The BA: Bachelor of Bugger All? By Shirley Wong.
Shirley explores the stereotypes of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and uncovers they may be more beneficial than they're given credit for.
For those arts graduates with majors in Philosophy, English and Classics, the connection between job and skill set isn’t always clear. However, employers seeking those with the capacity for critical analysis and argument, proficient written and verbal communication skills and the ability to think outside the square, should look no further.
BAs are highly flexible degrees that entail much versatility. Translated in the business world, this correlates to a strong aptitude for adapting to fast-paced corporate life. Yet they are often underestimated by employers, simply because they lack an immediate application factor.
In the expanding global economy, businesses are now increasingly aware of other cultures they may have to work with. With growing countries, such as China and India, employers need businesses – and employees- that can not only adapt but also communicate well, in order to grasp these opportunities. Arts students are often good candidates due to the diversity of their studies.
Typical careers for arts graduates include policy analysts and teaching. However, the applicability extends to all sectors. Property tycoon, Bob Jones, knows all about it:
“A person schooled in the humanities knows how to think, they can learn business later.”
He reasons that employers are increasingly appreciating the well-rounded education and independence of humanities students; in fact, he is famously known to hire arts graduates over MBAs.
An arts graduate may not integrate as readily into a corporate environment as an MBA, law or commerce degree. However, their skill-sets should not be undermined. In a 2008 survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, 69% of business leaders rated the skills gained through a liberal arts education as “very important.” Simply put, arts grads can contribute significantly in a business context.
Arts degrees are often criticised for their lack of specialisation. However, some predictions are that 50 percent of the jobs available in 10 years’ time have not yet been invented, so it pays to be wary of trying to relate degree ‘x’ to job ‘y’. Commentators say we are heading into an era where the generalist will be needed, not the specialist.
Of course, while a BA will offer a broad range of essential skills, they are often best paired with other degrees, offering the best of both worlds. Hence, a mix arts and commerce/science/law degree can give a graduate a strong edge in the labour market, “potentially advanc[ing] into managerial roles more quickly,” reasons the Saunders School of Business at University of British Colombia.
Arts graduates can give any business an advantage, just as much as any specifically applied university degree. But stereotypes that assume BAs have no practicality? Bugger that.
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