What Can You Do With a Liberal Studies Online Degree?

The rise of the “purpose economy” is good news for job seekers with a liberal studies degree

In his best-selling book The Purpose Economy, Aaron Hurst reveals that the job market is tilting in favor of well-rounded workers who seek meaningful careers. According to Hurst’s research, purpose-driven employees deliver more value, climb the job ladder more steadily, and have more productive careers than those who are motivated primarily by income and job status.

“That’s one of the main benefits of a liberal studies degree,” says Greg Flores, Portland State University’s associate director of career services and advising. “You don’t start with what you want to do for a living. You start with why you want to do it—what impact do I want to have? The liberal studies major gives you the freedom to choose the academic and career paths that serve your purpose.”

PSU’s liberal studies degree integrates courses from three broad areas (sciences, social sciences, and humanities), giving students the flexibility to choose an academic focus that fits their interests.

Those choices say a lot about you, Flores says, and they can help you stand out in a job interview.

“You get to explain why you studied the things you did,” he says. “You get to describe your thought process, and tell an employer how the choices you made in your liberal studies degree prepare you for a certain job or career.

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PSU online student studying on her laptop

Liberal Studies Majors Have the Skills Employers Are Seeking

Echoing Hurst’s argument in The Purpose Economy, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) found in a 2015 report that “employers overwhelmingly endorse broad learning and cross-cutting skills as the best preparation for long-term career success.”

Based on a national survey of employers, the AACU’s report illustrates how a liberal studies degree can provide you with tangible advantages in the job market. The survey found that:

When hiring recent graduates, employers place the greatest priority on skills and knowledge that cut across majors. At Portland State, you can weave courses from more than TK different majors into a Liberal Studies degree.

The most highly valued skills were written and oral communication, teamwork skills, ethical decision making, critical thinking, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world settings.

A senior capstone project (which many liberal studies majors complete) can tilt hiring decisions in your direction—87 percent of employers are more likely to consider job candidates who have completed a senior project.

A less scientific employer survey by Forbes magazine came to the same conclusion: “As long as a liberal studies student is willing to pick up some extra technical skills and can answer the question ‘What are you going to do with that?’ with a strategy instead of a shrug, they should be encouraged to press on with confidence that they will be truly valuable to the labor market.”

Build a Strong Career Foundation with a Liberal Studies Degree

Greg Flores dismisses the notion that the only jobs you can get with a liberal studies degree are low-paying positions in a bookstore or coffee bar.

“It’s time to retire that stereotype,” he says. Citing a study commissioned by the Washington State Council of Presidents, Flores notes that “liberal studies majors might initially earn less than STEM or business majors, but over the course of their career they can actually earn more. They out earn their peers during the peak earning years.”

According to the 2015 Workforce Purpose Index (published by New York University and Imperative, Inc.), students with liberal arts degrees are more likely to progress into leadership jobs as they mature. They’re also more adept at seizing opportunities in emerging industries, and in adapting to new technological, cultural and political trends.

In the end, Flores says, a liberal studies degree is only as valuable as each individual student makes it.

“If you really want to maximize the value of a liberal studies degree,” he says, “it’s important to reflect on your choices. If you’re intentional about putting together a group of courses with a strong academic focus, you can build a depth of knowledge that really stands out in the job market.”