Humanities

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The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a BA in Humanities, and a graduate certificate in PCS. The Humanities major is an interdisciplinary program that gives students the freedom to create a course of study uniquely shaped to their interests. The Department of Humanities and Western Civilization offers three tracks for HWC majors, including Civilization in a Global Context, World Literatures, and Foundations of Law in Society.

Humanities Department website

Sample of Related Skills

• Demonstrate knowledge of the contributions of significant Western thinkers to ongoing intellectual debate about moral, social, and political alternatives 
• Demonstrate the ability to think critically about moral, social, and political arguments in the Western intellectual tradition, evaluating the logic of these arguments and relating them to the historical and cultural context 
• Consider moral, social, and political issues from an interdisciplinary perspective 
• Identify characteristics of Western Civilization and its influence on the modern world through multiple cognate areas of liberal arts 
• Apply fundamental concepts to describe the development of Western Civilization over a significant period of time (critical thinking) 

Popular Career Paths

Law: The skills learned within this major like logical and critical thinking and the writing abilities gained offers a great path into the law profession. There is a variety of options within the profession including public defender, criminal defense, corporate law and many more.

Education: Offers you the ability to educate, research, and advise in all levels of education. Research and communication skills are very important to this career path.

Writing/Editing/Publishing: Involves careers in newspapers and magazines, book publishing, freelancing, arts and entertainment, and radio and television.

Religion: The skills attained from a humanities and western civilization major is a great path into religion. Further education within this profession is required and prepares you for this career path much more extensively. Clergy member and church administration are two of the most common professions within the career.

Business/Public Relations: Many businesses need help within the area of public relations which is all about their image and how they are viewed from the public’s point of view. Written and analytical skills are very important within this career path.

Arts: Involves careers in museums, libraries, and galleries that connect your studies in humanities and western civilization with the general public.

Explore More Career Paths

• American Bar Association - information and tips on preparing for law school
• American Philosophical Association - offers several different links to associations and societies related to philosophy as well as journals related to the field
• Humanities Resource Center Online - provides a comprehensive listing of related humanities organizations in areas such as governmental & national organizations, international organizations, library associations, museums, and higher education associations
• National Humanities Alliance - an advocacy coalition dedicated to the advancement of humanities education, research, preservation and public programs.

Jobs to Consider

Places to Seek Employment

Employment Strategies

1. Focus on the skill sets that are sought after rather than focusing on the degree.
2. Become familiar with the required professional qualifications associated with careers that interest you (i.e. advance degrees, licensure and/or certifications).
3. Gain direct experience within the areas that interest you most through research projects, independent study, internships, part-time jobs, student organization involvement, or volunteering.
4. Register for HireJayhawks.com and subscribe to the Internship Newsletter to receive automated weekly emails with specific internship information.
5. Consider joining a professional association related to your area of interest in humanities and western civilization, such as the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities and, if possible, attend local and/or regional conferences to make connections with professionals working in your field.
6. Earn a minor or take additional coursework outside your major when relevant to your career goals.
7. Complete an independent study to gain advanced research skills.
8. Maintain a strong GPA if you are considering pursuing graduate or professional school.
9. Consider getting involved with a student organization at KU related to your area of interest, such as: Philosophy Club, Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board, The University Daily Kansan, and Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law).

Job and Internship Search Resources

• American Academy of Religion Career Services - contains job postings, networking opportunities, employment trends and additional career resources for individuals seeking employment in field of religion (does require membership to access job postings)
• American Association for State and Local History Career Center - provides job listings for state and local historical organizations
• American Association of Museums - job postings for museum careers
• American Historical Society - various careers, with descriptions, within different industries for history majors to consider; also includes job listings, fellowships, and other professional association.  Also provides a directory of affiliated historical societies.
• American Library Association  - career information and job listings for libraries
• American Society for Bioethics and Humanities - full-time job opportunities in research, bioethics and education
• Chronicle of Philanthropy - a top journal for non-profit professionals; includes job listings and career information for new professionals
• Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes Employment Opportunities - provides job listings, fellowship and other funding opportunities, as well as a searchable directory of humanities centers and institutes across the country and world
• Humanities and Social Sciences Job Guide (H-Net) - provides job listings in history and the humanities, social sciences, and rhetoric and composition
• Internships-USA - lists of internships in law & policy, museums, and media
• Kansas Arts Commission - list of jobs and internships in the arts found under the "resources" tab
• KU Hall Center for the Humanities - coordinates special events and programs focusing on the humanities and social sciences.  They also offer fellowship opportunities for graduate students.
• Idealist - searchable database of non-profit organizations, jobs and internship opportunities in the US and abroad
• Making the Difference - provides federal career guides by interest area, searchable federal internship directory, and application tips for federal job seekers
• Non-Profit Connect - full-time, part-time, internship, and volunteer listings with non-profits in the KC-metro area
• PeaceCorps - federal service program that currently sends US volunteers to serve abroad in over 75 countries; Connect with KU's PeaceCorps representative
• USA Jobs - comprehensive site for jobs and employment in the government; set up email alerts to receive weekly updates that meet your search criteria; set up email alerts to receive weekly updates that meet your search criteria