# So, what can someone do with a Women's/Chicano/etc studies degree after graduation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 10, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785 "2008-04-10T18:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/1 "2008-04-10T18:52:49Z")
Many colleges and universities in the United States have degrees in women’s studies, Chicano/Hispanic studies, African-American studies, and so on. If someone earned their undergraduate degree in … let’s say women’s studies, with no second major, what can they do with it? What kinds of jobs would such a degree qualify them for? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/2 "2008-04-10T19:08:38Z")
Consulting for companies that seek to target women, minorities, etc, with their marketing. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/3 "2008-04-10T19:13:45Z")
Or go back and teach another generation. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/4 "2008-04-10T19:18:07Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Many colleges and universities in the United States have degrees in women’s studies, Chicano/Hispanic studies, African-American studies, and so on. If someone earned their undergraduate degree in … let’s say women’s studies, with no second major, what can they do with it? What kinds of jobs would such a degree qualify them for? [/QUOTE] They could do many things. In my experience, many entry-level career positions will require **a** Bachelor’s degree, without further specification. Many of my co-workers (I work in commercial aviation) have degrees in history, teaching, and yes, even one co-worker has a degree in women’s studies. Depending on where you live and what field you go into, requirements may be tougher, but I think it’s safe to say that few degrees actually qualify you to do anything without actual experience, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/5 "2008-04-10T19:20:15Z")
Go to law school/medical school/social work/teaching. As noted, there aren’t many liberal arts degrees that qualify new graduates to do any specific thing. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/6 "2008-04-11T01:43:20Z")
It’s not something I ever looked into, but isn’t it essentially a type of history degree? So, whatever one could do with a history degree. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/7 "2008-04-11T01:54:23Z")
Many entry level professional Fed jobs require a BA- \*in anything. \* It shows you can write a paper thus you have a reasonable degree of literacy and thus you can write a report. And keep up with butt-numbing bureaucratic nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/8 "2008-04-11T13:11:47Z")
You could ask this about any number of degrees. I majored in anthropology. Is there anyone who’s looking to hire someone _specifically_ with a BA in anthropology? No. (I looked. I mean, there are jobs for anthropologists, but you have to have a more advanced degree.) But at least I qualified for all the jobs that require at least a bachelor’s degree. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/9 "2008-04-11T14:14:30Z")
As has been mentioned before, most people with BAs don’t end up working in the field they studies. What is important is the writing and critical thinking skills they learned. But if you were looking for related jobs…there is of course academia. And then there is a lot in the non-profit sector and social work. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/10 "2008-04-11T18:50:14Z")
Professional activist? ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/11 "2008-04-13T01:45:10Z")
Roadie for the Lilith Fair? (Before I’m beset, I’ve taken Women Studies courses, my PC cred is impeccable.) ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/12 "2008-04-13T01:54:12Z")
Do you want fries with that? ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/13 "2008-04-13T14:49:18Z")
Several of my Irish friends did university degrees in the Irish language. One of them several years after graduation very dramatically said"I’ve got a degree in Irish,I’m unemployable!" ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/14 "2008-04-13T18:18:03Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] Several of my Irish friends did university degrees in the Irish language. One of them several years after graduation very dramatically said"I’ve got a degree in Irish,I’m unemployable!" [/QUOTE] Tell me about it. I did my bachelor’s in German language and lit, and it’s almost that bad. At least, I’ve mostly been employed, and done fairly well, except for my current hiatus. But I do look back and wonder what the hell was I _thinking_? It seemed like all I could do at the time. I enjoyed the subject and got a degree from a big name school, so that doesn’t hurt. But the thing was, in retrospect, it was _not_ the only thing I could have done! ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/15 "2008-04-13T18:33:18Z")
It would be interesting to do a survey: What percentage of college graduates work in jobs that relate to their undergraduate major? I would guess that it’s well under 50%. Personally, I can say that my job has essentially nothing to do with my major. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-can-someone-do-with-a-womens-chicano-etc-studies-degree-after-graduation/444785/16 "2008-04-13T19:32:20Z")
[QUOTE=brazil84] It would be interesting to do a survey: What percentage of college graduates work in jobs that relate to their undergraduate major? I would guess that it’s well under 50%. Personally, I can say that my job has essentially nothing to do with my major. [/QUOTE] Certainly if you broke it down by discipline you’d see significant differences. I imagine most engineering majors are working as engineers, somewhat fewer natural science majors are doing that, and only a very small number of liberal arts majors are doing anything related to that. I’m speaking of bachelor’s degrees here; I’m sure with graduate level degrees the correlation of curriculum and career is higher.