What do liberal arts majors do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:There are so many things you can do in this world that aren’t engineering. My background fits your description and I work in marketing. I make around $350k. Entry level is about $60k.

Sharp analytical thinkers and storytellers will be needed, even in an AI-driven world.

ESPECIALLY in an AI-driven world. AI is going to replace the coders, not the creatives.

uh no. I have seen AI create art (amazing btw), and write stuff. If AI can code, it can write some marketing blurb.

It can absolutely write “some marketing blurb.” But can it move human beings in a way that inspires them to change their behavior or translate an idea into action? Can it shift thinking or move markets? Not yet.

Not to mention none of AI's art is "amazing." There's always something off about it, inhuman.

Most of the photos I've seen by "humans" is also filtered, ie, use of AI.

We were talking about the creation of ART though, not photographs.

But you sort of make my point: The humanities majors will USE and APPLY the AI. The computer scientist will only program it.

lol.. um, yea, ok? So, the humanities major is utilizing a tool that a computer scientist created.

Love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can easily get a finance or banking job with a Math degree.

Lol could you imagine someone thinking a business degree is better.

When did the tide turn on math degrees? I have one, always keep that to myself. Polite society will act impressed but they're genuinely disgusted. Business degree passes the airport test.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I posted this in another thread, but it’s worth reading “You Can Go Anywhere” by George Anders, or at least listening to some interviews with him. He really effectively bridges the gaps between liberal arts skills and the demands of a tech- and STEM-heavy economy. Lots of examples, paired with compelling data.

He’s honest about the challenges — getting that first job will be more challenging for a humanities major than for a CS major. And the path to success requires a certain amount of nimbleness. But long-term there’s great career mobility and some really amazing opportunities that align very nicely with 21st century employers’ needs.

Here’s one interview: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EK1UOyz80P0

For the record, I don’t know him and have zero stake in his book or his argument, but I happened to listen to an interview during a long drive and found it compelling enough that I immediately sought more interviews and eventually bought the book for DC.

+1 no one is saying humanities majors can't get jobs, but that it's harder to get higher paying jobs with just an undergrad degree. And statistics bear that out.

It's fascinating how many of you are obsessed with "high paying" as the only desirable outcome. And what you really mean is "high-paying more quickly."

People take jobs for a lot of reasons. High-paying is certainly one of them. But others are motivated by purpose, passion, a desire to serve -- people in the military aren't well paid but no one poo-poos them. And honestly, my humanities jobs work in more interesting fields than STEM fields. And likely have better work-life balance.

But, sure, die on the hill of high-paying out of the gate is all that matters.

Why is it fascinating? Most of us don't come from money. I grew up lower income. It sucks being poor. I made $26K in 1992 in CA. Not bad for back then, but even that was not easy. I don't want my kids to struggle like I did.

It's great to be motivated by passion, but most people don't have that kind of passion such that they are willing to struggle financially. It's like people who want to get into acting. Most won't make it even as they have passion for it. So, the end up in the service industry waiting tables. Have you seen how some child stars end up? Working retail or some other service industry. That's passion for most people. Only a few really make it.

I have a great work life balance. I have been wfh for the past 10 years in the tech field. Tech is the first industry to allow wfh, way before covid.

That's wonderful, but you're living in the past when we're entering a period of massive disruption that will have its biggest negative impact on both computer science and professional services firms. Anything that can be automated will be. The future jobs will require skills for working WITH AI, and those are more naturally taught in humanities curricula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many things you can do in this world that aren’t engineering. My background fits your description and I work in marketing. I make around $350k. Entry level is about $60k.

Sharp analytical thinkers and storytellers will be needed, even in an AI-driven world.

ESPECIALLY in an AI-driven world. AI is going to replace the coders, not the creatives.

uh no. I have seen AI create art (amazing btw), and write stuff. If AI can code, it can write some marketing blurb.

It can absolutely write “some marketing blurb.” But can it move human beings in a way that inspires them to change their behavior or translate an idea into action? Can it shift thinking or move markets? Not yet.

