humanities phd consulting

Career Advice

Plus C’est La Même Chose

By Frederick A. Winter

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Not long ago, heading out to an academic conference where I was scheduled to take part in a panel examining “alternative” careers for humanities degree holders and looking for airplane reading, I grabbed from my bookshelf three aging publications: Outside Academe: New Ways of Working in the Humanities: A Report on the Conference ‘Independent Research Institutions and Scholarly Life in the 1980s’ (1981), Getting a Job Outside the Academy: A Special Publication of the American Anthropological Association (1982), and Humanities Ph.D.s and Nonacademic Careers: A Guide for Faculty Advisers (1983). After I got home, I retrieved an even earlier publication, Rita Jacobs’s The Useful Humanists: Alternative Careers for Ph.D.’s [sic] in the Humanities (1977). Each of these publications could benefit from some minor updating to make them fully relevant today, but the overall impression is that after roughly four decades, they have weathered surprising well.

Or perhaps it would be better phrased as “after roughly four decades, they have weathered depressingly well.” The academic job market collapse in the humanities and social sciences, which is often characterized as a feature of the academy in the 2000s, is clearly the result of a transformation that has been going on for more than a generation. Acknowledging that and treating the situation as an existing reality instead of an immediate crisis will go a long way toward allowing the academy to adjust to the current situation.

There are some critical differences between what these publications described and current perceptions. First, no one today needs to argue that noncampus careers are a viable option for humanities Ph.D. holders. Indeed, now these careers are often described as the only realistic options. The second difference is suggested by the subtitle of the 1983 publication, A Guide for Faculty Advisers . We now recognize that this is an unrealistic expectation. Faculty in the humanities have been trained, experientially if not formally, to replicate themselves. They are masters of their disciplines, not experts in pedagogy or career counseling, and they aren’t viewed as a source of employment advice, especially for jobs that go beyond the tenure track.

Indeed, current faculty are often viewed as hostile to students who consider nonfaculty careers, while higher education blogs, newspapers and newsletters abound with articles on when to tell your faculty adviser that you are considering noncampus jobs so that your announcement will not hamper success in the graduate programs that the current faculty members control. In place of the faculty advisers envisioned in 1983, a whole new mini-industry of career counselors has arisen to fill the noncampus employment niche.

Today’s academic job market suffers from the two key contributors to a market collapse. On the one hand, there is an overabundance of supply: universities continue to produce new Ph.D.s in numbers that far exceed the demand for new, tenured full-time faculty members. And on the other, we’ve seen a collapse in demand. As Frank Donoghue pointed out in his important analysis of academic finances, The Last Professors: The Corporate University and the Fate of the Humanities , the economics of higher education preclude universities from ever returning to the model of full-time tenure-track/tenured faculty that dominated campuses during the mid- to late 20th century. In today’s campus economy, and into the foreseeable future, contingent faculty positions in the humanities -- adjunct appointments and short-term contractual jobs -- will be the norm. While such positions might satisfy a degree holder’s desire to teach and provide welcome access to a research library, they will almost never provide the compensation and benefits package that offer hope for a reasonable life in contemporary society.

To address the possible careers that follow from the completion of a doctoral degree, the academy and its fellow travelers must get away from the current view that noncampus jobs are fully desirable. To be sure, the recipients of advanced degrees in the humanities generally enjoy rewarding careers, whether on campus or off. But that’s just a reflection of the fact that they are smart, adaptable and productive. To argue, as some higher education leaders have, that Ph.D. recipients in the humanities have always followed various career paths and therefore the noncampus jobs are OK, ignores the obvious reality: no one in the humanities pursues a doctoral degree, with years of coursework and more years of dissertation writing, in hopes of finding an off-campus career that doesn’t involve advanced work in their chosen field.

The model may be different in the sciences, where employment in industry, and in some of the social sciences such as psychology, where careers as independent practitioners are common. But in the humanities, no! Did you really think you completed your Ph.D. in classical archaeology with a specialization in Hellenistic ceramics (that was me, by the way) with anything in mind except a traditional faculty appointment? It’s time to put away the notion that a humanities Ph.D. is malleable and therefore serviceable regardless of the employment outcomes, in the sense that the degree serves as desirable preparation for a career outside the academy. Fostering this perspective is clearly in the interest of graduate departments, which need to keep enrollments up in order to justify their existence. But it is not helpful for the students enrolled in their programs. Get a humanities degree because you love your field: absolutely. Get a humanities degree because it prepares you for jobs other than higher education teaching: no way!

When looking at the sorts of jobs, or more precisely job trajectories, available to humanities Ph.D. holders, it is best to move beyond a simple dichotomy between academic and nonacademic positions. In recent career talks, I’ve been focusing on four major career tracks, with subcategories in two of them:

Traditional academic positions. This category includes the familiar tenured and tenure-track jobs, as well as two less desirable subcategories:

The precariate: precariously employed contingent faculty, term-contract instructors and adjuncts, whose jobs involve the teaching duties of regular faculty members but who do not have any promise of continuing employment or, in most cases, the health and retirement benefits that are usually associated with full-time faculty positions.
Permadocs: The sorts of nonfaculty postdoctoral research appointments that are most commonly seen in the sciences. These positions may include benefits, but they are often grant- or project-funded and without the possibility or promise of long-term employment that tenured and tenure-track jobs provide.

Alt-ac positions. Jason Rhody, a former colleague of mine at the National Endowment for the Humanities who now works for the Social Science Research Council, coined this term. In recent years, people have used it to characterize any nonfaculty or noncampus job. But in the strict sense that Rhody defined it, alt-ac refers to campus but nonteaching positions: directors of campus service offices and learning centers, grants and development offices, and various campus liaison offices. The restriction of these jobs to advanced degree holders generally reflects the conceit of the academy, which insists that only holders of Ph.D.s can understand the functionings of a college or university.

Sometimes characterized as living next door to your former fiancé, these alt-ac positions still provide advantages that are appealing to Ph.D. holders, such as access to research libraries and interlibrary loan services, the possibility of long-term employment, and health and related benefits. Among the downsides: the lack of promotional ladders for alt-ac employees and the concomitant salary compression that marks these positions. Faculty have clearly defined promotional steps -- from assistant professor to, eventually, professor. But an alt-ac director of student services has nowhere to go when looking to move up because all the usual campus administrative jobs, from department chairs to deans to provosts, are drawn from the faculty ranks.

Moreover, salary steps are aligned with those increases in title, so the alt-ac “director” often has no possibility of increased compensation. Indeed, the longer one is locked in one of the alt-ac positions, the more likely it becomes that a newer hire will jump the salary queue because the university recognizes that enticing a new employee to come on board requires more reward than having a more experienced, locked-in employee stay.

Peri-ac positions. These positions relate to the academy but are not directly part of it. In this category I would place program officerships at federal funding agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the U.S. Department of Education as well as the similar program officerships in the various grant-making nonprofits that support the academy. It also includes positions in higher education associations -- whether discipline-focused like the Modern Language Association or institutionally defined, such as the alphabet soup of national and regional higher education associations -- along with jobs with other organizations that flitter about the periphery of the academy.

Again, for many of the positions in this category, a Ph.D. is not a functional necessity. But it is welcomed by hiring organizations that recognize that the status conceits of the academy with which they interact make advanced degree holding a desideratum.

Nonacademic positions. In this category, I cluster all of the jobs fully outside the academy. The term I have used to describe this category is inelegant, but I haven’t yet come up with an appealing alternative. I see two subcategories here:

Discipline-related positions, such as, for a historian, working in the history program at a company like Wells Fargo, which maintains a history office to support its corporate agenda.
Nondiscipline-related positions, such as working as a banker at Wells Fargo.

Each of these alternatives offers possibilities for potentially rewarding careers, but campus career services and students should approach each with different strategies in mind. We are well past the time when campus career offices and association placement services should be thinking in terms of faculty positions and a combined cluster of everything else. Multiple alternatives require multiple tracks.

The academy also needs to rethink graduate school enrollment strategies. Today’s hiring patterns suggest that the top-tier universities hire candidates from their fellow, top-tier institutions only. Second-tier institutions also hire from the top tier or, when there aren’t enough top-tier graduates available, from their own cluster. Third-tier institutions still hope for top-tier graduates, and so on down the line. At the least, graduate programs need to offer recruits an honest assessment of outcomes of their advanced education.

But that’s the minimum. With the reality of the employment situation in mind, back in 2013, when speaking in a careers panel at the meetings of the Society for Classical Studies, I suggested that it should be deemed unethical for an academic department, especially one that is not in the absolute topmost tier of the academy, to enroll more graduate students than it has faculty members who are at least in their 50s -- in other words who are likely to retire and open job slots by the time the students they have enrolled will have completed their coursework and dissertations.

Finally, with a mind toward those publications from the early 1980s that filled my in-air time en route to my recent conference, we need to stop thinking of the academic job crisis as a phenomenon of the moment or even of recent decades. We are not participating in a crisis -- something that has an element of immediacy even if it is potentially transformative. Instead, we are living in a different reality from what the academy experienced in the mid-20th century.

And we should recognize that fact, even if it leads to uncomfortable changes in the structure of graduate education in the humanities and related fields.

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The Alexander Grass Humanities Institute

Phd program.

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Requirements
Governance Board
Grants and Fellowships

Applications for Fall 2024 admission will be due January 15, 2024 . Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend our IHS Info Session on Nov. 7th on Zoom [event page here] . For more information about the application process, see our Admissions page , including details about application materials, deadlines, and the decision procedure.

The PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanistic Studies (IHS) aims to facilitate the investigation of topics and problems that benefit from the insights of two disciplines. Under this program, students have the unique opportunity to design a customized interdisciplinary PhD curriculum drawing on the faculty and expertise of two departments at Hopkins.

This program provides an avenue to pursue training and research that might not be easily carried out within the ambit of an established PhD program, and that stands to produce novel interdisciplinary research results and innovative curricula that impact two or more fields at once. IHS students work with faculty advisors from two different PhD fields, combining the methods, resources, and requirements of the two fields to develop and carry out their specific interdisciplinary course of study and research. At least one of these fields must be in the humanities or humanistic social sciences.

There are two ways to enter the IHS program. The first path is for students who are currently enrolled in their first or second year of doctoral study at Johns Hopkins in a humanities or humanistic social sciences discipline. These students may apply by the January deadline to enter the IHS program at the beginning of the following year, and from that point onward they follow their self-designed course of research and study. In order for students to make this move the new department they are adding to their program must agree to split the student’s funding package with the original home department for either the next four years, for students entering after the first year, or for the next three years, for students entering after the second year. Teaching requirements will be spelled out in the student’s proposed course of study and negotiated with the sponsoring departments.

The second pathway is for students who wish to apply to IHS from outside of Hopkins. These students must first indicate to two JHU PhD-granting programs their intent to apply for the IHS and find a prospective adviser in each program. The departments must each agree to support the student’s application and to provide half of that student’s funding for the duration of their program of study. As with the first pathway for admissions, teaching requirements should be negotiated with the sponsoring departments and spelled out in the student’s proposed course of study. When the IHS admissions committee receives the student’s application with support from the respective departments, the student will be considered for admission for the following academic year and both the student and the respective departments will be notified in the case of acceptance into the program.

