Liberal Arts and Humanities Degree Programs

The liberal arts and humanities is a broad academic field and there are many degree types available, so if you’re pursuing education in this discipline, you may find it difficult to know where to start. This article will arm you with information to make the best choices for your academic career and future, no matter what your professional goals or current level of education. We’ll discuss degree programs in the humanities and liberal arts spanning associate’s degrees to doctorates. We’ll also explore the career options and salary potential for employees in this diverse field.

Associate’s Degrees in Liberal Arts and Humanities

Overview

Associate’s in liberal arts and humanities degrees are widely available from community colleges and even some universities. Increasingly, these two-year offerings are also available online. Though they’re similar in scope, there are different types of liberal arts and humanities associate’s degrees one can choose from. Some of these options are listed below:

Types of Humanities and Liberal Arts Associate’s Degree Programs

Associate in Arts (AA) in Arts and Humanities
AA in Liberal Studies
AA in Liberal Arts
Associate of Science (AS) in Liberal Studies
Associate’s in General Studies
Associate’s in Interdisciplinary Studies

Humanities/Liberal Arts Associate’s Curriculum

Any degree program in the liberal arts and humanities will be broad by nature. These 60-credit hour programs are multi-disciplinary and cover topics in language, mathematics, fine arts, natural sciences, behavioral science, and more. Below, you will find some sample course titles taken from actual associate’s in liberal arts and humanities programs:

Liberal Arts and Humanities Associate’s Degrees: Sample Course Titles

Survey of Art History: Renaissance to the Present
Fundamentals of Creative Writing
Women in Literature
Music Appreciation: Western Civilization
Public Speaking
Writing and Inquiry
Introduction to Sociology
American Government
Introduction to the Humanities
College Composition
Introduction to Information Technology
Fundamentals of Speech
Biology in Contemporary Society
International Relations
Introductory Survey of Mathematics
World and Regional Geography
Contemporary Global Issues

Associate’s Degrees in Liberal Arts and Humanities: Jobs and Salaries

Traditionally, degrees in the liberal arts and humanities are thought to be associated with low wages, especially at the associate’s level. According to Payscale.com, though, individuals with an AA in Liberal Arts degree make about $50,000 a year on average. Different occupations yield different salaries, however. Below are some various job titles requiring an associate’s in humanities and liberal arts alongside their average annual wages, also according to Payscale:

Operations Manager: $55,871
Marketing Coordinator: $54,131
Executive Assistant: $52,269
Operations Supervisor: $51,859
General Manager (Restaurant): $51,043
Program Manager (Non-profit Organization): $49,675
Legal Secretary: $48,439
Office Manager: $44,808
Paralegal: $40,069
Administrative Assistant: $37,975
Customer Service Representative: $37,248

Keep in mind that your exact salary will depend on a number of factors, including your specific employer and any relevant work experience you may have in the field, for example.

Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Arts/Humanities

Overview

Bachelor’s in humanities and liberal arts programs require twice the time and effort of an associate’s degree in the field, but they also open up more career opportunities and are associated with higher salaries. Traditionally, bachelor’s degree requirements take four years to complete, though accelerated programs are sometimes available. Some of the different types of bachelor’s degrees in humanities and liberal arts available are listed below:

Types of Bachelor’s Degrees in Humanities and Liberal Arts

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Arts
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Liberal Arts and Science
Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies
Bachelor’s in General Studies
Bachelor’s in History
Bachelor’s in English

Humanities and Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Programs: Curriculum

The classes you can expect to take in a liberal arts and humanities bachelor’s programs will be similar to those required for a comparable associate’s offering, but they may be more academically rigorous and/or explore topics in more depth. Since they are more comprehensive, liberal arts and humanities bachelor’s degrees will also cover a wider range of academic subjects and disciplines. Below, we’ve listed some sample course titles taken from actual bachelor’s degree programs in the field. These are provided for the sake of example only and may or may not reflect the classes you’ll taken in your chosen liberal arts/humanities bachelor’s program.