Not to mention none of AI's art is "amazing." There's always something off about it, inhuman.

Most of the photos I've seen by "humans" is also filtered, ie, use of AI.

We were talking about the creation of ART though, not photographs.

But you sort of make my point: The humanities majors will USE and APPLY the AI. The computer scientist will only program it.

lol.. um, yea, ok? So, the humanities major is utilizing a tool that a computer scientist created.

Love it.

Exactly. *A* computer scientist. But all they did was create the tool. It's how the tool gets used that matters.

We still need people to build the tractors, but it takes someone with knowledge of farming to use them productively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1/3 of global CEOs of Fortune 500 companies have liberal arts degrees.

A lot of those are economics tho

Economics is a good major unlike those humanities majors like English, communications, anthropology, etc. etc.

I would argue the same skills are being taught, just looking at human behavior through different lenses.

Economics is ultimately about people and how they behave. Just like anthropology, communications, and English.

I do agree the fields those might take you into might have wildly varying pay scales, but not everyone is motivated by a top-earning paycheck. If someone has a passion for anthropology, they'll accept lower pay than a computer scientist. And the difference in an AI world is the computer scientist is more likely to be displaced than the anthropologist, who will APPLY AI to their work.

More to the point, the foundational skills of all these majors are essentially the same, which makes these people highly desirable for large global Fortune 500 companies -- should those majors even desire to work in such an environment.

I have a liberal arts degree in philosophy. I earn $275,000 a year and have earned in the $200s since my 30s.

I realize anecdote is not evidence, but the notion that there's no value in liberal arts is not grounded in reality. And it also doesn't herald the future, where humanities degrees will be more coveted than engineering or computer science. Just ask Mark Cuban.

Sorry that's not the reality.

Harvard Economics: $124,570
Harvard English: $49,570

Employers who actually pay don't agree with you.

There is a huge difference in starting salaries. Much less difference after 15 or 20 years, and some studies show the difference can even reverse.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/good-news-liberal-arts-majors-your-peers-probably-wont-outearn-you-forever-1473645902

Anyway there is a lot more to life than earning 140k at 23. I spent my 20s traveling and studying and doing some low-paid work. Now at 50 I earn $350k. I wouldn’t change a thing. History degree, by the way (where I learned not to focus unduly on the short term)…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1/3 of global CEOs of Fortune 500 companies have liberal arts degrees.

A lot of those are economics tho

Economics is a good major unlike those humanities majors like English, communications, anthropology, etc. etc.

I would argue the same skills are being taught, just looking at human behavior through different lenses.

Economics is ultimately about people and how they behave. Just like anthropology, communications, and English.

I do agree the fields those might take you into might have wildly varying pay scales, but not everyone is motivated by a top-earning paycheck. If someone has a passion for anthropology, they'll accept lower pay than a computer scientist. And the difference in an AI world is the computer scientist is more likely to be displaced than the anthropologist, who will APPLY AI to their work.

More to the point, the foundational skills of all these majors are essentially the same, which makes these people highly desirable for large global Fortune 500 companies -- should those majors even desire to work in such an environment.

I have a liberal arts degree in philosophy. I earn $275,000 a year and have earned in the $200s since my 30s.

I realize anecdote is not evidence, but the notion that there's no value in liberal arts is not grounded in reality. And it also doesn't herald the future, where humanities degrees will be more coveted than engineering or computer science. Just ask Mark Cuban.

Sorry that's not the reality.

Harvard Economics: $124,570
Harvard English: $49,570

Employers who actually pay don't agree with you.

There is a huge difference in starting salaries. Much less difference after 15 or 20 years, and some studies show the difference can even reverse.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/good-news-liberal-arts-majors-your-peers-probably-wont-outearn-you-forever-1473645902

Anyway there is a lot more to life than earning 140k at 23. I spent my 20s traveling and studying and doing some low-paid work. Now at 50 I earn $350k. I wouldn’t change a thing. History degree, by the way (where I learned not to focus unduly on the short term)…

LOL there are a lot more to life with 140k at 23 like traveling and experiencing the world.
Much harder with 60K unless you are a trust fund kid. Pay rent.