To learn more about the process for AY2024–25, see our full Admissions page . And be sure to check the Requirements page for updated info about what you’ll need to apply.

Current IHS Students

All IHS students are provided workspace, administrative support, and other programming and research support by the Alexander Grass Humanities Institute.

For more information, please contact:

William Egginton Director, The Alexander Grass Humanities Institute Decker Professor in the Humanities [email protected]

A Zoom information session on the PhD in IHS program was held on November 7, 2023. A recording of that session is available below for viewing:

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What Are You Going to Do With Your Humanities PhD? Career Opportunities Outside Academia was originally written by Emily Tobey and published on joblist.mla.org .

If you are completing your PhD in a humanities field and are considering job possibilities outside academia, you might be wondering which potential employers would open their doors to you. Contrary to what you might think, your PhD in the humanities opens up a lot of opportunities. You have a wealth of transferrable skills that make you a highly qualified candidate for all sorts of jobs. The challenge isn’t so much finding a specific job. It’s figuring out what you want to do and how to get there. To help you think about the options, here are just a few of the job sectors that are often a good fit for humanities PhDs.

Higher Education Administration

If you thrive in a community of people who share a love of learning, you want to advance the mission of a school you believe in, and you want to support students and help them succeed, consider a career in higher education administration . Higher education institutions offer many rewarding employment opportunities besides faculty positions that use the multitude of skills you have developed in your humanities PhD program. According to the Office of Career Strategy at Yale University , “These skills include critical and innovative thinking, written and oral communications, project management, and qualitative and/or quantitative analysis.” Some of the many administrative roles at colleges and universities are in academic affairs, student affairs, admissions, alumni relations, institutional advancement, business, financial aid, human resources, communications, and more . PhDs aren’t always required for these jobs, but your insider experience and skill set will be welcomed by employers and will help you advance in this job sector. Read about one PhD’s path to a fulfilling administrative job at her institution.

Translation and Interpretation

As globalization and international communication become increasingly important in most job sectors, the field of translation and interpretation continues to evolve and grow. If you are a native speaker of a language other than English or have an advanced degree in a modern language or linguistics, translation and interpretation might be a good fit for you. Translators and interpreters work in a diverse array of work environments. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics , the largest employers of interpreters and translators in 2022 were

professional, scientific, and technical services
educational services
government and diplomacy

However, NGOs and humanitarian organizations, professional conferences, legal settings, publishers, and the travel industry are all employers of people highly skilled in linguistics and communication. Note that some employers may require or prefer some type of certification from the American Translators Association or other certifying organizations.

Publishing and Editing

According to Beyond the Professoriate , “Grading student essays, writing and defending your dissertation and publishing in academic journals make you a good candidate for publishing and editing roles.” If you have an eye for detail, a love for style guides, and strong project management skills, scholarly and private publishers, government agencies, and even tech companies will be seeking candidates like you. Some of the job titles in this field that you might see in job ads are

technical writer
copy editor or fact checker
digital content editor
associate editor
publicity assistant
documentation specialist
literary agent

If you are considering a career in editorial or publishing sectors, these three English PhDs working at the Modern Language Association (MLA) shared their stories about their paths from graduate school to nonacademic jobs, the wisdom they’ve gained in the process, and advice on what to do to increase your chances of success.

Nonprofits and NGOs

Many PhDs seek out nonprofit jobs after graduate school where the culture of the organizations can be particularly PhD-friendly and because they want to make a positive contribution in an area about which they are passionate. The good news is these organizations need people with the skills you acquired during your graduate studies. Nonproﬁt organizations cover a wide range of sectors , including health, educational, religious, arts, and charitable organizations, as well as advocacy groups, professional societies, and research institutes. Some of the positions within the nonprofit sector that would benefit from your experience and knowledge are

grant writing
fundraising
program evaluation
program development

In this Connected Academics post on MLA Commons , you can read about one PhD in French literature who left academia to work in nonprofit development and says, “The field of development is a good choice for literature majors. To fund-raise you need to be able to tell and sell a story.”

With advanced training in the humanities, you are also an excellent candidate for a wealth of rewarding job options in many other ﬁelds, including conducting user experience research ; teaching at independent schools or public K–12 schools; writing for cultural or arts venues; copywriting for marketing, communications, or advertising companies; doing policy analysis for government agencies; and many more. Keep an open mind, conduct informational interviews, become adept at talking about your transferable skills , and listen to the stories of other PhDs who have found success outside academia. The path may not be as clearly delineated as the process of applying for academic positions, but if you think outside the box, you will widen your professional opportunities and facilitate your personal growth!

11 . 11 . 20

5 Truths About Jobs for Humanities PhDs & 10 Potential Careers

Posted by: Chris

Updated March 4, 2023

Are you wondering about jobs for humanities PhDs? Did you spend years of your PhD in humanities parsing Shakespeare, studying Elizabethan military records, or studying ancient Greek philosophy?

I earned my degree by figuring out how ancient immigrants used religion to construct the boundaries of identity.

I loved the work, but when the tenure-track job didn’t show up, I needed an escape plan. And I realized what a lot of us do: leaving academia isn’t easy. It’s not always easy to draw a line between academia and the world outside.

This guide is for my fellow humanities grads with advanced degrees who are totally stuck. Our transition isn’t easy, but humanities degrees actually DO give you something to offer the marketplace.

Truth 5: Humanities PhDs have trouble choosing a direction

1. policy analyst, 2. content creator, 3. government affairs/lobbyist, 4. program manager, 5. project officer, 6. communications officer, 7. equities researcher, 8. business development & sales, 9. human resources (hr), 10. public relations, bonus- consulting jobs for humanities phds, 5 truths about leaving academia with a humanities phd, truth 1: it’s possible, but really hard.

I want to honor this first. Those of us who pursued a PhD in the humanities were often drawn there by the life of the mind. We dreamed of musty leather-bound books. Many of us planned on staying in academia for life.

I wanted to be a prof so badly. It was an amazing dream, and I threw myself into it. I pictured teaching eager students in old classrooms, traveling around the world for research, and meeting like-minded colleagues at conferences.

When the dream died, it was really hard. I went through months of what I call “the darkness,” where I sat on the couch staring out the window. I wanted to cry, like all the time.

It was the thing nobody told me about leaving academia .

It was a dark place. I’d hoped to become a prof. When I didn’t, I felt like I lost myself. And it took me time to find myself again.

I hope you don’t go through this. But if you do, I want you to be ready.

Truth 2: Humanities PhDs are remarkable generalists

People with humanities PhDs, in my experience, lack those specific and sexy market skills that other degrees bring. You probably never learned R or SPSS (good on you if you did!). You might not know coding or stats.

And you’re tempted to believe the myth that hard skills are the only thing that gets people jobs. You might even feel like your skills aren’t needed.

To make matters worse, the skills that you do have are skills that everyone thinks they have. Everyone thinks they can think critically, it’s totally subjective.

Everyone thinks they can write. The truth is, they probably can’t write or research as well as you… but how would they even know?

But what you MUST understand is that modern organizations require specific skills at the bottom and generalist skills as you move up.

Managers and directors don’t usually code or analyze data. They have people on their team that do that. Instead, they need to communicate well, think critically, and they need emotional intelligence, transferable skills your humanities PhD gave you.

There are marketable skills you probably already have .

Is it any wonder that I met so many humanities PhDs in leadership positions? Or that humanities PhDs often start slow but finish strong? The higher you go, the brighter you’ll shine.

Truth 3: Humanities PhD + Leadership Skills = Unstoppable

I’d like to challenge you, if you’re a humanities PhD looking for a non-academic job. I want you to start to envision yourself as a leader.

You have tremendous abilities and skills, and the letters after your name will serve you well.

I want to challenge you to create a huge vision for your life. If you’re idealistic, as a lot of humanities PhDs are, pick a cause that you care deeply about.

Let’s say, for example, you care about diversity and inclusion. Go pick an organization that does great work in diversity and inclusion. Imagine yourself working there. Imagine yourself leading it.

That’s the sort of work humanities PhDs DO, but those in academia often have no idea.

So, if you’re the type (and not everyone is—that’s okay), imagine yourself as a powerful leader outside of academia. Imagine yourself as someone who makes change and transforms organizations and the world.

Truth 4: Humanities leaving academia have a learning curve

There’s a steep learning curve for humanities PhDs leaving academia. One Canadian study suggested that humanities faculties talk the least about non-academic work. [1] Some even stigmatize it.

Work outside of the academy exists behind a dark curtain of mystery that’s scary AF.

This is not okay, and it leaves humanities grads with a much larger learning curve when they leave academia. The best way to shorten your learning curve is to start doing what are called “informational interviews.” Another way to describe them is “networking.” I tell you how to do that here.

There are almost no specific jobs for PhDs in humanities. As a result, you can go almost anywhere you choose. The beauty in this is the world of possibilities.

The challenge is figuring out what you want.

This is why humanities PhDs really do have the right to be a little picky about choosing their general direction. If you’ve done informational interviews, and one area stands out to you—say public policy—I would lean into that and tell people you’re looking for policy work. But don’t even just say you’re interested in “policy.” Be specific.

Immigration Policy.

Environmental Policy.

If you start moving towards something, you can always adapt.

10 great jobs for humanities PhDs

What follows are a few examples of jobs that can be a good fit for humanities PhDs. This is a far from a comprehensive list, but hopefully will get you started. See also the posts I’ve written with jobs for English and History majors.

If you need some advice on how to write a resume, there’s a great overview from the MLA here .

So let’s go.

Policy analysts basically work with the government to help the government deliver its programs. Whether it’s building roads or delivering foreign policy, humanities grads have the perfect skillset: critical thinking, research and analysis, writing, and communicating.

There are also a LOT of policy analyst jobs (a quick search on Google jobs reveals hundreds posted in the last week).

They could be directly for the government, or it could be for corporations or non-profits to direct their policy work (usually in relation to government).

Policy analyst jobs for humanities PhDs bring your soft skills into focus and give you real-world and let you make a real difference.

You can read more about becoming a policy analyst here.

Plus, watch me talk about policy work in this video.

The internet, in case you hadn’t noticed, is full of content. It’s everywhere. And people need to write that content—people who write and communicate well and can take big ideas and share them with the world.

I started in government. But I realized the skills I built writing this blog, building the content associated with it, were actually way more valuable. I now consult on marketing with tech companies.

That’s where you come in with your humanities PhD.

Read more about becoming a content creator/strategist here.

Humanities PhDs make good lobbyists. And lobbying doesn’t necessarily mean trying to get the government to increase fracking.

Honestly, there are so many great things lobbyists do. In fact, one of my friends is a lobbyist who tries to get increased funding for international development.

Read more about working in government relations here.

“Program manager” is a really generic job title. But bear with me.

The title of program manager is often used in the non-profit or NGO world. It’s usually a middle management role that might be perfect for humanities PhDs. You’ll generally need to show experience managing something—conferences, big projects, etc. can all be brought in. If you’ve worked outside of academia, even better.

