Do it. Declare Humanities and Social Sciences.

Some degrees teach you what you’re going to do.

A degree in the humanities and social sciences is about who you’re going to become.

The world needs humanities and social science graduates more than ever. Complex global problems need the insights and perspectives that arts graduates provide. The study of language, culture, history, and society bridges gaps and makes sense of the complex systems around us.

Eighty-nine per cent of HR officers at major corporations say they want employees who can write and speak effectively and persuasively; 84 per cent say they want employees who collaborate well with people from other backgrounds and job skills to solve real-world company problems. And they want people with advanced analytical reasoning abilities. Sounds like an arts grad, doesn’t it?

Of course we need to know how to build bridges, cure diseases and understand how financial markets function. We also need to know how people live, think, co-exist, network and interact.

The bachelor of arts is an academic degree program. Your friends might be in pharmacy or engineering or nursing. When they graduate they will become pharmacists, engineers and nurses. As an arts grad you could start your own business, work in the media or advertising, or become a government decision-maker. You may choose to pursue further studies and become a teacher, a lawyer or a doctor. You might decide to stay in Newfoundland and Labrador or work and live abroad. Some degrees teach you what you’re going to do. An arts degree is about who you’re going to become.