Rooted in the classical university tradition, arts and humanities degrees examine the role that human beings play in the development of the world. arts and humanities majors look at the ways that art and culture have influenced history, and how those decisions affect the way we deal with other people in our everyday lives.

Although arts and humanities majors choose concentrations ranging from art to language to religion, they share a common set of courses, designed to develop strong skills to succeed in just about any career. This shared examination of the world gives arts and humanities majors the remarkable ability to tie today’s decisions to those of the past, in a way that can prevent us from repeating catastrophic mistakes.

What Jobs are Hot in Arts and Humanities?

Not all designers get their own reality shows, but many arts and humanities majors combine their love of style with their sense of function to help improve our lives in ways we don’t even notice. Before they take to the runways or to the design expos, these specialists start their careers in an arts and humanities degree program. Thanks to technological advances, many of them can even take college courses online to earn their degrees.

Interior designers undergo years of training to become experts at creating wonderful places for us to live, work, and shop. Fashion designers keep us looking good and feeling comfortable. Industrial designers make the products we use work even better. Despite their diverse interests, all three of those specialists share a background in arts and humanities that keeps them connected to the customers they serve.

They may not always enjoy the jet-set lifestyles of the spies on television, but many intelligence agents put their arts and humanities degrees to use to keep our country safe from harm. Whether they’re monitoring broadcasts in foreign languages or preparing analysis of historic conflicts for senior officials, these smart and highly flexible team members enjoy significant job security and a solid benefits package.

Visit any college campus today, and you’ll hear dorm rooms blasting the sounds of high-energy video games. Most of those fantasy worlds grew from the brainstorms of video game designers. Game art & design careers have exploded in the past few years, with arts and humanities majors combining their skills in art, language, and social interaction to develop new generations of challenging, engrossing games.

Many different businesses compete for our attention every day. They try to communicate to us in print, on the Internet, on the television, on our radios, and even on walls and vehicles around us. None of this communication can happen without the creative work of trained advertising executives. These arts and humanities graduates use every skill they learned during their degree programs to connect buyers and sellers in fun and unusual ways.

Why Should You Consider a College Degree in Arts and Humanities?

If you’re not ready to choose a career where you only get to do one thing for the rest of your life, this might be the field for you. Even though arts and humanities majors still specialize in one or two key skills, they benefit from exposure to a wide variety of courses and instructors.

Many staffing experts estimate that the amount of time that the average American spends in one line of work has shrunk to less than seven years. Considering our extended lifespans, you might have to consider shifting your career six or even seven times! With an arts and humanities degree under your belt, you can enter the workforce at many different points, combining your understanding of the world with your life experience to create a string of varying career moves.

In addition, arts and humanities majors also enjoy a depth of knowledge that truly allows them to become citizens of the world. Not only do arts and humanities majors use their knowledge to relate more effectively with their friends and neighbors, they often devote time and energy to community causes. You can find many arts and humanities graduates working as volunteers in non-profit organizations or as political staffers helping to elect a candidate.

What Kinds of Candidates Make the Best Arts and Humanities Majors?

Students who love to explore their own personal growth, who want to challenge themselves with new ideas, and who love to dive deep into multiple subject areas at the same time will thrive as arts and humanities majors. Since many arts and humanities programs allow students to actively create their own curricula, majors can pick and choose the course work that excites them the most. Online college classes in a variety of subjects are available for students to supplement their degrees (or earn them entirely online).

As a result, students who want to explore multiple passions can do so under the umbrella of a quality arts and humanities program. In fact, many schools encourage students to break out of their familiar routines by mixing required courses in sociology, music, literature, and language into the schedule along with their specialty subjects. Many arts and humanities majors discover new passions after attending courses they might not have selected on their own.

Busy professionals who want to expand their skills can reap huge rewards from participating in online degree programs in arts and humanities. Because students can choose from such a diverse and useful selection of courses every semester, anyone can find subjects that apply to their own dreams and ambitions.