If you decide, for example, to work in a non-profit in a program management role, you would usually oversee the work of a certain area of that organizations, which could include fundraising, research, overseeing staff, and—of course—delivering programs.

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29 Jobs For Humanities PhDs (Critical Thinkers’ Careers)

Are you a passionate lover of humanities with a PhD? Always engrossed in thought-provoking theories and cultural narratives?

Then you are on the right page!

Today, we’re exploring an amazing list of ideal jobs for Humanities PhD holders.

From university professors to cultural consultants. Each one, is a perfect match for those who live and breathe humanities.

Imagine immersing yourself in the world of human experiences, values, and ideas. Day in, day out.

Sounds intellectually stimulating, right?

So, prepare your scholarly mind.

And get ready to uncover your dream job in the field of Humanities!

Postsecondary Education Administrator

Average Salary: $95,000 – $130,000 per year

Postsecondary Education Administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities.

Their role is crucial in ensuring that institutions of higher education run smoothly and effectively.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhD graduates who have a passion for higher education and wish to contribute to the academic and personal growth of students.

Job Duties:

Managing Academic Affairs : Oversee faculty research, curriculum planning, and the development of academic policies.
Supervising Student Services : Ensure that departments such as admissions, financial aid, and student affairs provide exceptional support to students.
Facilitating Faculty Development : Organize professional development opportunities and evaluate faculty performance.
Strategic Planning : Participate in the formulation of long-term strategies for the growth and improvement of the institution.
Conflict Resolution : Address disputes or issues that arise between students, faculty, and staff in a fair and professional manner.
Staying Current : Keep up-to-date with educational laws, regulations, and academic trends to maintain compliance and relevance.

Requirements:

Educational Background : A Master’s degree is typically required, although a PhD in a Humanities discipline is highly advantageous.
Leadership Skills : Strong leadership abilities to manage departments, lead teams, and make critical decisions.
Experience in Academia : Prior experience in an academic setting, understanding of university governance, and familiarity with educational policies.
Interpersonal Skills : Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with students, faculty, and staff.
Problem-Solving : Ability to address and resolve complex issues that affect students’ academic and personal experiences.

Career Path and Growth :

Postsecondary Education Administrators have the opportunity to make a significant impact on educational policies and student success.

With experience, administrators can advance to higher leadership positions such as Dean, Provost, or University President, shaping the future of education at a strategic level.

Average Salary: $48,000 – $68,000 per year

Archivists are professionals responsible for the assessment, collection, organization, preservation, and retrieval of recorded materials of historical significance.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a passion for history, preserving knowledge, and maintaining cultural heritage.

Assessing and Acquiring Records : Evaluate documents and materials to determine their value and relevance for collection and preservation.
Organizing Collections : Systematically catalog and classify archival materials to ensure their accessibility for research and education.
Preserving Documents : Employ specialized techniques to conserve delicate historical records, including manuscripts, photographs, and digital archives.
Facilitating Research : Assist researchers and the public in locating and interpreting archival materials for scholarly and personal projects.
Creating Exhibits : Design and implement exhibits or displays that showcase significant documents and artifacts for educational purposes.
Staying Informed : Keep up-to-date with archival standards, conservation methods, and trends in the field of archival science.
Educational Background : A Master’s degree in Archival Science, Library Science, History, or a related humanities field is typically required. A PhD can offer a competitive edge and deeper expertise.
Research Skills : Strong capabilities in research methodology and a keen eye for detail in handling historical documents.
Technical Knowledge : Familiarity with preservation techniques and archival management systems, including digital archiving solutions.
Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage with researchers, students, and the public.
Organizational Abilities : A systematic approach to categorizing and managing large volumes of information and archival materials.

Archivists play a critical role in safeguarding cultural and historical knowledge.

With experience, they can move into leadership positions within major archives or museums, specialize in digital preservation, or contribute to academic research in the field of archival science.

Opportunities for consulting on archival projects and teaching at the university level are also possible for those with a PhD in the humanities.

Museum Curator

Average Salary: $48,000 – $70,000 per year

Museum Curators are responsible for the acquisition, care, and exhibition of collections within museums.

They play a crucial role in preserving historical, cultural, and scientific artifacts and presenting them to the public.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who wish to apply their knowledge and passion for history, art, and culture in a setting that educates and inspires visitors.

Collection Management : Oversee the storage, preservation, and documentation of the museum’s collections.
Exhibit Design : Plan and organize permanent or traveling exhibitions to engage visitors and provide educational content.
Research : Conduct detailed research on the museum’s collections to provide accurate information and context for exhibits.
Acquisitions : Assess and acquire new items to enhance the museum’s collections, ensuring they align with the institution’s mission and goals.
Public Programs : Develop educational programs, lectures, and workshops to complement exhibitions and increase public engagement with the museum’s offerings.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration : Work alongside educators, historians, artists, and scientists to create multidisciplinary displays and events.
Educational Background : A Master’s degree in Museum Studies, History, Art History, Anthropology, or a related humanities field is typically required, though a PhD is highly advantageous and often preferred.
Research Skills : Strong research abilities and a keen eye for detail are essential for authenticating and understanding the significance of museum pieces.
Project Management : Skills in planning and executing exhibitions, managing collections, and coordinating with other professionals.
Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication skills for creating exhibit labels, grant writing, public speaking, and interacting with museum patrons.
Critical Thinking : Ability to make informed decisions regarding the acquisition and display of items, and to interpret artifacts in a way that is accessible to a diverse audience.

A career as a Museum Curator offers the opportunity to become an expert in a particular field of study and to share that expertise with the public.

With experience, Museum Curators can advance to senior management positions within larger institutions, become directors of museums, or specialize further in their field of expertise.

Additionally, they may also contribute to academic research and publications, enhancing their reputation and the prestige of their museum.

Publishing Editor

Average Salary: $50,000 – $70,000 per year

Publishing Editors play a critical role in the production of books, journals, and digital content within the academic and literary sectors.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a strong command of language and are passionate about the dissemination of knowledge and culture.

Evaluating Manuscripts : Assess the quality and relevance of submitted manuscripts, determining their suitability for publication.
Editorial Development : Work with authors to shape and refine their work, ensuring it meets publication standards and aligns with the editorial vision.
Copyediting and Proofreading : Oversee the process of copyediting and proofreading to ensure the text is free of errors and maintains a high standard of quality.
Content Planning : Collaborate with authors and publishing teams to develop and manage the content pipeline, planning for future publications.
Market Research : Stay informed about current trends in the humanities, understanding the interests and needs of readers to guide publication strategies.
Networking : Engage with academics, authors, and industry professionals to build relationships and cultivate a diverse range of content.
Educational Background : A PhD in Humanities or a related field is highly advantageous.
Strong Language Skills : Exceptional command of the English language, with impeccable grammar, spelling, and editorial skills.
Critical Thinking : Ability to critically evaluate content for intellectual depth, coherence, and contribution to the field.
Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of editing and publishing.
Project Management : Proficiency in managing multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and coordinating with different stakeholders.

As a Publishing Editor, there is the potential to shape the discourse within the humanities by selecting and nurturing groundbreaking works.

With experience, Publishing Editors can advance to senior editorial positions, acquire greater responsibility for strategic publication planning, and even move into executive roles within publishing houses.

Opportunities also exist to transition into academic publishing, consulting, or starting an independent publishing venture.

Higher Education Lecturer

Higher Education Lecturers are experts in their field who teach and conduct research at colleges and universities.

This role is perfect for Humanities PhDs who are passionate about their subject area and excited to foster learning and critical thinking in the next generation of scholars.

Teaching Undergraduate and Graduate Courses : Develop and deliver lectures, seminars, and tutorials in your area of expertise, ensuring content is up-to-date and engaging.
Conducting Original Research : Engage in scholarly research to contribute to the body of knowledge in your field and publish your findings in academic journals.
Advising Students : Provide academic advice and support to students, guiding them through their educational journey and career prospects.
Curriculum Development : Collaborate with colleagues to design, review, and update course syllabi and materials to maintain academic rigor and relevance.
Academic Service : Participate in departmental meetings, serve on committees, and contribute to the governance and improvement of teaching and research practices.
Professional Development : Stay abreast of developments in your field through continuous learning, attending conferences, and engaging with the academic community.
Educational Background : A PhD in a Humanities discipline is typically required for this role.
Research Skills : Proven ability to conduct independent research and a strong publication record.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for teaching and publishing scholarly work.
Teaching Ability : Experience in teaching at the college or university level, with a commitment to student learning and mentorship.
Interpersonal Skills : Ability to engage with students, faculty, and the academic community constructively and collaboratively.

As a Higher Education Lecturer, you have the opportunity to shape the minds of future leaders and contribute to groundbreaking research in your field.

Career progression can include promotion to senior lecturer, reader, or professor, as well as opportunities to take on administrative roles such as department head or dean.

There is also potential to become involved in international academic collaborations and to influence public policy related to your area of expertise.

Public Relations Specialist

Average Salary: $45,000 – $70,000 per year

Public Relations Specialists are responsible for creating, managing, and executing public relations campaigns for organizations, individuals, or products.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhD graduates who enjoy leveraging their strong communication and analytical skills to shape public perception and enhance an organization’s reputation.

Developing PR Strategies : Craft comprehensive public relations strategies that align with the organization’s goals and brand image.
Media Relations : Build and maintain relationships with media outlets to secure coverage for the organization’s news and events.
Content Creation : Write and edit press releases, speeches, articles, and social media content to effectively communicate the organization’s message.
Crisis Management : Prepare and execute crisis communication plans to protect and manage the organization’s reputation during challenging times.
Event Planning : Organize and coordinate events such as press conferences, interviews, and public appearances to promote the organization.
Monitoring Public Opinion : Analyze media coverage and public sentiment to gauge the effectiveness of PR campaigns and adjust strategies accordingly.
Educational Background : A PhD in Humanities, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field is highly valued.
Strong Writing Skills : Excellent writing skills with the ability to craft compelling narratives for various platforms and audiences.
Media Savvy : Understanding of the media landscape and the ability to use it effectively to gain positive coverage.
Research Skills : Ability to conduct thorough research and analyze data to inform PR strategies and decisions.
Interpersonal Skills : Strong interpersonal and networking skills to build relationships with media, stakeholders, and the public.

This role offers the opportunity to become a key influencer in shaping the public image of diverse entities, from corporations to non-profit organizations.

With experience, Public Relations Specialists can advance to leadership positions such as PR Manager or Director of Communications, or they may specialize further in areas like crisis management or digital PR strategies.

Market Research Analyst

Average Salary: $54,000 – $70,000 per year

Market Research Analysts play a critical role in understanding market trends, consumer behavior, and the competitive landscape to inform business strategies.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who enjoy applying their analytical skills and understanding of human culture and society to the business world.