[Anonymous]

Not discussed thus far in this thread is the impact of the soaring cost of a college education and the need for many to get a high paying job in order to pay back student loan debt. This leads many to more practical, readily employable courses of study.

[Anonymous]

I know students with liberal arts degree that went to work for Wall Street.

[Anonymous]

Simply put, liberal arts majors can do anything!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know students with liberal arts degree that went to work for Wall Street.

I know people with no college degree make millions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many things you can do in this world that aren’t engineering. My background fits your description and I work in marketing. I make around $350k. Entry level is about $60k.

Sharp analytical thinkers and storytellers will be needed, even in an AI-driven world.

U
ESPECIALLY in an AI-driven world. AI is going to replace the coders, not the creatives.

AI will replace everyone. Creatives are being replaced in just as many numbers as any other field. Anyone who thinks one white collar job is safer than another will probably be the one replaced.

Tyler Perry put the kabash on a $400MM expansion because of AI as he needs fewer artists and writers and graphics folks.

The people that best know how to use AI are the safest.

Where I sit (regulatory) AI is creating work. The EU AI act is like over 200 pages. US states will all be passing laws on this too. Just get on the right side of history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1/3 of global CEOs of Fortune 500 companies have liberal arts degrees.

A lot of those are economics tho

Economics is a good major unlike those humanities majors like English, communications, anthropology, etc. etc.

I would argue the same skills are being taught, just looking at human behavior through different lenses.

Economics is ultimately about people and how they behave. Just like anthropology, communications, and English.

I do agree the fields those might take you into might have wildly varying pay scales, but not everyone is motivated by a top-earning paycheck. If someone has a passion for anthropology, they'll accept lower pay than a computer scientist. And the difference in an AI world is the computer scientist is more likely to be displaced than the anthropologist, who will APPLY AI to their work.

More to the point, the foundational skills of all these majors are essentially the same, which makes these people highly desirable for large global Fortune 500 companies -- should those majors even desire to work in such an environment.

I have a liberal arts degree in philosophy. I earn $275,000 a year and have earned in the $200s since my 30s.

I realize anecdote is not evidence, but the notion that there's no value in liberal arts is not grounded in reality. And it also doesn't herald the future, where humanities degrees will be more coveted than engineering or computer science. Just ask Mark Cuban.

Sorry that's not the reality.

Harvard Economics: $124,570
Harvard English: $49,570

Employers who actually pay don't agree with you.

There is a huge difference in starting salaries. Much less difference after 15 or 20 years, and some studies show the difference can even reverse.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/good-news-liberal-arts-majors-your-peers-probably-wont-outearn-you-forever-1473645902

Anyway there is a lot more to life than earning 140k at 23. I spent my 20s traveling and studying and doing some low-paid work. Now at 50 I earn $350k. I wouldn’t change a thing. History degree, by the way (where I learned not to focus unduly on the short term)…

LOL there are a lot more to life with 140k at 23 like traveling and experiencing the world.
Much harder with 60K unless you are a trust fund kid. Pay rent.

DP: Actually the opposite is more true--when you are not gunning for a high earning position, you find some teaching English internationally position or other similar, use that to travel the world and pay your rent in LCOL countries. As you meet people, you often find other job opportunities. You develop a lot of experience, develop a solid sense of your self and the world, meet a lot of people and figure out what you want to do with this one life you have. This path is easier than it ever was with the ability to stay on your parent's health insurance until age 26 and/or purchase cheap traveler's insurance or ACA in the US. This self-development plus international work history isn't too hard to then translate into a US career-oriented job in your mid-20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1/3 of global CEOs of Fortune 500 companies have liberal arts degrees.

A lot of those are economics tho

Economics is a good major unlike those humanities majors like English, communications, anthropology, etc. etc.

I would argue the same skills are being taught, just looking at human behavior through different lenses.

Economics is ultimately about people and how they behave. Just like anthropology, communications, and English.

