What Can I Do with My Humanities Degree?
Humanities Degrees Open Doors
If you’re considering or currently studying the humanities, you may have had someone ask: What are you going to do with that?
The humanities teach valued skills that employers in all industries look for–skills like communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. In the Humanities Division at UC Santa Cruz, you’ll get to explore a vast array of professional possibilities through our experiential learning programs and career engagement opportunities.
Studying the humanities prepares you for fulfilling work and a fulfilling life. A better question might be: What can’t you do with that?
Meet Our Alumni
Below are just a few UCSC Humanities alumni doing impactful work in all kinds of industries. Click on a picture to learn who they are.
Naomi Andrews
Professor of History
History (BA, MA, PhD)
Mary (Miki) Arlen
Budget/Business Analyst
Critical Race & Ethnic Studies and Japanese Literature
Dillon Auyoung
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility
Linguistics
Kauchani Bratt
Actor
Philosophy
Akilah Burford
Palliative Care and Ethics Specialist
Feminist Studies
Sharon Castro
Director of UC Santa Cruz Learning Support Services
Feminist Studies and Literature
Sarah Cunniff
Former Attorney-Counselor
French Literature
Keith Curry
President of Compton College
American Studies
Farnaz Fatemi
Writer and Former Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County
American Studies
Reyna Grande
Award-Winning Author
Creative Writing
David Gleason
Senior Content Creator
Russian Literature & Language
Vann Jones
Community Organizer
Feminist Studies
Thomas Killion
Artist
History
Natalie Kudlicki
Program Manager
History
Avni Lal
Senior Research Advisor
History and Literature
Jalyn Mitchell
Attorney
Literature
Rebekah Mojica
Attorney
Philosophy
Sarah Papazoglakis
Trust Product Strategist
Literature (PhD)
John Rickford
Professor Emeritus
Linguistics
Jake Vincent
Language Engineer
Linguistics (PhD)
James Young
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Literature (BA and PhD)
Steve Wagner
Co-Founder and President
Literature
Noah Whitley
Associate Governmental Program Analyst
History
Explore Career Pathways
Humanities studies can lead to an infinite number of careers, and it can be helpful to identify some specific examples! Below is a far-from-comprehensive list of common career paths from the humanities. Click on a field name to learn more.
To learn more about how a humanities background sets you up for success in work, learning, and life, check out The Humanities Pathway to Career Success from the National Humanities Alliance.
