The information on this page is designed to help you explore possible careers. Use the links below to navigate to different areas of the page. We recommend working with a career counselor to help you identify careers based on your skills, interests, and values.
What Can You Do with a Degree in Liberal Studies?
The short answer is that you can do a lot. Your Liberal Studies degree prepares you for many careers in many fields.
That's great, isn't it? Many possible careers... But if many careers are possible, how will you choose among the possibilities?
A major in Liberal Studies is a powerful academic foundation that provides you with the opportunity to develop skills employers value in employees. These include: oral and written communication, interpersonal, teamwork, technical, analytical, critical thinking, organizational, and problem solving skills.
Remember that your Liberal Studies major, in and of itself, does not determine your career path. No major does — not business, not psychology, not biology.
Career Counselors in the University Career Center can help you with the process of identifying your preferred skills, interests, and values, and identifying potential careers to explore. We can also help you think about how your coursework relates to the world of work and how to effectively describe your educational background to employers.
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Resources to Generate Ideas for Careers and / or Places of Employment
List of Employers and Job Titles Developed from Job Postings in PSU Handshake for Liberal Studies Majors
Students who major in Liberal Studies develop transferable skills that are valued by employers. These skills include: research, analysis, writing, oral presentation, critical thinking, synthesis, and problem solving. Liberal Studies majors may find employment in business, government, nonprofits, social services, and educational institutions depending on their skills and experience. Internships or relevant part-time jobs may be a prerequisite to finding employment.
The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the University Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested Liberal Studies majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for liberal studies majors. This list does not reflect current openings.
- Ameriprise Financial — Financial Advisor
- Camp Adventure Youth Services — Youth Services Counselor
- City of Portland — Community Service Aide II
- Cowlitz County — Probation Officer
- Dirkse Counseling & Consulting — Vocational Consultant
- Dow Columbia, Inc. — Marketing Representative
- EFG Companies — Business Manager/Sales Representative
- Farmers Insurance Group — Insurance Agent, Financial Service Agent
- First Investors Corporation — Financial Services Representative
- Hartman Group, The — Qualitative Research Associate
- Hershey Foods — Sales Representative
- Human Services Council — Planner/Program Coordinator II, Case Manager
- Inspiration Software, Inc. — Curriculum Designer
- i-OP, Inc. — Project Manager
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Internal Revenue Officer
- Jeld-Wen — Management Trainee
- KATU Channel 2 Portland — News Reporter
- KHM Environmental Management, Inc. — Environmental Technician
- Kinko's, Inc. — Leadership Development Program
- Lattice Semiconductor Corporation — Sales Analyst I
- League of Oregon Cities — Staff Associate
- Lutheran Brotherhood — Financial Services Representative
- Lutheran Community Services Northwest — SUN Site Manager
- Melvin Mark Companies — Development Associate
- Mercer Delta Company/Executive Learning Center — Program Administrator, Fulfillment Coordinator
- Metropolitan Family Services — Program Coordinator
- Multnomah Athletic Club (The MAC) — Outdoor Activities Program Coordinator
- Multnomah County Sheriff's Office — Deputy Sheriff
- NPC Research (Northwest Professional Consortium, Inc.) — Data Collector/Interviewer (Community Research Project)
- One Economy Corporation — Web Content Writer/Editor
- Oregon Community Foundation, The — Program and Outreach Coordinator
- Oregon Judicial Department, Oregon Courts — Juvenile Court Programs Analyst
- Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) — Research Associate
- Outside In — Youth Specialist, Clinic Assistant Manager, Employment Resource Center Coordinator
- Pacific Crest Securities — Research Editor
- Pacific Interpreters, Inc. — In-house Scheduler/Spanish Quality Assurance Specialist
- Pacific Pulmonary Services — General Manager
- Pacific Recreational Products, Inc. — Marketing/Business Development Coordinator
- Pacific University — Internship Coordinator
- Patterson Dental — Territory Sales Representative
- Pella Corporation — Department Manager
- Portland Business Alliance — Membership Coordinator
- Portland Community College (PCC) — Academic Advisor
- Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) — Operations and Policy Analyst 2
- Raphael House of Portland — Project Coordinator
- Rose City Software — High Tech Administrative Assistant
- SAIF Corporation — Claims Adjuster Trainee, Claims Supervisor
- Salvation Army, The — Youth Advocate
- St. Paul Travelers — Workers Compensation Claim Representative, Casualty Claim Representative
- SuperFloors, Inc. — Project Manager
- Teach for America — Recruitment Fellows
- Tongue Point Job Corps Center — Residential Living Supervisor
- Turnstone Environmental Consultants, Inc. — Field Surveyors, Crew Leaders, Field Coordinator
- Universal Forest Products — Production Manager Trainee
- University of Oregon — Development Assistant-UO Libraries
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA) — Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer
- US Department of Labor — Equal Opportunity Specialist (SCEP)
- US Department of Veterans Affairs — Management Analyst
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service — Biological Technician
- US Forest Service — Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), Office Automation Assistant
- US Social Security Administration — Case Technicians
- Volunteers of America of Oregon, Inc. — Infant Interventionist, Early Childhood Teacher, Child Care Supervisor
- Westside Family YMCA — Youth Counselor
- YMCA of Greater Portland — Program Manager
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Careers Reported by Liberal Studies Majors on the American Community Survey
The following list of job titles was generated from American Community Survey data. Every year, the federal government surveys 3,000,000 people. This list shows some of the most-often reported careers for people who majored in Liberal Arts.
Please be aware that additional education, internships, or career-related experience may be a prerequisite to some of the careers on this list. The University Career Center provides this list as a tool for generating ideas for exploration. To find a brief description of the following occupations, go to the Standard Occupational Classification system.
- Elementary and Middle School Teachers
- Managers
- Lawyers and Judges
- Postsecondary Teachers
- Education Administrators
- Registered Nurses
- Social Workers
- Accountants and Auditors
- Secondary School Teachers
- Chief Executives and Legislators
- Counselors
- Physicians and Surgeons
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Marketing and Sales Managers
- Human Resources Workers
- Management Analysts
- Clergy
- Designers
- Special Education Teachers
- Financial Managers
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software
- Artists
- Human Resources Managers
- Compliance Officers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Programmers
- Writers and Authors
- Photographers
- Community and Social Service Specialists, Including Health Educators and Community Health Workers
- Dentists
- Psychologists
- Web Developers
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Physical Scientists
- Librarians
- Purchasing Agents
- Operations Research Analysts
- Producers and Directors
- Fundraisers
- Physical Therapists
- Editors
- Purchasing Managers
- Training and Development Specialists
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers
- Logisticians
- Public Relations Specialists
- Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives
- Musicians and Singers
- Medical Scientists and Life Scientists
- Occupational Therapists
- Pharmacists
- Physician Assistants
- Industrial Engineers, Including Health and Safety
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education
- Technical Writers
- Insurance Underwriters
- Chiropractors
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
- Architects
- News Analysts, Reporters and Correspondents
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists
- Training and Development Managers
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Civil Engineers
- Respiratory Therapists
- Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Biological Scientists
- Financial Analysts
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Actors
- Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Religious Workers
- Natural Sciences Managers
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Mechanical Engineers
- Dancers and Choreographers
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Database Administrators
- Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians
- Budget Analysts
- Surveyors, Cartographers, and Photogrammetrists
- Agricultural and Food Scientists
- Emergency Management Directors
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