Conducting Market Analysis : Employ quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather data on consumer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits.
Analyzing Competitive Environment : Assess market conditions and competitors to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges.
Developing Surveys and Questionnaires : Design research tools to collect data on customer opinions and marketing strategies.
Interpreting Data : Use statistical software to analyze data and create reports that provide actionable insights for business decision-makers.
Presentation of Findings : Clearly communicate complex data and analysis to stakeholders through reports, graphs, and charts.
Monitoring and Forecasting : Track market trends and predict future market developments to advise on product development, marketing strategies, and business planning.
Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Statistics, or a related field is often required. A Humanities PhD can provide a unique perspective and advanced research skills.
Analytical Skills : Strong ability to analyze data, interpret market trends, and provide insights based on research findings.
Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey complex information in an easily understandable format.
Technical Proficiency : Familiarity with data analysis software, such as SPSS, R, or Python, and proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
Attention to Detail : The ability to focus on the specifics of data and research without losing sight of the bigger picture.

Market Research Analysts have the opportunity to influence key business decisions and strategies.

With experience, they can advance to senior analyst roles, specialize in a particular industry or market, or move into managerial positions overseeing research teams.

The skills developed in this role are also transferable to other fields such as business intelligence, product management, and strategic planning.

Historians research, analyze, and interpret past events and periods.

They often specialize in a particular area or era, such as ancient civilizations, medieval Europe, or modern history.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a passion for uncovering and sharing the complexities of human history with others.

Research and Analysis : Conduct in-depth research using primary and secondary sources to gain insights into historical events and periods.
Writing and Publishing : Produce scholarly articles, books, and papers presenting new findings or interpretations in the field of history.
Educational Lectures and Seminars : Lead lectures and seminars at universities or educational institutions, sharing expertise with students and colleagues.
Curating Exhibits : Collaborate with museums and galleries to develop exhibits that accurately depict historical narratives.
Public History Projects : Engage with the public through history workshops, community programs, and media to make history accessible and interesting to a wider audience.
Continued Learning : Stay abreast of new research and developments in the field of history and related disciplines.
Educational Background : A PhD in History or a closely related humanities field is typically required.
Research Skills : Strong capabilities in historical research, including the ability to critically analyze sources and data.
Writing Proficiency : Excellent writing skills for creating clear, compelling, and accurate historical narratives.
Public Engagement : Skills in engaging a variety of audiences through lectures, discussions, and interactive experiences.
Attention to Detail : Keen attention to detail when examining historical documents and artifacts.
Critical Thinking : The ability to construct well-supported arguments and challenge existing historical narratives when appropriate.

A career as a historian offers the opportunity to contribute to our understanding of the past and influence how history is taught and perceived.

With experience, historians can advance to higher academic positions, become lead curators at major institutions, or act as consultants for historical films and documentaries, further bridging the gap between academic history and popular culture.

Nonprofit Program Director

Nonprofit Program Directors oversee and manage programs that support an organization’s mission, often focusing on social issues, education, health, or community development.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who are passionate about making a positive impact on society and who want to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world challenges.

Program Development and Management : Design, implement, and evaluate programs that align with the organization’s goals and objectives.
Grant Writing and Fundraising : Secure funding through grant proposals, campaigns, and donor outreach to ensure the sustainability of programs.
Community Engagement : Foster relationships with community members, stakeholders, and partner organizations to enhance program reach and impact.
Staff Leadership : Lead and mentor program staff and volunteers, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
Policy Advocacy : Represent the nonprofit in advocacy efforts and public policy discussions relevant to the organization’s mission.
Reporting and Compliance : Ensure programs comply with legal and funding requirements and accurately report on program outcomes and financials.
Educational Background : A Master’s degree in a related field is often required; however, a PhD in Humanities can provide a strong foundation in critical thinking, research, and writing.
Leadership Skills : Proven leadership abilities and experience managing teams and projects.
Grant Writing Expertise : Experience in grant writing or fundraising is highly beneficial for securing program funding.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively advocate for the organization’s mission.
Strategic Planning : Strong analytical and strategic planning skills to develop effective programs and ensure their success.

A career as a Nonprofit Program Director offers the opportunity to create meaningful change and improve the quality of life for individuals and communities.

With experience, directors can move into higher-level executive positions within the nonprofit sector, such as Executive Director or CEO, or transition into consultancy roles to share their expertise with a variety of organizations.

Cultural Resource Manager

Average Salary: $45,000 – $75,000 per year

Cultural Resource Managers are responsible for the preservation and management of cultural heritage, including historical sites, museums, and archaeological resources.

This role is ideal for Humanities Ph.D. holders who are passionate about protecting cultural heritage and educating the public about human history and cultural diversity.

Site Management : Oversee the preservation and maintenance of historical sites and cultural landmarks to ensure their integrity and accessibility for future generations.
Research and Documentation : Conduct comprehensive research and documentation to understand the historical, cultural, and archaeological significance of resources under management.
Public Engagement : Develop and implement educational programs and materials that inform and engage the public about cultural heritage and preservation efforts.
Policy Development : Assist in creating policies and guidelines that govern the ethical treatment and conservation of cultural resources.
Grant Writing : Pursue funding opportunities through grants and sponsorships to support conservation projects and educational initiatives.
Collaboration : Work with government agencies, local communities, and indigenous groups to ensure respectful and inclusive management of cultural sites.
Educational Background : A Master’s or Ph.D. in Anthropology, Archaeology, History, Museum Studies, or a closely related field is highly preferred.
Preservation Knowledge : In-depth knowledge of cultural preservation techniques, legal regulations, and ethical considerations.
Communication Skills : Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with the aptitude to convey the importance of cultural resources effectively.
Project Management : Experience in managing projects, including budgeting, planning, and team coordination.
Analytical Skills : Ability to analyze and interpret cultural and historical data to inform management strategies.

Cultural Resource Managers play a critical role in safeguarding cultural heritage, which can have far-reaching impacts on education, tourism, and community identity.

With experience, individuals in this role may advance to higher-level positions such as directors of cultural institutions, consultants for heritage projects, or leading roles in government agencies dedicated to cultural preservation.

There is also the potential for international work with organizations like UNESCO, furthering global heritage conservation efforts.

Policy Analyst

Average Salary: $50,000 – $80,000 per year

Policy Analysts research, analyze, and evaluate public policies and their impacts, working within government agencies, think tanks, or non-profit organizations.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a strong foundation in critical thinking, writing, and research, and who are interested in applying their skills to influence public policy and drive societal progress.

Research and Analysis : Conduct thorough and methodical research on various public policy issues, including social, economic, and cultural matters.
Policy Development : Assist in formulating policies by analyzing data, trends, and outcomes to recommend evidence-based solutions.
Writing Reports : Prepare detailed reports and policy briefs that summarize research findings and recommendations for stakeholders and policymakers.
Legislative Analysis : Examine proposed legislation to understand its potential impacts and suggest modifications or alternatives.
Stakeholder Engagement : Communicate with different stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and the public to gather insights and feedback on policy issues.
Keeping Informed : Stay up to date with current events, policy changes, and scholarly work relevant to your area of expertise.
Educational Background : A Master’s or PhD in Humanities, Public Policy, Political Science, or a related field is preferred.
Research Skills : Strong ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research, and synthesize complex information into actionable insights.
Writing Proficiency : Excellent writing skills, with the ability to create clear and persuasive policy documents.
Critical Thinking : Aptitude for analyzing policies critically and understanding their broader implications on society.
Communication Skills : Strong verbal communication skills for presenting findings and engaging with various stakeholders.
Problem-Solving : Capacity to identify issues within policies and develop logical, evidence-based recommendations for improvement.

Policy Analysts have the opportunity to significantly impact public discourse and decision-making.

With experience, they can advance to senior analyst roles, policy advisors, or directors of research within their organizations.

Those with a PhD may also move into academic positions, influencing future policy through teaching and scholarly research.

Social Researcher

Social Researchers conduct in-depth analysis and investigations into human behavior, societal issues, and cultural trends.

This role is ideal for Humanities Ph.D. holders who are passionate about understanding and improving society through research and analysis.

Conducting Social Research : Design and implement studies on various aspects of society, such as education, health, politics, or social movements.
Analyzing Data : Use qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze data and identify patterns or trends within societies.
Writing Reports : Produce detailed reports and papers that summarize research findings and provide insights into social issues.
Advising Policymakers : Provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers, NGOs, and other stakeholders to inform decision-making and policy development.
Public Engagement : Engage with the public through presentations, workshops, or publications to disseminate research findings and raise awareness of social issues.
Staying Informed : Continuously update knowledge on social theories, methodologies, and current global social issues.
Educational Background : A Ph.D. in Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, or a related humanities field.
Research Skills : Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, with the ability to design and execute studies.
Analysis and Critical Thinking : Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills to interpret complex data and draw meaningful conclusions.
Writing and Communication : Proficient writing and verbal communication skills to convey findings to both academic and non-academic audiences.
Problem-solving : Ability to address and dissect societal problems to formulate effective research questions and solutions.

Social Researchers have the opportunity to make significant contributions to their fields and impact public policy and opinion.

With experience, they can become lead researchers, gain tenure at academic institutions, or take on consultancy roles for government agencies and NGOs. There’s also potential to specialize in niche areas of social research or become a recognized expert in a particular field of study.

Library Science Professor

Average Salary: $60,000 – $90,000 per year

Library Science Professors educate and guide students in the field of library and information science, covering topics such as information organization, research methods, and the role of libraries in society.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a passion for the preservation, organization, and dissemination of information and wish to contribute to the education of future librarians and information professionals.

Teaching Courses : Lead lectures and seminars on various aspects of library science, including information technology, cataloging, archival methods, and information literacy.
Curriculum Development : Develop and update course materials to reflect current trends and advancements in library and information science.
Research and Scholarship : Conduct original research in the field, publish findings in academic journals, and present at professional conferences.
Advising Students : Provide academic advising and mentorship to students pursuing degrees in library science.
Academic Service : Participate in departmental and university committees, contribute to the governance and policy-making of the academic institution.
Professional Development : Stay abreast of evolving library technologies, digital information management, and changes in information-seeking behaviors.
Educational Background : A PhD in Library Science, Information Science, or a closely related field is required.
Teaching Skills : Strong ability to educate and engage students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Research Expertise : Proven track record of research and scholarship within the field of library and information science.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for teaching, publishing, and presenting research.
Commitment to Libraries : A deep understanding of the role of libraries in society and a commitment to advancing the field.

As a Library Science Professor, there is the opportunity to shape the future of the library and information science profession through teaching and research.

Career advancement can include taking on leadership roles within academic departments, directing library science programs, or influencing library policy and practice on a national or international level.

Professors may also engage in consultancy work, providing expert advice to libraries and information centers.

Human Resources Manager

Average Salary: $65,000 – $100,000 per year

Human Resources Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of employee relations, compliance, and workplace culture within an organization.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who are interested in applying their understanding of human behavior, ethics, and communication to create a positive work environment.