Liberal Arts/Humanities Bachelor’s Degrees: Sample Course Titles

The Art of Being Human
Research Methods for the Humanities
Introduction to Communication
General Psychology
Studies in World Art
Statistics for Business and Economics
College Writing
Culture and Diversity
Civic and Community Engagement
Finite Mathematics
Critical Writing and Research
Values and Decision Making
America and the Contemporary World
History of the English Language
Literary Interpretation and Analysis
Humanities, Arts and Design, and Global Awareness
Methods of Historical Inquiry
Ethical Decision-Making in Business
Introduction to Philosophy

Some bachelor’s in humanities and liberal arts programs allow students to specialize in a specific academic discipline. This is a way of narrowing the focus of the degree plan to prepare students for work in specific fields and subfields. We’ve listed some of these concentration options below. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and in some cases, students are allowed to customize their own unique concentration.

Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts/Humanities: Concentrations

Mass Communication
Business Administration
Criminal Justice
Economics
Christian Studies
English
Legal Studies
Sociology
Political Science
History
Philosophy
Art History
Psychology
Gender Studies

Liberal Arts and Humanities Bachelor’s Degrees: Jobs and Salaries

Payscale.com reports that professionals with a bachelor of arts in liberal studies degree make around $59,000 a year. That’s nearly ten thousand dollars a year more than those with an associate’s credential in the field. The specific job title you hold will affect your annual wage, though. Below are some examples of occupations requiring a liberal arts and humanities bachelor’s degree alongside their average salaries, according to Payscale:

Director of Operations: $82,121
Human Resources Manager: $73,479
Project Manager: $66,214
Operations Manager: $61,566
Executive Assistant: $61,453
Elementary School Teacher: $53,947
Project Coordinator: $50,760
Marketing Coordinator: $48,636
Office Manager: $44,875
Human Resources Specialist: $43,828
Administrative Assistant: $39,651
Program Coordinator (Non-profit Organization): $38,503

Master’s Degree Programs in Liberal Arts and Humanities

Overview

Master’s in humanities and liberal arts programs are ideal for those students who wish to specialize (or further specialize) in a specific area of the field or for those who desire to take on leadership positions in the workplace. Typically, these programs require two years of post-baccalaureate coursework. Many humanities/liberal arts master’s degrees can be earned on a part-time or full-time basis, and some can be completed during evenings, weekends, or online to accommodate working professionals. Some of the different types of master’s degrees in the field are listed below:

Types of Master’s Degrees in Humanities and Liberal Arts

Master of Liberal Studies
Master of Arts (MA) in Liberal Studies
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Liberal Arts
Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies

Master’s in Humanities and Liberal Arts Degrees: Curriculum

The curriculum for your master’s in liberal arts and humanities degree will be unique and depend on the program and school you choose, but generally speaking, you can expect courses to be more challenging than those you took in your bachelor’s program. You can also expect them to be more research-based. You may even be required to take classes that address the proper research methods for the field. Below, we list some sample course titles taken from actual liberal arts and humanities master’s programs to give you an example of what your course schedule may look like.

Liberal Arts/Humanities Master’s Degrees: Sample Course Titles

Human-Centered Leadership
The Art of Public Speaking
Rethinking Literary Modernism
Leadership for Social Change and Renewal
Professional and Grant Writing
Music in Contemporary Society
Ethical Issues in Science and Medicine
Cinema and Society Across Cultures
Classic Studies in Animal Behavior
Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
Topics in Gender Studies
Religion and Politics in a Post-Secular World: Rethinking Secularization
Borders and Boundaries: Race, Gender, and the Human
Introduction to Psychsomatics
Stonewall: Riot, Rebellion, Activism, and Identity
Women in Southern Literature
Modern Astronomy and Our Place in the Universe
The Political Philosophy of the American Revolution

As is the case for bachelor’s programs in this academic discipline, master’s in liberal arts and humanities programs often offer specialization and concentration options for students to choose from. This allows them to become experts in a specific area of the field. Below, you will find a list of some of these content customization options:

