The Best Online Humanities Degrees To Get For Careers

ART

1. Art History

As an art history major, students explore the history and development of painting, sculpture, architecture and other visual arts. A degree in Art History is the foundation for a career as a museum curator or archivist. It may also be the path to a career as an historian or teacher.

The median salary for an archivist, curator or museum worker was $48,400.00 per year. The Bureau of Labor expects employment in this area to grow nine percent. This is faster growth than the average of all occupations.

Higher-level jobs in this field often require a master's degree. The median salary for Historians is $61,140.00 per year. The Bureau also expects employment in this area to grow by six percent.

The Best Online Master’s in History Programs

2. Fashion Merchandising

A bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising opens the door to many different career opportunities. Students may find themselves working as a designer, merchandiser, buyer, or stylist.

As a fashion designer students sketch designs, choose patterns and fabrics, and give production instructions for original creations of clothing, footwear, and accessories.

The median annual salary for a fashion designer is $72,720.00. The Bureau expects employment in this field to grow by one percent. As a buyer, or purchasing agent for a company, students can earn an average of $67,600.00 per year.

The Best Online Fashion Merchandising Schools

3. Film

Careers in directing, producing, and cinematography all stem from a degree in film. Producers and directors work to create movies, television shows, theatrical productions and other smaller works. They strive to make the writer's ideas come to life.

Producers and directions can earn an average yearly salary of $71,680. The Bureau projects growth in these fields to increase five percent. Working in cinematography as a film/video editor or camera operator earns an average salary of $58,990 a year. The Bureau expects employment in this area to grow 11 percent.

The Best Online Film Schools

4. Music

Studying music in school is the path for students who desire to become music directors, composers, singers, or musicians. Directors often work for schools or religious organizations, while composers may work independently or for a recording studio.

A career as a director or composer yields an average salary of $49,630 per year. The Bureau expects employment to grow one percent. Musicians and singers are often paid hourly. The hourly rate is $28.15. The Bureau expects little to no change in employment for musicians.

5. Photography

A career as a photographer looks different for each student as this career is dependent on personal interests and areas of specialty. Students may find that freelance or contract photography work is more prevalent than salaried work. Many photographers travel for work, while others are able to work in laboratories or studios. Available work for photographers may fluctuate according to the season.

The median pay was $16.35 per hour and $34,000 per year. The Bureau expects employment in this area to decline by six percent.

The Best Online Associate's Degrees in Photography

DESIGN

6. Animation

For students who love to draw or work with computer graphics, animation is an excellent field to consider. Employers look for applicants with an undergraduate degree in art, computer graphics, or similar field, along with an extensive portfolio of work samples. Students may pursue their passion by creating animation for television, movies, books, or other formats.

Animators must display high levels of creativity, attention to detail, and execution of drawing skills. See our 15 Best Animation and Graphic Design Colleges Online.

The median annual pay for an animator was $72,520. The Bureau expects an average four percent employment growth in this field.

7. Game Design

Most often, game designers focus their design and animation skills on the creation of video games. Designers work with a team of colleagues to come up with the initial concept for a game. From there, the team creates characters, develops a setting and plot, and designs the course of game play.

To make the game successful clear communication and team work skills are vital. Students develop such skills as part of a degree in the humanities.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes game designers under multimedia artists and animators. The median salary for this group was $72,520. The Bureau expects an average 4% employment growth in this field.

8. Graphic Design

Graphic designers use computer software programs to create visual concepts and communicate ideas. They create advertisements, magazines, reports and other types of media.

Employers look for applicants who have a bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field and display high levels of creativity. Employers also often request a detailed portfolio of past work and projects.

Though many designers work for specialized design services, as many as 22 percent of graphic designers were self employed. The median annual salary for a graphic designer is $50,370.

The Bureau expects employment to grow three percent. The Bureau also predicts that applicants will face strong competition in the field.

The Best Animation and Graphic Design Colleges Online

9. Multimedia Design

Multimedia design is an area of study for students who wish to create in a variety of media formats. Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media.