Employee Relations : Manage and resolve complex employee relations issues, conducting effective, thorough, and objective investigations when necessary.
Policy Development : Develop and update company policies and procedures, ensuring they comply with legal and ethical standards.
Talent Acquisition : Oversee the recruitment process, from job postings to interviewing and hiring decisions, ensuring the organization attracts and retains top talent.
Performance Management : Implement performance review systems that promote employee growth and organizational efficiency.
Training and Development : Design and facilitate various training programs to enhance employee skills and promote a culture of continuous learning.
Compensation and Benefits : Administer and review employee benefits programs, including insurance plans and retirement options, ensuring they meet the needs of employees.
Educational Background : A Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred, though a Humanities PhD with relevant experience can be highly valuable.
Interpersonal Skills : Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations diplomatically.
Leadership : Proven leadership and team management abilities, with experience in strategic planning and organizational development.
Legal Compliance : Knowledge of employment laws and regulations, with the ability to interpret and apply them in various scenarios.
Critical Thinking : Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex information to make informed decisions.

This role offers the opportunity to have a significant impact on the workplace culture and employee satisfaction.

With experience, Human Resources Managers can progress to higher executive roles such as Director of Human Resources or Vice President of Human Resources, where they can shape the strategic direction of the entire organization’s human resources practices.

Legal Consultant

Average Salary: $60,000 – $150,000 per year

Legal Consultants provide expert legal advice to organizations or individuals, drawing upon their specialized knowledge acquired during their academic and professional experiences in the humanities.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhD holders who have a strong foundation in critical thinking, ethics, and an understanding of various legal frameworks and cultural contexts.

Offering Legal Advice : Provide expert opinions and advice on complex legal matters to clients, ensuring they are informed about their rights, obligations, and the legal implications of their actions.
Document Review and Drafting : Analyze and draft legal documents, contracts, and agreements, tailoring them to meet the specific needs of clients while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Research and Analysis : Conduct thorough legal research and analysis, utilizing interdisciplinary knowledge to understand the broader implications of legal issues.
Strategic Planning : Assist clients in developing strategies for litigation, negotiation, or regulatory compliance, taking into account ethical considerations and potential societal impacts.
Dispute Resolution : Provide guidance on dispute resolution techniques and may represent clients in negotiations or mediations.
Continuing Education : Stay abreast of changes in law and legal interpretations, as well as advancements in humanities disciplines that may impact legal contexts.
Educational Background : A PhD in Humanities with additional qualifications in law, such as a JD or legal certification, is highly desirable.
Analytical Skills : Strong ability to analyze complex legal issues and provide clear, concise, and practical advice.
Interdisciplinary Knowledge : A broad understanding of various cultural, social, and ethical contexts gained from a humanities background.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with clients and other legal professionals.
Problem-Solving : Adept at developing creative solutions to legal challenges, leveraging a humanities perspective.

This role offers the opportunity to influence and shape legal strategies and decisions, potentially affecting policy and societal norms.

With experience, Legal Consultants can rise to senior advisory roles, specialize in niche areas of law, or transition into academic positions that allow them to educate the next generation of legal minds.

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies to promote brands, products, or services effectively.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who can leverage their critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills to understand and engage diverse consumer audiences.

Developing Marketing Strategies : Create comprehensive marketing plans that align with the company’s goals and target the right audience.
Market Research : Conduct research to understand market trends, consumer behavior, and the competitive landscape.
Brand Management : Maintain and enhance the brand’s image and identity through various marketing channels.
Content Creation : Oversee the development of compelling content for advertising campaigns, social media, and other marketing platforms.
Performance Analysis : Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and strategies using metrics and analytics, adjusting tactics as necessary.
Collaboration : Work with sales, product development, and other teams to ensure cohesive branding and marketing efforts.
Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field is common, though a Humanities PhD can be an asset in developing critical analysis and communication strategies.
Strategic Thinking : Ability to develop marketing strategies that effectively reach and influence target demographics.
Creativity : A creative mindset to devise innovative marketing campaigns that stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Leadership Skills : Strong leadership qualities to guide a marketing team and collaborate with other departments.
Analytical Skills : Proficiency in analyzing market data to inform decision-making and strategy adjustments.
Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication abilities to craft clear and persuasive marketing messages.

Marketing Managers have ample opportunities for career advancement.

With experience, they can rise to senior management positions, such as Director of Marketing or Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Additionally, skills acquired in this role can translate to consulting, entrepreneurship, or academic positions where one can shape the next generation of marketing professionals.

Advertising Executive

Average Salary: $60,000 – $120,000 per year

Advertising Executives create, manage, and coordinate advertising campaigns to promote products, services, or ideas.

This role is ideal for Humanities Ph.D. holders who are interested in leveraging their deep understanding of human culture, behavior, and communication strategies in the competitive world of advertising.

Developing Campaign Strategies : Craft compelling advertising strategies that effectively communicate the brand’s message and reach the target audience.
Client Collaboration : Work closely with clients to understand their advertising needs and objectives, providing expert advice and guidance.
Content Creation Oversight : Supervise the creative process, ensuring content aligns with the campaign’s goals and resonates with the intended audience.
Market Research : Conduct thorough market research to understand industry trends and consumer behaviors, utilizing this data to inform campaign decisions.
Media Planning : Select the most appropriate media channels to distribute advertising content, maximizing impact and engagement.
Performance Analysis : Monitor and analyze campaign performance metrics, adjusting strategies as necessary to achieve desired results.
Educational Background : A Ph.D. in Humanities, Communications, Marketing, or a related field is highly beneficial, providing a deep understanding of cultural and societal influences on consumer behavior.
Strategic Thinking : Ability to develop innovative advertising strategies that effectively communicate the brand’s message and achieve client goals.
Communication Skills : Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and persuade stakeholders.
Leadership : Strong leadership qualities to guide teams, manage projects, and foster collaboration among creative and strategic personnel.
Analytical Skills : Aptitude for analyzing market data and campaign performance to inform decisions and optimize results.

An Advertising Executive can expect to progress in their career by taking on larger, more complex campaigns, or by moving into higher management roles.

With a successful track record, they may become a Creative Director, Chief Marketing Officer, or start their own advertising agency.

Continued professional development and staying abreast of industry trends are crucial for career advancement in this dynamic field.

Writer/Author

Average Salary: $48,000 – $75,000 per year

Writers and Authors craft compelling content on a wide range of topics, including cultural, historical, or philosophical themes that appeal to the Humanities Ph.D. graduate.

This role is ideal for Humanities Ph.D. holders who possess a strong command of language and wish to contribute to the literary world or public discourse.

Research and Development : Conduct in-depth research to develop accurate and insightful content, ensuring that your writing reflects a high level of expertise in your humanities specialty.
Writing Original Content : Create manuscripts for books, articles, essays, or online publications that engage and inform readers on humanities-related subjects.
Editing and Revising : Diligently revise and edit your work to achieve clarity, coherence, and impact, reflecting the analytical skills honed during your Ph.D. studies.
Publishing : Navigate the publishing industry to find suitable platforms for your work, whether through traditional publishing houses, academic journals, or digital media.
Public Speaking and Readings : Participate in book readings, literary festivals, and panel discussions to promote your work and engage with your audience.
Continuing Education : Stay updated with current trends, debates, and research in your field to ensure the relevance and accuracy of your writing.
Educational Background : A Ph.D. in a Humanities discipline provides the depth of knowledge necessary to produce specialized content.
Writing Skills : Exceptional writing skills, with the ability to craft narratives and arguments that resonate with readers.
Research Proficiency : Strong research skills to support the creation of content that is both authoritative and engaging.
Self-Discipline : The ability to work independently and adhere to deadlines, often managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Adaptability : Flexibility in writing for various formats and audiences, from academic peers to the general public.

This role offers the opportunity to establish a reputation as a thought leader in your field, influence public opinion, and contribute to cultural and intellectual conversations.

With experience, Writers/Authors can aim for higher visibility through publication in prestigious outlets, securing book deals, or receiving literary awards.

They may also transition into related roles such as editors, content strategists, or even professors of writing.

Diplomat/Foreign Service Officer

Average Salary: $60,000 – $130,000 per year

Diplomats or Foreign Service Officers represent and protect a nation’s interests abroad in terms of politics, trade, and consular services.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a deep understanding of cultural, social, and political dynamics and wish to apply their expertise to international relations.

Representing National Interests : Advocate for your country’s policies, engage in negotiations, and work to strengthen bilateral ties.
Analyzing Political Developments : Monitor and report on political, social, and economic developments in the host country that may affect your home country’s interests.
Facilitating Diplomatic Communication : Act as a liaison between governments, organizations, and individuals to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.
Consular Services : Provide assistance and protection to your country’s nationals abroad, including passport services, voter registration, and emergency aid.
Cultural Exchange Programs : Organize and participate in programs that enhance cultural understanding and educational exchanges.
Policy Formulation : Contribute to the development of your country’s foreign policy based on thorough analysis and in-depth local knowledge.
Educational Background : A Master’s degree or PhD in International Relations, Political Science, History, or a related humanities field is highly valued.
Communication Skills : Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to negotiate and interact effectively with diverse international stakeholders.
Cross-cultural Competency : A strong grasp of global affairs and sensitivity to cultural differences, coupled with the ability to work effectively in an international environment.
Language Proficiency : Proficiency in one or more foreign languages is highly beneficial, if not mandatory, for effective communication in a multilingual setting.
Adaptability : Flexibility to adapt to various cultural settings and changing geopolitical landscapes, as well as resilience in high-pressure situations.

This role offers the opportunity to impact global politics and foster international collaboration.

With experience, Diplomats or Foreign Service Officers can advance to higher positions, such as ambassadors or senior diplomatic advisors, and play a pivotal role in shaping their country’s foreign policy and diplomatic strategies.

Philosophy Professor

Average Salary: $60,000 – $100,000 per year

Philosophy Professors teach and guide college or university students through the complexities and nuances of philosophical thought and theories.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a deep appreciation for philosophical discourse and enjoy fostering critical thinking and ethical understanding in others.

Developing and Teaching Courses : Create syllabi and deliver lectures on various philosophical topics ranging from ethics to metaphysics to political philosophy.
Conducting Research : Engage in scholarly research to contribute to the field of philosophy and publish findings in academic journals.
Advising Students : Mentor and guide students through their academic careers and assist them in understanding complex philosophical arguments.
Curriculum Development : Collaborate with colleagues to revise and update philosophy curriculum to reflect contemporary issues and new research findings.
Academic Service : Participate in departmental, college, and university committees and contribute to the governance of the institution.
Continuing Education : Stay current with the latest philosophical debates, trends, and publications to enhance teaching and scholarly activities.
Educational Background : A PhD in Philosophy or a closely related field is typically required.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and compellingly.
Passion for Philosophy : A profound interest in philosophical inquiry, coupled with a commitment to the development of students’ philosophical skills.
Pedagogical Expertise : A strong grasp of teaching methodologies and the ability to facilitate discussions and debate among students.
Academic Research : A record of published research and ongoing engagement with philosophical scholarship.

As a Philosophy Professor, there is the opportunity to shape the minds of future philosophers, ethicists, and critical thinkers.

With experience, Philosophy Professors can attain tenure, take on higher administrative roles within the institution, or become recognized as experts in their area of specialization, leading to opportunities as guest lecturers, consultants, or authors.