Master’s Degrees in Humanities and Liberal Arts: Concentrations and Specializations

American Studies
Digital Studies
History
Religious and Ethical Studies
Digital Studies
Globalization Studies
Writing, Editing, and Publishing
Heritage Preservation
International Studies
English Literature and Language
Educational Studies
Creative Writing
Public History
Cultural Studies
Dance and Movement Studies
Social Justice, Community Development, and Advocacy
Women and Gender Studies
Health and Wellness Studies
Performance Studies
General Liberal Studies

Master’s in Liberal Arts/Humanities Degrees: Jobs and Salaries

Professionals with a liberal arts and humanities master’s degree make significantly more than those who have an associate’s or bachelor’s credential. According to Payscale.com, these individuals make approximately $67,000 a year on average. Of course, the salary you make will be heavily dependent upon the specific job you perform. Below, you will find examples of specific occupations requiring a humanities/liberal arts master’s degree alongside their average annual wage. This information is also taken from Payscale.

Chief Executive Officer: $139,924
Senior Marketing Manager: $101,857
Information Technology Manager: $101,769
Director of Communications: $80,610
Executive Director: $74,466
Project Manager: $72,009
Instructional Designer: $71,289
Marketing Manager: $60,434
High School Teacher: $50,372
Graphic Designer: $48,344
Administrative Coordinator: $46,736
Program Coordinator (Non-Profit Organization): $43,269

Other factors may affect your wage with a master’s in liberal arts/humanities, including your particular employer and years of work experience.

Doctoral Degrees in Liberal Arts and Humanities

Overview

If it’s your desire to ascend to the very top of your career field, then a doctorate in humanities and liberal arts may be your ticket to success. These terminal degree programs require a very large investment of both time and effort and are generally heavily research-based. Of course, the requirements for this type of graduate degree will vary depending on the type of liberal arts/humanities doctoral degree you decide to pursue. Some examples are listed below:

Types of Doctorate Degrees in Humanities and Liberal Arts

Doctor of Liberal Arts (DLA)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Liberal Arts
Doctor of Liberal Studies
PhD in Humanities

Liberal Arts and Humanities Doctorates: Curriculum

Though some overlap is to be expected, the curriculum for your liberal arts and humanities doctoral degree program should be fairly unique to the type of program you select as well as the school you choose to attend. Even so, we’ve listed some sample course titles to give you an idea of the scope and breadth of doctoral classes in the field. These course titles are taken from actual program offerings.

Humanities/Liberal Arts Doctoral Programs: Sample Course Titles

The Challenge of Postmodernism
Cyber Ethics
Mind-Brain and the Arts
Medicine and Morality in Global Perspective
Examining the Arts: Great Ideas Reading
Scholarly Inquiry and Writing in the Humanities
A History of Technology
Social Transformation Through Art
Humanities Theory, Method, and the Disciplines
Topics in Aesthetic History
Introduction to Global Humanities
Theories, Histories, and Practices of Interdisciplinarity
Semiotics and Discourse Analysis
Family and Community Ties
Modern Literature and the Human Condition

Doctorates in Liberal Arts and Humanities: Jobs and Salaries

Many professionals with a doctor of liberal arts/humanities credential go on to profess at the college level. Although wages are similar for most postsecondary teachers, they do vary based on the subject you teach. Below, we list some of the types of postsecondary teachers in the field of humanities and liberal arts alongside their mean annual wages, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

Social Sciences Teacher: $64,370
Foreign Language and Literature Teacher: $65,010
Communications Teacher: $66,510
Art, Drama, and Music Teacher: $66,930
Philosophy and Religion Teacher: $69,590
History Teacher: $72,690

Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, and your salary will vary based on the university where you teach as well as the number of years of experience you have in the field of liberal arts and humanities.

Associate’s Degrees in Liberal Arts and Humanities

Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Arts/Humanities

Master’s Degree Programs in Liberal Arts and Humanities

Doctoral Degrees in Liberal Arts and Humanities

Liberal Arts and Humanities Rankings