I do agree the fields those might take you into might have wildly varying pay scales, but not everyone is motivated by a top-earning paycheck. If someone has a passion for anthropology, they'll accept lower pay than a computer scientist. And the difference in an AI world is the computer scientist is more likely to be displaced than the anthropologist, who will APPLY AI to their work.

More to the point, the foundational skills of all these majors are essentially the same, which makes these people highly desirable for large global Fortune 500 companies -- should those majors even desire to work in such an environment.

I have a liberal arts degree in philosophy. I earn $275,000 a year and have earned in the $200s since my 30s.

I realize anecdote is not evidence, but the notion that there's no value in liberal arts is not grounded in reality. And it also doesn't herald the future, where humanities degrees will be more coveted than engineering or computer science. Just ask Mark Cuban.

Sorry that's not the reality.

Harvard Economics: $124,570
Harvard English: $49,570

Employers who actually pay don't agree with you.

There is a huge difference in starting salaries. Much less difference after 15 or 20 years, and some studies show the difference can even reverse.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/good-news-liberal-arts-majors-your-peers-probably-wont-outearn-you-forever-1473645902

Anyway there is a lot more to life than earning 140k at 23. I spent my 20s traveling and studying and doing some low-paid work. Now at 50 I earn $350k. I wouldn’t change a thing. History degree, by the way (where I learned not to focus unduly on the short term)…

LOL there are a lot more to life with 140k at 23 like traveling and experiencing the world.
Much harder with 60K unless you are a trust fund kid. Pay rent.

DP: Actually the opposite is more true--when you are not gunning for a high earning position, you find some teaching English internationally position or other similar, use that to travel the world and pay your rent in LCOL countries. As you meet people, you often find other job opportunities. You develop a lot of experience, develop a solid sense of your self and the world, meet a lot of people and figure out what you want to do with this one life you have. This path is easier than it ever was with the ability to stay on your parent's health insurance until age 26 and/or purchase cheap traveler's insurance or ACA in the US. This self-development plus international work history isn't too hard to then translate into a US career-oriented job in your mid-20s.

You're never going to convince the overly anxious person who's all in on being a STEM drone that their decision, however valid for them or their children, isn't without more risk in the new and emerging workplace or right for everyone. You can tell how anxious they are by their flailing, whereas the liberal arts people are calm, collected, and know their value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many things you can do in this world that aren’t engineering. My background fits your description and I work in marketing. I make around $350k. Entry level is about $60k.

Sharp analytical thinkers and storytellers will be needed, even in an AI-driven world.

ESPECIALLY in an AI-driven world. AI is going to replace the coders, not the creatives.

uh no. I have seen AI create art (amazing btw), and write stuff. If AI can code, it can write some marketing blurb.

It can absolutely write “some marketing blurb.” But can it move human beings in a way that inspires them to change their behavior or translate an idea into action? Can it shift thinking or move markets? Not yet.

Not to mention none of AI's art is "amazing." There's always something off about it, inhuman.

Most of the photos I've seen by "humans" is also filtered, ie, use of AI.

We were talking about the creation of ART though, not photographs.

But you sort of make my point: The humanities majors will USE and APPLY the AI. The computer scientist will only program it.

lol.. um, yea, ok? So, the humanities major is utilizing a tool that a computer scientist created.

Love it.

Exactly. *A* computer scientist. But all they did was create the tool. It's how the tool gets used that matters.

We still need people to build the tractors, but it takes someone with knowledge of farming to use them productively.

The programmer creating the tool knows how to use it and what it can be used for. The person building the tractor knows how it should be used. All the farmer is doing is utilizing it the way the person building it designed it for.

Programmers build the application; users use the application.

That gadget you are using to post this.. built by a programmer. More than likely, you use gadgets to do your work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can easily get a finance or banking job with a Math degree.

Lol could you imagine someone thinking a business degree is better.

When did the tide turn on math degrees? I have one, always keep that to myself. Polite society will act impressed but they're genuinely disgusted. Business degree passes the airport test.

I would be impressed with someone who has a a math degree, and I have a business degree + some coding experience. DC is a dual math/cs major. I find it impressive.