College Professor

College Professors instruct and mentor students in a variety of academic subjects at the post-secondary level.

They specialize in humanities disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, and cultural studies.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhD holders who are passionate about their field of study and have a dedication to teaching and research.

Teaching Courses : Prepare and deliver lectures, seminars, and workshops in your area of expertise, ensuring a high-quality learning experience for students.
Curriculum Development : Design and update course materials and syllabi to reflect current trends and research in the humanities.
Advising Students : Provide academic advising and mentorship to students, guiding them in their educational and career pursuits.
Conducting Research : Engage in scholarly research to contribute to the body of knowledge in your field, often culminating in publications and presentations.
Academic Service : Participate in departmental meetings, serve on committees, and contribute to the governance and improvement of the academic institution.
Professional Development : Remain current with the latest scholarship and pedagogical techniques in the humanities to continually enhance teaching and research effectiveness.
Educational Background : A PhD in a humanities discipline is typically required.
Communication Skills : Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage students and colleagues in intellectual discourse.
Teaching Experience : Prior experience in teaching at the college level is often preferred.
Research Skills : Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous academic research and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
Commitment to Student Success : A dedication to supporting and mentoring students as they develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

As a College Professor, you have the opportunity to shape the minds of the next generation of thinkers and leaders.

With experience and a record of successful teaching and research, professors can achieve tenure, which provides job security and the freedom to explore innovative research directions.

Opportunities for career growth include administrative positions such as department chair, dean, or even higher-level academic leadership roles.

Professors may also gain recognition through awards, fellowships, and invitations to speak at conferences or other institutions.

Academic Researcher

Academic Researchers in the humanities conduct in-depth studies and analysis in various disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, cultural studies, and more.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who are passionate about pursuing knowledge and contributing original research to their field of expertise.

Conducting Scholarly Research : Undertake extensive research projects, often requiring a deep dive into historical texts, archival materials, or cultural artifacts.
Publishing Findings : Write research papers, articles, and books, sharing new insights and discoveries with the academic community and the public.
Presenting at Conferences : Share research outcomes at academic conferences and symposia, engaging with peers to discuss findings and methodologies.
Developing Research Proposals : Identify research opportunities and craft proposals to secure funding from academic institutions, grant bodies, or other sources.
Teaching and Mentorship : Depending on the position, may also involve teaching university courses and mentoring students in research methodologies.
Staying Informed : Keep up to date with the latest developments, theories, and debates within their area of expertise to inform ongoing research.
Educational Background : A PhD in a relevant humanities discipline is typically required for this role.
Research Skills : Proficient in research methodologies, critical analysis, and synthesizing complex information.
Writing Proficiency : Strong writing skills are essential for publishing research findings and securing grant funding.
Analytical Thinking : Ability to think critically and approach research questions from various perspectives.
Collaboration : Often involves working with other researchers, so teamwork and communication skills are important.

As an Academic Researcher, there is potential for significant career growth.

Researchers can become recognized experts in their field, lead major research projects, and assume senior roles within academic institutions.

Some may transition into consulting or policy-making, applying their expertise to real-world issues.

Others might secure tenure-track positions, advancing to roles such as department chair or dean, and influencing the direction of their discipline.

Public Relations Manager

Public Relations Managers are responsible for managing an organization’s public image and communications strategy.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who excel in crafting compelling narratives and engaging with diverse audiences to foster a positive public perception.

Developing PR Strategies : Create comprehensive public relations strategies that align with the organization’s goals and brand image.
Media Relations : Serve as the primary point of contact for all media inquiries, build relationships with journalists, and pitch stories to the press.
Content Creation : Write press releases, speeches, and articles that effectively communicate the organization’s message.
Crisis Management : Anticipate potential public relations issues and develop contingency plans to mitigate negative publicity.
Event Planning : Organize and manage events such as press conferences, interviews, and public appearances to promote the organization.
Monitoring Public Opinion : Keep abreast of public sentiment and media trends to tailor communications and improve public engagement.
Educational Background : A Master’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or a related field is highly desirable. A Humanities PhD can provide a strong foundation in critical analysis and communication.
Communication Skills : Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences and platforms.
Strategic Thinking : Ability to develop and implement comprehensive PR strategies that effectively promote and protect the organization’s reputation.
Media Savvy : Understanding of the media landscape and experience in media relations are crucial for successful engagement with journalists and influencers.
Problem-Solving : Aptitude for addressing challenges proactively and managing crisis situations with poise.

Public Relations Managers have the opportunity to shape the public image of their organizations and influence public opinion.

With experience, Public Relations Managers can advance to higher leadership roles, such as Director of Communications or Chief Communications Officer, and potentially lead their own PR agencies or consultancies.

Their impact on brand reputation can lead to increased visibility and success for the organizations they represent.

Non-Profit Organization Director

Average Salary: $50,000 – $90,000 per year

Non-Profit Organization Directors lead and manage charitable, educational, or service-oriented organizations with a mission to serve the public good.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who are passionate about making a difference and applying their skills in leadership, communication, and analysis to advance social causes.

Strategic Planning : Develop and implement long-term strategies to achieve the organization’s mission and increase its impact.
Program Development : Oversee the creation and management of programs that align with the organization’s goals and serve community needs.
Fundraising and Grant Writing : Secure funding through donor relations, grant writing, and fundraising events to support organizational initiatives.
Community Outreach : Engage with the community to raise awareness about the organization’s work and build partnerships with stakeholders.
Financial Oversight : Manage the organization’s budget, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to support its mission.
Team Leadership : Lead and inspire a team of staff and volunteers, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
Educational Background : A PhD in Humanities or a related field is highly beneficial, providing strong analytical, research, and ethical grounding.
Leadership Skills : Demonstrated ability to guide an organization, make strategic decisions, and inspire others.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective advocacy, fundraising, and community engagement.
Understanding of Non-Profit Sector : Knowledge of the unique challenges and opportunities within the non-profit sector is essential.
Financial Acumen : Ability to manage budgets, interpret financial statements, and ensure fiscal responsibility.

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant social impact and shape the direction of vital community services.

With experience, Non-Profit Organization Directors can advance to leadership positions in larger or international non-profits, serve on advisory boards, or become consultants to other organizations, leveraging their expertise to influence broader societal change.

Ethnographer

Ethnographers are social scientists who study the customs, cultures, and social patterns of different groups.

They often immerse themselves in the communities they study to gather in-depth insights and understandings.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhD graduates who are fascinated by cultural diversity and human societies and wish to contribute to the broader comprehension of human behavior and social dynamics.

Conducting Fieldwork : Participate in immersive research within various communities, observing and documenting cultural practices, rituals, and daily life.
Interviewing and Surveys : Engage with community members to conduct interviews and surveys, gathering qualitative data on social norms and values.
Analyzing Cultural Data : Examine collected data to identify patterns, social structures, and cultural meanings within the context of the studied group.
Writing Ethnographic Reports : Compile detailed reports and articles that capture the essence of the communities studied, highlighting significant findings and insights.
Collaborative Research : Work alongside other social scientists and researchers in interdisciplinary projects to broaden the scope of cultural understanding.
Academic Contributions : Contribute to academic discourse through publications, conference presentations, and lectures based on ethnographic research.
Educational Background : A PhD in Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural Studies, or a related field is highly desirable.
Research Skills : Strong qualitative research abilities, including participant observation, interviewing, and ethnographic documentation.
Cultural Sensitivity : A deep respect for diverse cultures and the ability to interact with people from various backgrounds in an ethical and sensitive manner.
Analytical Thinking : The ability to analyze complex social data and draw meaningful conclusions about human behavior and cultural practices.
Communication Skills : Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey findings to both academic and non-academic audiences.
Adaptability : Flexibility to work in diverse environments and adapt research methods to different cultural contexts.

Ethnographers have the opportunity to make significant contributions to our understanding of human societies.

With experience, they can advance to senior research positions, lead their research projects, or transition into advisory roles that influence policy or educational programs.

There is also potential for ethnographers to become published authors or university professors, sharing their knowledge and insights with students and the public.

Library Director

Average Salary: $58,000 – $90,000 per year

Library Directors oversee and manage the operations of libraries, ensuring that they serve as vital resources for knowledge, education, and community engagement.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who value literature, research, and community service, and wish to foster an environment of learning and accessibility.

Strategic Planning : Develop and implement strategic plans that align with the library’s mission and community needs.
Program Development : Create and oversee educational and cultural programs to engage different demographics within the community.
Resource Management : Manage the acquisition, organization, and accessibility of library materials, including books, digital media, and archival resources.
Staff Supervision : Lead a team of librarians and support staff, fostering professional development and ensuring high-quality service.
Community Outreach : Establish partnerships with schools, organizations, and other stakeholders to promote literacy and lifelong learning.
Financial Oversight : Prepare and manage the library’s budget, including fundraising efforts and allocation of resources.
Advocacy : Act as a spokesperson for the library, advocating for the importance of library services and securing support from public and private entities.
Educational Background : An ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS) is typically required, although a Humanities PhD can be advantageous.
Leadership Skills : Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and direct a diverse team.
Commitment to Service : A strong commitment to public service, with a focus on improving access to information and fostering education.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with staff, patrons, and community members.
Adaptability : Ability to adapt to the changing landscape of information technology and library services.

Library Directors have the opportunity to shape the future of library services and make a lasting impact on their communities.

With experience, Library Directors can move on to larger library systems, take on roles in library associations, or transition into academic positions that influence library science education and policy.

Average Salary: $55,000 – $85,000 per year

Linguists are experts in the study of languages, focusing on the structure, development, and phonetics of language, as well as its cultural and social implications.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who have a deep fascination with languages and their impact on cultures and societies.

Conducting Language Research : Perform in-depth analyses of language structures, variations, and their changes over time.
Documenting and Preserving Languages : Work on projects that record endangered languages and promote linguistic diversity.
Teaching and Curriculum Development : Educate students at various levels about linguistic theories, language acquisition, and the history of languages.
Applying Linguistics to Technology : Collaborate with tech companies to develop language-related tools, such as speech recognition software or translation programs.
Language Policy Consulting : Advise government bodies or educational institutions on language policy and planning.
Staying Current in the Field : Keep up-to-date with the latest research and trends in linguistics and apply them to your work.
Educational Background : A PhD in Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, or a related field is highly preferred.
Analytical Skills : Strong ability to analyze complex linguistic data and draw meaningful conclusions.
Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for sharing research findings and teaching.
Passion for Language : A strong interest in the mechanics, evolution, and diversity of languages.
Cultural Sensitivity : An understanding and appreciation of cultural nuances and their influence on language.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration : Ability to work across various disciplines that intersect with linguistics, such as anthropology, psychology, and computer science.

A career as a linguist offers a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment, with opportunities to contribute to a greater understanding of human communication.

With experience, linguists may advance to senior academic positions, lead research projects, become consultants for global organizations, or spearhead initiatives to preserve and revitalize languages around the world.

