What Can I Do With A Liberal Arts Major?
Excited about what you’re learning in class but want to know what jobs and career paths you can pursue with your liberal arts degree? Check out below!
Career Exploration Activities
Want to build your confidence about the future? Try the activities below, recommended by our Career Education Manager for the College of Liberal Arts!
Look at these resources and identify 2+ industries you’re curious about.
- What Can I Do With This Major
- Career Exploration from the Bureau of Labor - Each major has a list of industry areas, types of organizations that hire, salary ranges, strategies, etc.
Go on a Scavenger Hunt to find 5 cool jobs!
- Complete steps 1 & 2 on the Job Search Strategy Worksheet.
- Go to Handshake or a website from this list. Use the keywords you generated in previous step.
- Find and save at least 5 cool jobs and 5 companies - no need to be qualified or applying yet!
- Identify 4+ themes and take notes on the jobs you saved: populations, tasks, type of organizations/causes, educational requirements. What sparked curiosity or seems helpful?
- Watch this video for how to interpret job postings and apply, regardless of major or experience.
Try doing a possibility mapping exercise or reflecting on your values:
- The Life Possibility Map is a brief, artistic exercise to make goals.
- Do a free value sort to reflect on what's important to you in this transition.
Try listing sparks of joy or curiosity—your latest interests, priorities, and wonderings—or reflecting on your values for this next life transition.
Get some experience to explore and have something cool on your resume, on AND off campus (maybe even for credit!).
- Check out this list of opportunities in the College of Liberal Arts & SLiCE involvement
- Watch internship search strategy videos, then come to a Career Center Drop-In with questions, like resume review or interview prep. Also, don’t miss our semesterly All Majors Career Fair!
- See your major’s Internship FAQ sheet if you want to get academic credit for an internship.
- Can’t commit to a full internship? Consider a paid micro-internship through Parker Dewey!
Research to find 2+ fields alumni went into, & talk with at least 3 people about their job!
- To see what CLA grads reported doing after graduation, check out the First Destination Report.
- Fill out this Networking 101 worksheet, make a LinkedIn Profile, and connect with everyone you know. Then, check out CSU Alumni on LinkedIn! You can filter by major, see job titles and locations, see different pathways they’ve taken to reach their current role, and more.
- Want to talk with folxs doing a cool sounding job? This Networking 101 video reviews how to introduce yourself, and a list of sample informational interview questions.
Practice storytelling your skills in at least 1 bullet point or interview example response.
- Fill out the Competency Translation & Reflection Worksheet. Consider pairing this with sample resumes to see how you can talk about your experiences in application materials.
- Pull up a job you think is cool then practice prepping for an interview by using the STARR Model Worksheet and BigInterview.
Get informed about graduate school applications and identify 1 next step.
- Read and fill out the CSU Guide to Graduate School. Not sure about career goals? Talk with professors, do one more activity on this worksheet to pick 2 careers - see how grad school fits.
- Watch If and When to Attend Graduate School - open the video description to pick a chapter.
We prioritize meeting 1:1 with students who have to bust systemic barriers, including first-gen students, survivors, and more communities not listed here. Don’t be shy to make an appointment with us; we’re open year-round and can meet for an entire year after you graduate!
Here are resources that may be relevant - you deserve to feel confident about your search!
Students with disabilities:
- Disability Solutions Jobseeker Resources
- CSU Student Disability Center
- Workforce Recruitment Program
LGBTQIA+ students:
Undocumented Students:
International Students:
BIPOC Students:
- Resources by Identity/Population on CSU Career Center's website
- Equity Fund
Students with a Criminal Record:
- CSU Student Legal Services
- Resources by Identity/Population on CSU Career Center's website
Myth-busting Facts
Art majors are in CSU’s top 10 majors for job placement rates.
Philosophy, History, and English majors score the highest on the LSAT exam for law school.
Humanities major graduates compare well to other majors for salary, employment, and job satisfaction.
You can do an internship for credit, and it can be paid! Every major in the College of Liberal Arts has an Internship Coordinator.