Anyone else have a liberal arts degree? (Houston, Austin: school, universities)

[jj11801180]

I have a B.S. in Applied Sociology.
Looking back, I should have majored in a more career specific program. However, I have been fortunate and have been employed since graduating 6 years ago.

I am now a Data Analyst with a small oil company in Houston. I work with GIS software...making maps, recording production, ect.

How does everyone else with a liberal arts degree earn a living?

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by jj11801180

I have a B.S. in Applied Sociology.
Looking back, I should have majored in a more career specific program. However, I have been fortunate and have been employed since graduating 6 years ago.

I am now a Data Analyst with a small oil company in Houston. I work with GIS software...making maps, recording production, ect.

How does everyone else with a liberal arts degree earn a living?

A liberal arts degree includes a lot. My degree was in Geology, specializing in petroleum exploration. Do you have many geologists where you work?

[jj11801180]

Originally Posted by PanTerra

A liberal arts degree includes a lot. My degree was in Geology, specializing in petroleum exploration. Do you have many geologists where you work?

We have one geologist in the office.

[coconutbutter]

I'm with you!

I have a BA in East Asian Studies (this was definitely a research-based degree come to think of it). I guess I could go abroad, but I really don't want to live in Asia. There are a lot of social issues on a personal level that influence my decision, but I digress.

I've worked for two airline companies in various departments, a stint with retail, and have been working for 3 years at a major EPC in Houston in their IT department.

If I could do it all over again, I'd forego the liberal arts degree and would've pursued the sciences.

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by PanTerra

A liberal arts degree includes a lot. My degree was in Geology, specializing in petroleum exploration. Do you have many geologists where you work?

Geology is a science degree, not a liberal arts degree.

I received a degree in one of the liberal arts, but I knew I would need to get a master's in order to get a good paying job. In a lot of cases, it would be better to get a vocational certification than to stop with a bachelor's in liberal arts.

[texas7]

"Would you like paper or plastic?"

Seriously - it isn't one of the hot degrees that big money employers seek out but it helps to have a masters with an emphasis in something else. Cross cultural studies and communication can get you a job in public affairs of large and small companies. Art degrees - graphic design, public relations, museums. But you have to be good at what you do and work hard. I got an MLA but I was already working when I received my degree with no intention of looking elsewhere, so it was more a personal goal for me.

[AK123]

Eh... there are different levels/categories of a degree from a college of Liberal Arts. Generally, Economics>Psychology>>>Sociology>>>>Anthropology>> >>>>>>all others such as English, Women's Studies, General etc. At least Economics and Psych are social sciences, analytical and usually require statistics, use of the scientific method, etc. That's why some universities graduate these as a Bachelor of Science (e.g. UH) instead of a Bachelor of Arts (e.g. UT Austin). So poo-pooing on all Bachelor or Arts/ College of Liberal Arts degrees isn't fair and a huge generalization. Still, you often need additional skills or often a post-grad degree to really make money.

[SteelBubble]

If you consider Economics a liberal arts degree, then I have a liberal arts degree. But I also doubled majored with a business degree because I wanted something practical that I could apply immediately.

[Athena2c]

I have a BA in psychology.

But went on to get a Master's in Social Work to really launch my career and it's been going strong ever since

[ChristieP]

BA in English, MS in Human Resources Management. I didn't make easy money until I went to graduate school!