Cool College Majors: Liberal Arts with an Edge for Emerging Occupations

Sharon Jones of Career Thought Leaders

Can you imagine designing websites for CBS prime time shows such as CSI and Survivor or holding the title of ‘Game Guru’ at AOL? 

Would you like to evaluate global threats such as terrorism, cyber-crime, or human trafficking for agencies such as the CIA or FBI?

If you are fascinated by liberal arts subjects (e.g. graphic arts, geography, history, foreign languages) but concerned about finding a job, score major marketability through liberal arts with an edge.

Some interdisciplinary college majors prepare you for new and emerging occupations. These academic programs may make you especially attractive to employers due to a shortage of qualified applicants. Continue Reading

Top Paying Liberal Arts Majors

Three liberal arts majors had average starting salaries that topped $40,000 in 2012, according to a new report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

NACE’s January 2013 Salary Survey (see Figure 1) found that the top-paying liberal arts majors in 2012 were: Continue Reading

General Studies Majors Highest Paid Among Liberal Arts Grads

“While it’s early in the salary-reporting cycle for Class of 2012 graduates, the highest-paid majors in liberal arts at this point are fairly clustered,” says Ed Koc, NACE’s director of strategic and Foundation research. “All of their median starting salaries are above $30,000, and just $3,500 separates their highest and lowest median salaries.”

In its April 2012 Salary Survey, NACE reports that liberal arts and sciences/general studies majors have received a median salary of $38,300. (See Figure 1.)

Rounding out the top highest-paying majors for liberal arts graduates are history ($37,500), foreign languages and literatures ($37,400), English language and literature/letters ($36,900), and visual and performing arts ($34,800).

54% of Employers Plan to Hire Recent College Grads

The college graduating class of 2012 is heading into a better job market than alumni of the previous three years, according to a new study. More than half of employers (54 percent) reported they plan to hire recent college graduates in 2012, up from 46 percent in 2011, 44 percent in 2010 and 43 percent in 2009. The national survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive from February 9 to March 2, 2012, included more than 2,000 hiring managers across industries and company sizes.

“This is the first time since the recession that we’re seeing a majority of employers planning to add recent college graduates to their employee roster,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “Companies across industries are placing a strong emphasis on recruiting fresh talent for technology-related roles and positions designed to drive revenue – and they’re willing to pay more for high-skill, educated labor.”

How much will college grads likely earn?

Of those who plan to hire recent college graduates, 29 percent expect to offer higher starting salaries than they did in 2011. While employers were most likely to report that they would pay between $30,000 and $40,000, a significant portion will extend offers exceeding $50,000. Continue Reading