In this role, a designer works among a team, creates storyboards, uses illustrations and computers programming to create animations, edits material, and meets with clients and directors. In 2018, 59 percent of multimedia artists and animators were self-employed.

The median annual wage for a multimedia artist and animator is $72,520. The Bureau expects a four percent employment growth in this field.

10. Visual Communication Design

Visual Communication is a broad field that offers a variety of opportunities and specializations. Advertising, animation, photography, and graphic design are all examples of careers within the visual communication field. Necessary skills for these careers include high levels of creativity, good communication, and team spirit.

The work environments for these careers are as varied as the careers themselves, including outdoor settings, studio settings, and working from home. The median annual salaries range from $34,000 for photographers to $69,430 for web developers.

No matter which direction a student chooses, his or her education and career will focus on communication with clients and customers using a visual path.

11. Web Design

A degree in web design typically leads to a career as a web developer. This position is for students who like to design and create websites. A web developer is responsible for both the look of the webpage (a front-end web developer) and the technical aspects of the site (a back-end web developer). Additionally, webmasters maintain and update websites.

Web developers work with clients to create a desired web site design. The median annual wage for a web developer was $69,430. The Bureau expects employment to grow 13 percent.

LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION

12. English

A bachelor's degree in English is a broad degree option that opens the door to several career choices. A degree in English allows students the opportunity to write, publish, or teach.

It may even lead to a higher degree of study in an area such as law or a master's degree in Fine Arts. With an English degree, students may find a career as a high school teacher. The annual median salary for a high school teacher is $60,320.

The Bureau expects demand for high school English teachers to increase four percent. After receiving a degree in English students may decide to pursue a career as an English teacher in a post secondary setting. The annual median salary for a post secondary English teacher is $66,590.

13. English Language Learning

A degree in English Language Learning equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach the English language to others. As an educator in this area, students can expect to earn a median yearly salary of $60,320 teaching high school. At the post-secondary level, students can expect the median yearly wage to be $66,590.

It is likely that some time as a post-secondary educator would be spent in some administrative or research duties. Other potential careers such as interpreters or translators earn a median annual salary of $49,930.

The Best Translation and Interpretation Colleges

14. Media Communications

Media Communications is a broad field that applies to a variety of careers including:

Announcers
Public Relations Specialists
Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts
Writers and Authors

As a whole, people in these careers must create, edit, and transmit written and verbal communication through a variety of platforms. Most employers require applicants to have at least a bachelor's degree in a field related to communication.

The median annual wage for media and communication careers is $57,530. The Bureau expects occupations in the media and communications field to increase by four percent.

15. Journalism

The more popular occupations for someone with a degree in journalism include the following:

Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts
Writers and Authors
Public Relations Specialists

The median pay for Reporters, Correspondents, and News Analysts was $43, 490 per year. Most employees work for newspapers, websites, television, or radio companies.

Employers look for an undergraduate degree in journalism or communications. Applicants should also have some internship experience. The median pay for Writers and Authors is $62,170 per year.

Most people in this field, up to 61 percent, are self-employed. The median pay for Public Relations Specialists is $60,000 per year. Their job is to promote and maintain the reputation of the company they represent. The Bureau expects this area of employment to grow by six percent.

16. Writing

Besides creating books or articles, a writing career may also include Technical Writing. A Technical Writer produces instruction manuals, how-to guides, and other supportive guides. Creative writers produce content for a variety of media platforms. This may include books, articles, blogs, or magazine pieces.

Most writers in this area are self employed. Writers may work anywhere they have access to a computer. The median pay for Writers and Authors is $62,170 per year.

Technical writers most often work for companies that emphasize the sciences. Employers look for an undergraduate degree and knowledge of a science or engineering subject. The median pay for Technical writers is $71,850 per year. The Bureau expects this area of writing to grow by eight percent.

The Best Online Screenwriting Colleges

17. Public Relations

The Public Relations Specialist handles promoting the positive image of their employer. It is common for Public Relations Specialists to oversee their company's social media accounts. Employees may also attend community activities or events to promote the company's image.

