At The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, what you're curious about can shape your career. The humanities help you turn your interests into meaningful academic paths and build a future around what you love. They invite you to ask better questions and explore people, ideas and the world through new perspectives. Whether you’re an aspiring author, entrepreneur, historian or simply someone who never stops asking why, there’s a place for you here.
Consistently ranked
in humanities research among the top public universities in the country, with high performance in areas like history, philosophy and English.
Over 10
undergraduate degrees in languages and cultures, including pioneering programs in Romanian and Indonesian.
Award-winning
faculty, including Pulitzer, Guggenheim, MacArthur and British and American Academy honors.
First-of-their-kind
degrees, like the MA in World War II studies, built in partnership with the National World War II Museum, and the BA in culture, technology and environment.
In a world that’s artificial, be human.
The humanities division at The College comprises three academic units that explore the ideas, ethics and experiences that define us. Across each discipline, you’ll build the ability to think critically, communicate meaningfully and understand people in a rapidly changing world.
As technology advances, understanding meaning, culture and human experience matters more than ever. Here, you’ll learn to see the world through multiple perspectives and develop the human insight that technology can’t replace.
Build career confidence for whatever comes next.
Analyze complex problems, understand people, communicate ideas effectively and build the adaptable skills to thrive in any field, including those that don’t even exist yet. In fact, over 90% of employers prefer candidates with hard-to-automate skills the humanities build: ethical judgment, intercultural awareness, empathy and a capacity for continued learning.
The humanities don’t just prepare you for a job; they prepare you for every version of your future. Wherever it leads, you’re ready to lead it.
Archivist
Attorney
Coder
Copywriter/editor
Entrepreneur
Educator
ESL teacher
Film/media researcher
Foreign service officer
Health care advocate
International affairs operative
Foreign correspondent
Interpreter
Journalist
Marketer
Museum curator
Nonprofit administrator
Policy analyst
Public relations director
Technical writer
Translator
I didn’t know what I was going to do with my humanities degree…maybe it wasn’t a straight line, but I really love what I get to do, and I’m proud of it. I credit this education for giving me the tools to take that sense of adventure and curiosity and turn it into something valuable.”
Chris Livesay
CBS News foreign correspondent
BA in Italian and art history, 2005
Sammi Ekmark
Ink’d Greetings co-founder and chief product officer
BA in English, 2019
Edward "Bud" Cole
Fender CEO
BA in English, 2000
Frequently asked questions
What are the humanities?
The humanities examine the human experience in the past, present and future in order to create a more just world. At Arizona State University, the humanities division brings together the Department of English, the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies and the School of International Letters and Cultures to explore language, culture, history, philosophy, religion, film and media, and the intersection of people, technology and society.
Can I get a job with a humanities degree?
Over 90% of employers said they prefer to hire a candidate who shows ethical judgment and integrity, intercultural skills and the capacity for continued new learning. Career-readiness skills such as critical thinking, communication and problem-solving are highly valued and gained in a humanities degree.
What can I do with a humanities degree?
A humanities degree doesn’t lead to just one path; it prepares you for many. Graduates work across industries using skills that stay relevant as the world changes. Some go on to careers in media, law or education, while others start businesses, build new technologies or write the next bestseller. The skills you gain are valued across roles.