This cup of joe is for you jobless art-history majors

USA Today (via Yahoo) ^ | 06/11/03 | Craig Wilson

[A. Pole]

There's no room for conservatives in the art world, what can I say?

Just don't discuss politics with potential emloyers and co-workers. :(

[A. Pole]

In 1964 I was working as a volunteer at Barry Goldwater's Tucson headquarters. There was a couple also volunteering there who had history of art degrees. They drove the library bookmobile.

My friend has art history degree and she works as a museum director. Very nice job!

[FourPeas]

ROFL! Just make sure you wear your cup.

[A. Pole]

The utilitarian idea that colleges ought to be glorified trade schools is contrary to Western civilization's concept of the university, and its value in education as a good in itself.

Amen!

[Kenton]

I majored in Political Science, and here I am!

In virtual reality? That makes sense.

Yup. I think so too.

Not planning on quitting my "day job" though (which is totally unrelated to PoliSci).

[PatrioticAmerican]

"At 34, I don't think the Army will take me. 34 year-old privates don't take orders very well.

"

If you have a degree, try officer. They take 34 year olds as officers. You would have tons of career choices. No, I'm not a recruiter.

[hobbes1]

Don't. Go to Law skool.

[biblewonk]

I wanted to study astro-physics but I figured a math as comp sci double major would be a lot easier to sell.

[Drew68]

Don't. Go to Law skool.

Nah, I'm done studying for now. Maybe when I'm older.

[jimt]

The B.A or A.B. is not a job ticket. There are few jobs specifically for 4-year graduates, except possibly engineering jobs.

Not so for BS in engineering. A PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at my alma mater wrote his dissertation on processes we had commercialized (internally) years earlier. I make more dough than the tenured professors I know here in Houston. I'm far better equipped to teach in my subject than the PhDs because while we're relatively equal in terms of mathematics and modeling, I've had to make it work in the real world as opposed to writing esoteric papers about it based on observation.

An example would be the how and why of switching pulse streams to a stepper motor at speeds above the base speed. And I'm a gear-head (mechanical engineer).

Engineering is a field where an advanced degree is not nearly as necessary to be a "professional".

But I'll bet that's not true of a BS or BA in Astronomy...or many other sciences, let alone Art History.

[RightWhale]

That's true. A B.S. degree is much stronger in the job market than an Arts degree. My own A.B. [Artium Baccalaureus] qualifies me to chew Red Man Golden Blend, but my M.S. definitely opens some doors that don't matter anymore since I am about to be let out to pasture or let myself out.