Career
Opportunities for ARHU Majors
Click
on the majors below to learn about career opportunities for arts
and humanities degrees:
American
Studies
Majoring
in American Studies prepares students to enter a wide variety
of professional careers. American Studies majors pursue
a focused course of interdisciplinary study within a combination
of selected areas such as popular culture, media studies, history,
literature, ethnography, and material culture. American Studies
majors learn to research and analyze themes, patterns, and meanings
in American culture, past and present; to examine and critique
the nature and history of American experiences and identities,
both within national borders and beyond; and to develop skills
in oral, written, and cyber communication.
With
a vast array of fields seeking employees with strong liberal arts
backgrounds, advanced analytic and communication skills, and knowledge
of cultural and historical issues and their applications, American
Studies graduates can choose to pursue careers in law, social
work, publishing, education, journalism, politics, museums, government,
business, and the arts. For example, recent graduates have obtained
jobs as a legislative aide, TV production assistant, magazine
photo editor, hisotoric interpreter for a state forest, technical
recruiter, and computer programmer.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/AmericanStudies/
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Art History & Archaeology
Art
History and Archaeology are disciplines involving the study of
material objects that are made by human beings and informed both
with functional and aesthetic intentions. The work of art may
be analyzed through historical contextualizations; historical
chronology; methods of criticisms and interpretation; description
and classification; intellectual, political, economic and social
history; cultural and anthropological studies; and numerous other
approaches. Archaeologists share all of these methods with
Art Historians, but also specialize in techniques of excavation.
Majors
in Art History and Archaeology may choose from a wide variety
of career options, including academic careers in teaching and
research (also requiring the M.A. and Ph.D degrees); museum careers
(including administration, curatorship, exhibition planning, catalogue
research, and art conservation); careers in the art market (including
art appraisal, galleries, auctions, and sales) arts administration;
and corporate consulting. Art Historians and Archaeologists often
work in international contexts and typically master several foreign
and/or ancient languages ( a reading knowledge of French and German
is generally the minimal requirement for entrance into a graduate
program). Preparation for specific career paths may also require
some background in law, business, physical sciences or studio
art.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu//ARHU/Depts/ArtHistory/
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Art Studio
Students
who major in Art Studio generally pursue professional careers
in their area of concentration upon graduation. Many of
our graduates exhibit and sell their works in painting, printmaking,
sculpture, drawing, and design. Often students will
seek employment in related or parallel fields within the Arts
which include theater production and design; film, radio and television;
marketing/advertising graphics; as well as industrial design.
Other areas of professional orientation include teaching Art at
various levels and or pursuing careers in Art therapy.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Art/
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Classics
A
Classics major has the choice of concentrating on Latin or Greek
and reading in the original languages or of focusing on the culture
and legacy of Greece and Rome (with some language study).
Both offer study of civilizations that are central to western
culture and of an area, the Mediterranean, where the cultures
of Europe, Africa, and Asia have interacted for millennia.
Focus on the languages is appropriate for those interested
in law school or in graduate study in Classics, History, Archaeology,
Art History, or Religious Studies. It is a good basis for
any kind of language studies, for technical writing, and for training
in analytic skills, since Greek and Latin are highly analytic
languages (and Aristotle's logic is an extension of Greek grammar).
Focus
on Greek and Roman cultures combines language and communication
skills with research experience and knowledge of other cultures.
It is thus a good basis for jobs in writing and cultural enrichment.
Classics majors recently have found jobs in teaching, educational
television, journalism, archival work, museums, and travel programs.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Classics/
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Communication
Communication
takes as its subject matter the history, processes, and effects
of human communication through speech and its extensions.
Within the curriculum, students may pursue academic programs that
emphasize many disciplinary areas, including organizational communication,
intercultural communication, political communication, conflict
management, cognition and persuasion, rhetorical theory, history
of rhetoric, and criticism of public discourse.
The
departmental curriculum is designed to provide a liberal education
in the arts and sciences of human communication as well as preparation
for career opportunities in business, government, education, and
related fields. Majoring in Communication helps students
develop skills applicable to many careers--listening, interviewing,
preparing for and giving presentations, persuasion, research,
writing, speaking, and analytical thinking. The scope of employment
opportunities for Communication majors is vast. Marketing,
public relations, sales training and management are all popular
areas of concentration.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Communication/
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Dance
A
major in Dance provides a foundation in movement studies from
which students can (and have) become performers, choreographers,
teachers, dance critics, movement therapists, and sports medicine
specialists.
The
Dance major curriculum is designed to increase a student's range
of movement experience and expression and to provide a solid technical
and conceptual base in the discipline. Students who aspire to
be dancers and choreographers develop the skills and gain the
performance experiences they need to pursue that dream. They are
also given a full introduction to the many other aspects of the
field and of the potential for the fusion of dance with other
areas of interest. The following is a small sample of present
and past achievements of our graduates: Director of Research,
Harkness Center for Dance Injuries; choreographer for the Alvin
Ailey Company; dance critic for the Washington Post; director
of the Creative Dance Lab for children at the University of Maryland;
performer in the national touring company of 42nd Street; and
a theater technician touring internationally.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Dance/
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English
Students
who choose a major in English have a number of careers open to
them. Since writing is an important function in any job, where
better to learn superior writing than in an English program? In
the professional world, english majors often take positions in
technical writing, development work, publishing, public relations,
advertising, consulting , and marketing. English majors have the
strong persuasive skills , oral and written communication abilities,
and analytical talents demanded from high level managers in these
professions.
Publishing
offers a wide variety of business positions for English majors,
including marketing, circulation, promotion, acquisitions, and
advertising. Professional and trade associations also provide
many entry-level business positions. Associations employ over
80,000 people in the Greater Washington area, and they tend to
hire liberal arts majors.