The median pay in 2018 for a Public Relations Specialist was $60,00 per year. The Bureau expects this area of employment to grow by six percent through 2028.

After gaining experience, becoming a public relations manager may be an option. Managers plan and oversee the creation of promotional materials and direct fundraising efforts. For a public relations manager, the median yearly salary is $114,800.

GENERAL STUDIES

18. History

Historians focus on research, writing, and teaching. Historian often work for colleges or the local or federal government. It is common for Historians to travel as a part of research.

Most employers require graduate level training. The median pay for a Historian was $61,140 per year. The Bureau expects an average six percent job growth in this area.

The Best History Departments

Historians may also pursue careers as Archivists, Curators, or Museum workers. Responsibilities include overseeing collections and maintaining or restoring items within those collections.

Most employers look for at least master's level training. The median pay for an Archivists, Curators, or Museum worker is $48,400 per year. The Bureau expects a nine percent job growth in this area.

19. Theology

A degree in theology may lead to a career as a counselor, teacher, or clergy member. A theology degree may focus on biblical studies, ministry, divinity, or religious studies.

It often requires the study of ancient languages such as Greek and Hebrew. A job teaching theology in a post-secondary setting had a median yearly salary of $71,890.

A clergy member works among different faiths in the role of leadership and moral guidance. The median pay for a clergy member is $47,100 per year.

20. Ministry

A Ministry degree can help people in positions such as clergy members, worship leaders, secretaries, or volunteers. This degree can focus on the preferred religion of the student.

Responsibilities range from leadership to music director and volunteer coordinator. Communication and interpersonal skills are key for these jobs. Students with a ministry degree do not have to work at churches. Other places of employment include:

Hospitals
Nursing care facilities
Elementary and secondary schools
Home health care services
Emergency/relief services
Government organizations

The median pay for a clergy member in 2018 was $47,100 per year. Other religious workers had a 2018 median salary of $29,820 per year.

21. Library Science

A degree in Library Science leads to a career as a librarian or post secondary teacher. Librarians find employment by the government, a specific organizations, or schools. Employers look for at least a Master's degree.

Librarians may also benefit from having a teaching certificate or degree in another field. Some states require librarians to pass a standardized test such as the Praxis II.

The median pay for a librarian was $59,050 per year. The Bureau expects employment in this area to grow at an average six percent.

A library science post secondary teacher may have both research and teaching responsibilities. The median pay for library science post secondary teachers was $71,560 per year.

POLITICS AND SOCIETY

22. Political Science

A Political Scientist influences government policies through research, data analysis, and testing political theories. Employers expect graduate level training in the field. The majority of workers, 53 percent, were working for the federal government.

The median yearly wage for a political scientist is $117,570. The Bureau expects employment in this field to grow an average five percent. A degree in political science is also a good background for lawyers and paralegals.

Lawyers advise and represent clients inside and outside the courtroom. The average yearly salary for a lawyer is $120,910. Paralegals work to assist and support lawyers and earned a median yearly salary of $50,940.

23. Public Policy

The study of public policy might result in a career as a political scientist (discussed above), social/community service manager, or management analyst/consultant.

A social/community service manager may work for a nonprofit organization, a private for-profit organization, or a government entity. They work to manage community organizations and service programs. The average median salary for a social/community service manager is $65,320.

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The Bureau expects employment in this area is to grow 13 percent. A management analyst/consultant works with organizations to maximize profit and efficiency. The median annual salary for a management analyst/consultant was $83,610. The Bureau expects employment grow in this field by 14 percent.

24. Military History

Military History teaches the history of armed conflict. It also teaches how those conflicts (and their outcomes) shaped civilizations. Students may learn about the philosophies behind wars.

Or students may learn about technological advances made during war time for war purposes. This degree subject is for those who are interested in all things war and military related.

Those who have earned a bachelor's degree often pursue graduate degrees. Some of the careers offered with a degree in Military History are:

Military Historian
College Professor
Author of Military History
Museum Director
Government Analyst

Graduates may work in the public or private sectors.

Best Online Humanities Degrees for Careers