In an article for MSN Encarta, Nan Mooney, author and journalist, argues that they are.

With the increasing knowledge that, more than ever before, a college degree does not automatically lead to a job, it’s easy to think of studying liberal arts as a privilege that not many can afford. There is a clearer path from a degree like civil engineering to a job—where you’ll be a civil engineer. But Mooney contests that the skills learned in a liberal arts program may lead to a more well-rounded and flexible perspective, which is certainly beneficial in a world where technology is constantly becoming outdated and adaptability is pivotal to success.

LiberalArtsLeadsToJob

Mooney draws most of her conclusions from interviews conducted with students and academics who are affiliated with liberal arts. It is good information, but it doesn’t really prove that liberal arts majors have career success. So we did a little bit of research to see if any people with well-known, successful careers majored in the liberal arts. You may be surprised by what we found out:

  • Diane Sawyer, Stephen King, Chevy Chase, Martin Scorsese, Joe Paterno, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas were English majors.
  • Steve Wynn, billionaire owner of Wynn Resorts, majored in English literature and cultural anthropology.
  • Kurt Vonnegut, Michael Crichton, Jane Goodall, and Mick Jagger all studied anthropology.
  • Martha Stewart double majored in history and art history.
  • JFK and Teddy Roosevelt were among the presidents who majored in history, as did Conan O’Brien, Lauryn Hill, and Edward Norton.
  • Katharine Hepburn got degrees in history and philosophy.
  • Other famous philosophy majors include Steve Martin, Bruce Lee, and John Elway.
  • Jon Stewart and Natalie Portman majored in psychology.
  • Ronald Reagan, Regis Philbin, Dan Aykroyd, Robin Williams, and Martin Luther King, Jr. all studied sociology.

Something to add: it is especially important for liberal arts majors to be able to articulate how the skills they have developed in college will make them a valuable asset to an organization. And you can really target a particular industry through relevant internship and part-time work experience while you’re in school.