The arts are about creative expression – through visual art, music, theater, dance, and design – while the humanities focus more on ideas: history, language, and culture. A student studying studio art might create paintings inspired by social movements, while a literature major might analyze how novels reflect those same events. Both areas help students think critically, communicate clearly, and explore what it means to be human. In this post, we’ll explore what students who boldly choose the examined life can expect from their college experience and beyond.
What to Expect as an Arts Major
In this field, students study both the history of their chosen art form and how to create it. Studying fine arts, for example, involves classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, and/or digital media. Some programs let students specialize in areas like animation, illustration, or studio art, while others offer a broader mix. Along the way, students build a portfolio, learn to talk about their work, and explore how art connects to society at large.
Students will often work in studios or labs where they can bring their ideas to life. What makes this college experience unique is the chance to immerse themselves in art history, express themselves creatively every day, and find opportunities to publicly showcase art projects. Outside of class, students may participate in gallery shows, collaborate on projects with other students, and start internships at museums, design firms, or media companies—experiences that can lead to opportunities beyond graduation.
Performing arts students follow a similar trajectory concentrating on theatre and/or dance and its associated opportunities.
Arts Career Paths: Risks and Rewards
Graduates with an arts major can explore a wide range of careers. For visual artists, options range from traditional roles like graphic designer, illustrator, curator, or arts administrator to emerging fields such as UX/UI designer, digital animator, or multimedia artist. Depending on their unique training, artists may also work as performers, choreographers, photographers, art directors, or in creative roles within advertising and film. A career in the arts offers exciting career paths and creative freedom. However, it is also important to be prepared for a certain degree of unpredictability. Success often depends on building a strong portfolio, finding your collaborators, and building community. Many artists combine freelance work with part-time jobs while growing their careers, and a willingness to stay patient, persistent, and versatile is key.
What to Expect as a Humanities Major
Majoring in the humanities means diving into a wide range of courses that explore culture, history, language, and ideas. Students can study topics ranging from world history, philosophy, creative writing, and cultural anthropology. Coursework may include reading classic novels, exploring ancient civilizations, learning about different belief systems, or discussing big questions about life and ethics. Many colleges offer special programs like study abroad, where you can experience different cultures firsthand, or research projects that encourage students to delve into the subjects of their choice. Internships can include working at museums, publishing houses, nonprofits, or even helping with community education programs. As a humanities major, expect to learn to think critically, write clearly, and understand different perspectives.
Humanities Career Paths: Benefits and Realities
A humanities degree offers flexibility and the chance to explore a range of career paths. Humanities majors can pursue traditional roles like teaching, writing, and working in museums or libraries, to emerging jobs in fields like digital content creation and cultural consulting. The skills gained from a humanities degree are deeply valued in law, publishing, marketing, and nonprofit work, but it’s important to note that there may not be a direct career path to these industries. Humanities majors who want to pursue careers in law and academia will potentially have to pursue graduate programs, and entry-level pay for careers in nonprofits and education can be modest compared to business and tech fields.
However, students who are prepared to network with professors and alumni, as well as pursue internships while in school, can no doubt carve out a promising future. Notable humanities majors include authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates — who studied English and is now a prominent writer and journalist — as well as Sonia Sotomayor, who majored in History and is now a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
The arts and humanities may not offer a one-size-fits-all career path, but they offer something richer-the chance to live the examined life. Students in these fields ask big questions, learn the art of critical thinking, and explore what it means to be human. Many go on to become storytellers, innovators, and change-makers, shaping culture and inspiring progress.