The information on this page is designed to help you explore possible careers. Use the links below to navigate to different areas of the page. We recommend working with a career counselor to help you identify careers based on your skills, interests, and values.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Liberal Studies?

The short answer is that you can do a lot. Your Liberal Studies degree prepares you for many careers in many fields.

That's great, isn't it? Many possible careers... But if many careers are possible, how will you choose among the possibilities?

A major in Liberal Studies is a powerful academic foundation that provides you with the opportunity to develop skills employers value in employees. These include: oral and written communication, interpersonal, teamwork, technical, analytical, critical thinking, organizational, and problem solving skills.

Remember that your Liberal Studies major, in and of itself, does not determine your career path. No major does — not business, not psychology, not biology.

Career Counselors in the University Career Center can help you with the process of identifying your preferred skills, interests, and values, and identifying potential careers to explore. We can also help you think about how your coursework relates to the world of work and how to effectively describe your educational background to employers.

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Resources to Generate Ideas for Careers and / or Places of Employment

List of Employers and Job Titles Developed from Job Postings in PSU Handshake for Liberal Studies Majors

Students who major in Liberal Studies develop transferable skills that are valued by employers. These skills include: research, analysis, writing, oral presentation, critical thinking, synthesis, and problem solving. Liberal Studies majors may find employment in business, government, nonprofits, social services, and educational institutions depending on their skills and experience. Internships or relevant part-time jobs may be a prerequisite to finding employment.

The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the University Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested Liberal Studies majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for liberal studies majors. This list does not reflect current openings.

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Careers Reported by Liberal Studies Majors on the American Community Survey

The following list of job titles was generated from American Community Survey data. Every year, the federal government surveys 3,000,000 people. This list shows some of the most-often reported careers for people who majored in Liberal Arts.

Please be aware that additional education, internships, or career-related experience may be a prerequisite to some of the careers on this list. The University Career Center provides this list as a tool for generating ideas for exploration. To find a brief description of the following occupations, go to the Standard Occupational Classification system.

Elementary and Middle School Teachers

Elementary and Middle School Teachers Managers

Lawyers and Judges

Postsecondary Teachers

Education Administrators

Registered Nurses

Social Workers

Accountants and Auditors

Secondary School Teachers

Chief Executives and Legislators

Counselors

Physicians and Surgeons

Medical and Health Services Managers

Marketing and Sales Managers

Human Resources Workers

Management Analysts

Clergy

Designers

Special Education Teachers

Financial Managers

Social and Community Service Managers

Computer Systems Analysts

Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software

Artists

Human Resources Managers

Compliance Officers

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Computer Programmers

Writers and Authors

Photographers

Community and Social Service Specialists, Including Health Educators and Community Health Workers

Dentists

Psychologists

Web Developers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Physical Scientists

Librarians

Purchasing Agents

Operations Research Analysts

Producers and Directors

Fundraisers

Physical Therapists

Editors

Purchasing Managers

Training and Development Specialists

Wholesale and Retail Buyers

Logisticians

Public Relations Specialists

Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives

Musicians and Singers

Medical Scientists and Life Scientists

Occupational Therapists

Pharmacists

Physician Assistants

Industrial Engineers, Including Health and Safety

Directors, Religious Activities and Education

Technical Writers

Insurance Underwriters

Chiropractors

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Architects

News Analysts, Reporters and Correspondents

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists

Training and Development Managers

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Civil Engineers

Respiratory Therapists

Public Relations and Fundraising Managers

Biological Scientists

Financial Analysts

Speech-Language Pathologists

Actors

Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Religious Workers

Natural Sciences Managers

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Dietitians and Nutritionists

Mechanical Engineers

Dancers and Choreographers

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Database Administrators

Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians

Budget Analysts

Surveyors, Cartographers, and Photogrammetrists

Agricultural and Food Scientists

Emergency Management Directors

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