguished himself through his analytical thinking, writing skills, and ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. Within a year of graduation, he was promoted twice, recruited by other law firms, and tapped for potential roles in intellectual property and consulting.
His story illustrates how a humanities education can prepare graduates for high-performing roles where adaptability, strong communication, and critical thinking are essential.
Preparing for the Future, Not Just a First Job
In a world where technological change is accelerating rapidly, adaptability is more valuable than ever. While some technical degrees lead directly to specialized roles, those roles themselves are increasingly subject to disruption from artificial intelligence and automation. The capacity to think broadly, learn continuously, and engage with ethical, cultural, and humanistic questions may be the most important preparation for an unpredictable future.
The humanities trains students not only to master content but to ask foundational questions:
- What is justice?
- What is truth?
- What is beauty?
- How do cultures, histories, religions, and philosophies shape the world we live in?
These questions are increasingly urgent as humanity grapples with the social, cultural, and ethical implications of technological advancement.
Majoring Across Disciplines
A Complement, Not a Constraint
Some students successfully combine a humanities major with coursework in science, engineering, or social science disciplines. Though not always easy, such interdisciplinary paths can be profoundly rewarding. They offer students the best of both worlds—technical training grounded in the broader human questions that will shape our collective future.
Ready to Learn More?
Let us help you explore how a major in the humanities can not only open doors to diverse career opportunities but also equip you to lead a thoughtful, engaged, and purpose-driven life. Reach out to the Greene Career Center or your academic advisor to start a conversation.