Art Restoration Specialist

Average Salary: $40,000 – $60,000 per year

Art Restoration Specialists are professionals who work to preserve, conserve, and restore artworks, ensuring their longevity and accessibility for future generations.

This role is ideal for Humanities Ph.D. graduates who have a profound appreciation for art history and the technical skills required for art conservation.

Assessing Artwork Condition : Conduct thorough examinations of art pieces to identify any damage, deterioration, or need for restoration.
Developing Conservation Plans : Create detailed plans for the preservation and restoration of artworks, taking into account historical significance and artist intent.
Performing Restoration Work : Apply careful techniques to clean, repair, and restore artworks, while preserving their original character and integrity.
Documenting Processes : Keep meticulous records of restoration methods and treatments applied, for future reference and scholarly purposes.
Consulting with Curators and Historians : Work closely with art historians and museum curators to ensure restoration efforts are in line with historical contexts.
Researching and Innovating : Stay abreast of the latest conservation techniques and materials, and contribute to research in the field of art restoration.
Educational Background : A Master’s or Ph.D. in Art History, Fine Arts, Conservation, or a related field is highly recommended.
Technical Skills : Proficient in the use of restoration tools and techniques, with a strong understanding of art materials and chemistry.
Attention to Detail : Exceptional attention to detail and a steady hand are crucial for performing precise restoration work.
Problem-Solving : Ability to assess damages and devise effective strategies for art conservation and restoration.
Collaboration : Teamwork skills for working with other specialists, including historians, scientists, and curators.

Art Restoration Specialists can work in a variety of settings, including museums, galleries, and private conservation firms.

With experience, they may become lead conservators, oversee large restoration projects, or pursue academic careers, teaching the next generation of conservators.

Opportunities for independent consultancy work and international collaboration on restoration projects may also arise, allowing for broader career growth and recognition in the field of art conservation.

Communications Director

Average Salary: $65,000 – $130,000 per year

Communications Directors are responsible for overseeing the communications strategy of organizations, including internal and external communications, media relations, and branding.

This role is ideal for Humanities PhDs who excel in verbal and written communication and wish to leverage their expertise in conveying complex ideas to a broad audience.

Developing Strategic Communications : Create comprehensive communication strategies that align with the organization’s goals and enhance its public image.
Overseeing Media Relations : Manage interactions with the media, including writing press releases, coordinating interviews, and acting as a spokesperson for the organization.
Internal Communications : Ensure effective communication flows within the organization, promoting a cohesive workplace culture.
Brand Management : Uphold and evolve the organization’s brand identity, ensuring consistency across all communication channels.
Content Creation : Oversee the production of high-quality content for various platforms, such as websites, social media, and print publications.
Crisis Management : Prepare for and respond to public relations crises, mitigating potential damage to the organization’s reputation.
Leadership : Lead and mentor a team of communication professionals, providing direction and feedback.
Educational Background : A Master’s or PhD in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Humanities, or a related field is highly desirable.
Strategic Thinking : Ability to develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies that support the organization’s objectives.
Exceptional Writing and Editing Skills : Proficiency in crafting clear, persuasive, and grammatically correct content.
Media Savvy : Understanding of the media landscape and experience in building strong relationships with journalists and media outlets.
Leadership Qualities : Strong leadership and team management skills to oversee the communications department effectively.
Problem-Solving : Quick thinking and resourcefulness, especially in crisis situations requiring a rapid and strategic response.

As a Communications Director, there are multiple paths for career advancement.

Individuals can move on to become Chief Communications Officers, Vice Presidents of Communications, or consultants for a variety of organizations.

The skills developed in this role are also highly transferable to other executive positions, providing ample opportunities for growth within leadership, public affairs, and marketing.

And there you have it.

A comprehensive survey of the most remarkable job opportunities for Humanities PhDs.

With an array of possibilities at your disposal, there is something tailor-made for every holder of advanced humanities degrees.

Now is the time to seize the chance to align your vocation with your academic passion, enriching your professional journey with what you’ve learned.

Bear in mind: It’s NEVER too late to transform your PhD into a fulfilling career.

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Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving in and beyond the Classroom

About this book:.

Cover of Putting the Humanities PhD to Work

Putting the Humanities PhD to Work invites readers to build a university that is truly worth fighting for by thinking more expansively about what constitutes scholarly success—not only to support individual career pathways, but also to work toward greater equity and inclusion in the academy. Intended for graduate students in the humanities and for faculty members who guide them, this book grounds practical career advice in a nuanced consideration of the academic workforce, diversity and inclusion, new modes of scholarly communication, and humanities education as a public good. Leveraging research, surveys, interviews, and personal experience, the book invites readers to consider ways that graduate training can open unexpected doors that lead to meaningful careers with significant public impact, and offers concrete ways to get started.

“Covering every conceivable aspect of rethinking doctoral education in the humanities, Katina L. Rogers offers sound and sage advice on topics ranging from inclusion and diversity in graduate programs to the need for better mentoring and the relegitimization of the humanities in the public sphere. Her exceptionally timely, important, knowledgeable, and necessary book fills a real need in the humanities.” — Michael Bérubé, coauthor of The Humanities, Higher Education, and Academic Freedom: Three Necessary Arguments

“Katina L. Rogers deftly skewers narrowed notions of scholarly success and makes an urgent case for graduate education as a pathway to practical, meaningful work. This book is right on time . We need versatile, thinking people in the postpandemic public sphere and the humanities in the driver’s seat for structural changes to come.” — Bethany Nowviskie, Dean of Libraries and Professor of English, James Madison University

“This book does something special—it empowers, if not emboldens , the humanities doctorate, and encourages them to see the world in a way that is deserving of their time and hard work.” — Kristen Vogt Veggeberg, LSE Review of Books

“Perhaps the most useful thing about Rogers’ book is that it offers ways to start making change–right away–no matter your position in the academy . . . . The task of reforming humanities graduate training for the better is something for us all to take on–students as well as teachers. It’s up to all of us, and we all have a role to play. As much as Rogers’ book is a call for institutional reform , it is also a call for individual and collective action .” — Sonali Majumdar and Brandon Walsh, Scholars Lab blog

Introduction: Putting the PhD to Work—For the Public Good Chapter 1: The Academic Workforce: Expectations and Realities Chapter 2: Inclusive Systems, Vibrant Scholarship Chapter 3: Expanding Definitions of Scholarly Success Chapter 4: What Faculty and Advisors Can Do Chapter 5: Students: How to Put Your PhD to Work Conclusion: Building a University Worth Fighting For Ten Ways to Begin

Introduction

Putting the phd to work—for the public good.

The introduction demonstrates that even in this challenging time for higher education, a PhD in the humanities is powerful for the training it offers, the doors it opens, and the value it provides to society. The introduction presents two key questions:

What can be done—by students, faculty, and program administrators—to normalize and strengthen a wider range of career pathways?
How might a broader understanding of postgraduate success improve the health, inclusivity, and impact of the humanities?

These questions help to situate a discussion of career paths in a broader context of graduate education reform and support for higher education as a public good. The introduction presents baseline data, a hypothetical case study, a consideration of the importance of doctoral training, and the theoretical frameworks that will structure the subsequent chapters.

The Academic Workforce: Expectations and Realities

The first chapter examines typical career expectations for graduate students as well as the current landscape of academic labor structures. Although humanities scholars thrive in a wide range of positions, most doctoral students still consider a faculty position to be their primary career goal, and few graduate programs systematically equip their students for varied post-graduate opportunities. Issues such as labor practices, public disinvestment in higher education, changes in scholarly communication, and new affordances in digital pedagogy and online learning all affect the training that graduate students receive and the career paths they pursue. This chapter posits that equipping graduate students for more varied careers is only one element of many that are needed to truly reform graduate education, and pairs the work with advocacy for fair labor practices and better training for those doctoral students who do go on to become faculty members.

Inclusive Systems, Vibrant Scholarship

This chapter addresses matters of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality in relation to academic and scholarly labor and reward structures. It indicts the tacit rules and unspoken norms that actively harm marginalized scholars, and offers strategies to begin combating bias and inequality in higher education. It posits that normalizing a broader spectrum of career paths has the potential to improve the health and inclusion of the humanities. If one goal of the academy is to foster different kinds of scholarly output—from community engagement to digital projects to creative works—then examining the recruitment and admissions process is an essential first step. The chapter demonstrates that incorporating a more holistic understanding of the value of research and teaching to society may help open the door to creative research that is deeply grounded in issues that matter to first-generation students and students of color.

Expanding Definitions of Scholarly Success

Chapter three proposes that innovative scholarly work can catalyze deeper connections with communities within and beyond the university. As scholars and technologists create new platforms and structures for sharing research, there are increased opportunities for that work to have a meaningful impact that goes far beyond the reach of a traditional peer-reviewed journal article. However, if scholars are to devote their time and resources to sharing their work through innovative or experimental channels, there must be professional recognition for doing so. From digital dissertations to network building and from policy-relevant research to activist community engagement, greater flexibility in what is understood by the academy to constitute valuable research would help cultivate stronger public understanding of, and support for, systems of higher education.

What Faculty and Advisors Can Do

Faculty members, advisors, and administrators have a vitally important role in changing the ways that students and institutions perceive career diversity, even if their own professional experience has been exclusively within a university setting. Building on the context and arguments of preceding chapters, this chapter empowers faculty members and administrators to take immediate action to support both current and future students, through advising and mentorship, curricular reform, connecting with supportive communities within and beyond the university, and tracking alumni outcomes over time. It offers examples of ways that even small changes can revolutionize student success. Students will also find this chapter illuminating, as it will provide a glimpse into the concerns and limitations that faculty members face while also suggesting ways forward—topics that students may wish to use to ground discussions with their own advisors.

Students: How to Put Your PhD to Work

This chapter offers practical advice for students to get the most out of their graduate program and prepare for a successful job search and career anywhere. Starting with a premise that many career paths not only align with but actually amplify the goals of humanities scholarship, the chapter offers strategies to translate and reframe the skills and outcomes of a humanities PhD into terms that resonate with a wider range of potential employers. It addresses questions related to the job search and interview process, from assessing needs and desires to navigating a set of workplace cultures that differ from that of the university. Because the dissertation offers an opportunity to explore not only new ideas but also new kinds of research and writing, part of this chapter focuses on matters related to the dissertation—including public engagement, digital and other non-standards formats, and measures of success.

Building a University Worth Fighting For

Individual success stories about academic career diversity abound. And yet, despite decades of discussion, reform has still not permeated an institutional level, leaving assumptions about what constitutes scholarly success largely unchanged. The conclusion posits that it is time for all who are invested in higher education to take action—not to tear down the structures of the academy, but to reshape and strengthen them from within. Humanities PhDs have long excelled in a wide range of careers and will continue to do so. What is at stake is how well programs equip students for new possibilities; how innovative work with public relevance is evaluated and valued; and whether programs internalize a broader set of values in their recruitment and admissions practices. Reinvesting in higher education as a public good means recognizing and celebrating the myriad ways that humanities graduate study can strengthen and enrich the structures of our society.