Contact:
On the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/English/
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Foreign
Languages
A
foreign language major can make a significant contribution in
the professional world. Most employers recognize nowadays that
the global village is a reality, and that marketing products and
services worldwide is lucrative, necessary, and vital to industrial
growth. However, 'going global' demands new skills, knowledge,
and sometimes behaviors of employees. Wise employers with a vision
of capturing international markets are now seeking personnel with
language and cross cultural skills.
Students
interested in studying foreign languages and cultures at the University
of Maryland College Park can choose from a variety of departments,
each offering different options and emphases. These departments
include:
Department
of Asian and East European Languages and Cultures (includes
Russian, Chinese, Japanese)
Department
of French and Italian
Department
of Germanic Studies
Department
of Spanish and Portuguese
The
University also offers citations in many of these areas. In addition,
the Business, Culture and Languages program of study offers students
opportunities to pursue a foreign language major specifically
designed for the business world. Specialized courses in business
language, emphasizing vocabulary and cross-cultural differences
are complemented with courses in the Maryland Business School.
The final equation adds up to graduates uniquely prepared to offer
business the necessary skills and knowledge to compete internationally.
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History
Students
who major in History acquire a broad understanding of the past;
hone their reading, writing, and research skills; learn how to
gather information, analyze data and present arguments; and gain
historical perspective on contemporary issues and problems. Courses
are offered in African, East Asian, European, Latin American,
Middle Eastern, and United States history. Students may choose
to emphasize political, social, or cultural history; women's or
gender history; international relations; Jewish history; the history
of science and technology; business and economic history; or military
history.
History
majors' knowledge and skills prepare them for a variety of careers,
including print and broadcast journalism, teaching, publishing,
advocacy, government, foreign service, archaeology, museum work,
and administration. History is also a prime major for students
seeking graduate degrees in law, business, medicine, journalism,
and librarianship.
Contact:
Director of Undergraduate Studies
On the Web:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/History/
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Linguistics
In
Linguistics we study the underlying properties that are shared
by all human languages. Our department has a particular
interest in what language can tell us about the structure of the
human mind, with a specialization in the acquisition of language
by children.
Teachers
of foreign languages and of English and those working in fields
such as translation can benefit from a background in Linguistics,
either as a double major with a language, or as a Linguistics
major in our Grammatical Theory and a Language specialization.
Our Grammars and Cognition specialization is appropriate for students
interested in pursuing future work in cognitive psychology, and
can usefully combine with the study of computer science as preparation
for language-related computer work and artificial intelligence
research.
Those
with a particular interest in graduate work in formal linguistic
theory will find that our students have been accepted into some
of the most prestigious graduate programs in the field.
On
the Web:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Linguistics/
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Music
Filled
with possibilities, the business of Music prepares students for
careers as performers, teachers, composers, historians, arts administrators,
and more. Students with Music degrees perform at opera houses
around the world. win awards for their compositions, and act as
general directors for symphony orchestras.
With
superior logic and math ability acquired through years of musical
training, many Music graduates find a home in the computer industry
as well. Recent reports show that. in the ever-growing field of
computers, employers seek programmers with critical thinking skills
like those obtained through musical studies.
Contact:
On the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Music/
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Philosophy
Philosophy
teaches a combination of synthesizing imagination and analytic
discipline that is virtually unmatched anywhere else in the curriculum.
Good philosophers can see issues in larger perspective and grasp
relationships among seemingly unrelated possibilities. They are
skilled at spotting unjustified assumptions, weak arguments, and
general fuzzy thinking. Philosophers are quick on their feet but
can also write with clarity and force.
Philosophy
Majors are well-suited to work in professions calling for analysis,
problem-solving, and clear communication. Majors from our department
have gone on to successful careers in administration, advocacy,
law, education, information technology and many other fields that
call for rigorous and creative thinking.
On
the Web:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Philosophy/
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Theatre
The
Department of Theater provides a chance to learn and work with
both distinguished scholars and theater artists that make up our
faculty. Since our performance, design, and technical theater
faculty are also active in professional as well as academic theater,
they provide students a vital link with the world of professional
theater. Student playwrights workshop their plays with the
help of student performers, designers, technicians, and dramaturgs
under the supervision of faculty. Student directors and
designers temper their skills creating productions of classic,
contemporary, and experimental works. Theater-managers-in-training
implement publicity campaigns and ponder the mysteries of audience
development. Budding dramaturgs write study guides and program
essays for productions. History and criticism students prepare
presentations and articles for national and international conferences
and publications.
The
department offers students a well-rounded and comprehensive curriculum
leading to careers in acting, directing, design, technical theater,
theater management, and teaching. The quality and rigor
of our academic programs also establish a solid foundation for
students who may decide to pursue further study. Since the
skills cultivated by theater study--self-discipline, creativity,
self-confidence, and critical thinking--are highly sought after
in all career fields, theater training is an excellent preparation
for any profession.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/Theatre/
Contact:
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Women's Studies
A
Women's Studies major will provide students with the critical,
writing and analytic skills that are the center of liberal arts
education. Such skills are fundamental for people entering the
job market in a variety of fields, such as business, education,
civil service. Women's Studies majors will be especially valuable
for human resource offices in business and industry and for organizations,
businesses and public agencies that address equity issues and
other issues of importance to women. These include non-profit
organizations that address women's health, employment of familial
roles, such public agencies and offices as the Women's Bureau
of the Department of Labor, AID's Women in Development Program,
State and local commissions on women, etc. And advocacy groups
such as service organizations, unions, foundations, and associations
for education, trade, and so on.
On
the Web: http://www.inform.umd.edu/ARHU/Depts/WomensStudies/