Ten Ways to Begin

As a final takeaway, this appendix presents ten suggestions inviting readers to begin building a university that is truly worth fighting for, both at the individual and structural levels. These actions are relevant to all in higher education, whether current or prospective graduate students, alumni, faculty, or administrators. The list includes actions that can be undertaken immediately, such as making space for reflection about future pathways, as well as longer-term goals, such as working to expand the understanding of what constitutes meaningful scholarship. A key element is working against bias, so that people from all backgrounds can question, challenge, explore, and articulate new views without fear of retribution. This action-oriented list is intended both as a call to action and as encouragement, and reminds readers that even if change is hard to see, every individual effort matters.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities

Program description.

The humanities graduate program brings together scholars from history, philosophy, literature, creative writing, art history, film studies, and the performing arts who share a commitment to transnational and interdisciplinary approaches to humanistic study and practice.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program seek positions such as: teacher/educator, researcher, administrator, archivist, writer, museum curator, non-profit management and other positions in research or professional practice. Career settings may include higher education, nonprofits, cultural and historical organizations, government agencies, international development organizations, publishing houses, museums and archives, business/corporate entities and independent consulting.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Application Requirements

Visit the  Apply Now  webpage to begin the application process. 

Applicants to the Doctoral degree program should have: 

A baccalaureate degree (BA or MA) or its equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education, normally in an arts and humanities field. 
Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit 3 letters of recommendation from faculty, or other individuals, able to judge the candidate’s potential for success in the program. 
Admissions Essay: Applicants must submit a 650-word narrative essay, which should be reflective rather than factual. The essay should address the applicant’s academic interests and goals and indicate how the program would enable such pursuits. 
A writing sample: Submit an academic writing sample (e.g., a seminar paper or a critical essay).
International applicants must submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 on the internet-based test.  Scores must be less than two years old. See the  Graduate Catalog  for additional information regarding English proficiency requirements for international applicants. 
Each application is considered holistically on its individual merits. You must submit all supporting documents before the Graduate Admissions Committee can review your application.
The Graduate Record Examination is not required.

Deadline:  The application deadline is January 15. All applications completed by the deadline will be reviewed for admission. Applications submitted or completed after January 15 may be reviewed for admission only if spaces remain within the upcoming cohort and will be reviewed in order by the date the application file became complete.

Contact Information

Dr. Shilyh Warren Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Associate Professor and Program Head Phone: 972-883-6316 Email: [email protected]

Graduate Advising Pia K. Jakobsson Phone: 972-883-4706 Email: [email protected]

Graduate Admissions Phone: 972-883-6176 Email: [email protected] Request Bass School Graduate Program Information

Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology The University of Texas at Dallas, JO31 800 W. Campbell Road Richardson, TX 75080-3021

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Cornell University --> Graduate School

Careers beyond academia, transitioning from academia to commercial consulting.

Attendees to the workshop: Ethnographic and Semiotic Approaches in Consulting

Emily Levitt ,, PhD ’18 Anthropology, led a Workshop for Humanities Scholars focusing on the transition from academia to commercial consulting. Invited through support via Careers Beyond Academia faculty funding , Levitt shared the pitfalls and opportunities that she discovered as she made the journey into consulting for Doblin, a Deloitte business on October 11 at the A.D. White House. She shared with a group of Humanities PhD students and postdocs how her PhD trained her to build an effective research plan that quickly moved her from little questions to big answers.

Humanists are in demand for a consulting team as they are trained to look for themes and patterns in how people do what they do, or buy what they buy. Consulting is a great field for anthropologists who have developed human-centered research methods during their education.

Levitt discussed how innovation consulting is a growing opportunity. Legacy companies are trying to go digital, and an ethnographer can help inform what consumers are demanding as their training has taught them to understand what is behind behavior.

Throughout the exercises conducted in pairs and small groups, Levitt brought participants up-to-date on the terminology she had to learn as she transitioned into the consulting world. She added that she would never have thought of a consulting career during her doctorate, but it is a great place to be and utilize her skills.

Supported by a Careers Beyond Academia Humanities faculty mini-grant.

Competencies
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Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Efforts at UVA

This blog post is co-written by Sonali Majumdar and Brandon Walsh as a review of Katina Rogers’ recent book Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving In and Beyond the Classroom . This blog is also published on Scholars' Lab page .

What is a humanities PhD good for? Where does it lead? What can it do?

Both of us work with graduate students at UVA to help them answer similar questions for themselves as they prepare for a variety of careers. As students navigate these conversations and the job market, it can be helpful to draw upon the examples of those who have parlayed their humanities Ph.D. into successful careers. Putting the Humanities PhD to work: Thriving in and Beyond the Classroom , by Katina Rogers and published by Duke University Press in July, offers a range of useful resources for those who advise graduate students as well as a trenchant case for reforming graduate training in the humanities. Throughout the book, Rogers weaves personal narrative and professional advice, drawing upon a wealth of experiences from her career trajectory that has been anything but straightforward. Such is the case for many holding positions like those for which Rogers advocates: the path is rarely clear and often idiosyncratic. Rogers does an excellent job extrapolating from her own experiences to offer advice for others to "find their footing on their own individual paths, wherever those may lead." The book feels intensely personal, but it also shows how institutional practices can help or hinder students as they try to make their own way.

Rogers outlines the value of connecting and applying PhD training in humanities to a wide variety of impactful work in society, both within and beyond academia. First, broader career pathways enable inclusion of students from diverse backgrounds and experiences into PhD programs who can then apply their training in a variety of meaningful and fulfilling careers. On the other side, diverse career outcomes of PhDs underscores the value of humanities training to employers across sectors that may facilitate higher financial investment for humanities training. At UVA, through the PhD Plus program and graduate programs in Scholars’ Lab, we strive to make those connections and translations visible and viable. The work begins by de-centering academia through the use of language like "diverse careers" as opposed to "alt-ac", a term that can imply that such paths are merely secondary options to the otherwise more desirable faculty position. On an institutional level, UVA participates in Council of Graduate Schools’ PhD Career Pathways project to foster transparency of career outcomes and collaborates with departments to develop frameworks of outreach and communication for these outcomes. Further, we highlight the ecosystem of varied positions within academia for PhDs- in administration, graduate professional development, curriculum and instruction design, program development, advancement, among others. As we introduce students to a range of careers, we try to critique the internal prestige economies that might be at work across the academy for those stepping into these positions.

Rogers posits that institutional commitment towards transparency on PhD careers and programs to support careers and professional development, while essential, are not sufficient for impactful change. Reflection and review of labor practices and academic programs are imperative. Departments should integrate prior experiences and career aspirations of their students to review doctoral program expectations and design flexible educational and labor experiences. Similar to this vision, American Association of Universities announced the PhD Education Initiative , to promote more student-centered doctoral education at AAU universities by making diverse Ph.D. career pathways visible, valued and viable . The initiative provides participating universities the opportunity to collaborate with one or more departmental teams in Humanities and STEM. UVA is one of eight member universities participating in Phase 1 of the program. As part of the program’s goals, English and Religious Studies departments at UVA will examine current practices and implement practices and programs for a student-centered graduate education.

Rogers makes the case for a renewed focus on the professional opportunities currently available to students while also developing new ones. For starters, Rogers argues that higher education should re-invest in the craft of teaching as a meaningful part of their career development and as a viable vocation rather than simply as a source of labor during their degree programs. This investment takes many forms: adequate payment, better attention to teacher training, and also affording it a higher level of prestige that tends to be more associated with scholarship. Doing so would help to address crises of adjunctification in higher education while also connecting these labor practices to meaningful and viable vocations that can await students after their educations conclude. In addition to a renewed commitment to teaching, Rogers recommends expanding experiential learning opportunities beyond teaching, to support professional development for a broad range of careers. At UVA, PhD Plus provides ABDs with the opportunity to pursue an internship with a University office or external partner.

Rogers frames research, teaching and impact as core values driving PhD training. She highlights that competencies developed during the course of PhD can be applied in diverse careers. We encourage PhD students to identify their defining core values, and engage with additional activities that align with a broad set of values. Further, PhD Plus created six categories of competencies that are valuable for professional success in a wide variety of careers. PhD students can develop one or more competencies by participating in relevant PhD Plus and Scholars’ lab programs. Access to professional development resources and mentors for career support may be a barrier for some students. Resources like Imagine PhD developed by members of Graduate Career Consortium are commendable efforts to advance equity of professional development. Moreover, professional development programs, although beneficial, often require additional investment of students’ time. Rogers suggests that the dissertation provides an avenue to incorporate professional development within academic work. Reimagining the form of the dissertation beyond a protomonograph model will facilitate development of diverse communication skills. Further, public humanities and community-engaged research can facilitate development of skills such as project management, and collaboration that students may not typically develop through individual scholarship. One of the examples Rogers cites from UVA is the Praxis Program , which offers a year-long, project-based introduction to these skills and experiences by way of digital humanities. Programs like these can foster public trust in the value of humanities training and may go a long way in funding advocacy for humanities programs.

The problems described by Rogers can often feel too large for any one person to take on. It can feel all too easy to think that the ability to make meaningful reform rests with others who possess more power or more prestige. And it can sometimes feel like some aspects of reform like those described above are more worthwhile, carry more prestige than others. But perhaps the most useful thing about Rogers' book is that it offers ways to start making change–right away–no matter your position in the academy. The book makes the case for the work to take place from a number of angles. In an afterword entitled "Ten Ways to Begin" (recently excerpted for a piece in The Chronicle of Higher Education ), Rogers argues, "whether you are a student, faculty member, or administrator, there are things you can do right now." The task of reforming humanities graduate training for the better is something for us all to take on–students as well as teachers. It's up to all of us, and we all have a role to play. As much as Rogers' book is a call for institutional reform, it is also a call for individual and collective action. As Rogers concludes her book: "The time for change is now. Let's get started."

This blog post is co-written by Sonali Majumdar and Brandon Walsh as a review of Katina Rogers’ recent book Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving In and Beyond the Classroom .

Sonali is associate director in the University’s office of graduate and postdoctoral affairs
Brandon is head of student programs in the Scholars’ Lab in the University of Virginia Library

136 Irving Street Cambridge, MA 02138

Occupations of Humanities Ph.D.'s
K - 12 Education
Higher Education
Funding and Research
Public Life
Humanities-Related Employment
Occupations of Humanities Majors with a Terminal Bachelor’s Degree
Occupations of College Humanities Majors Who Earned an Advanced Degree
The Employment Status of Humanities Majors
Gender and the Occupations of Humanities Majors
Earnings of Humanities Majors with a Terminal Bachelor’s Degree
Earnings of Humanities Majors with an Advanced Degree
Effect of Experience on the Earnings of College Majors
Effect of Gender on the Earnings of Humanities Majors
Job Satisfaction of Humanities Majors
Humanities Majors and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
Humanities Majors and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Humanities Majors and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Humanities Majors in the Professions and Other Occupations
Job Status of Humanities Ph.D.’s at Time of Graduation
Occupations of Master’s Degree Recipients in the Humanities
Earnings of Humanities Master’s Degree Recipients
Earnings of Humanities Ph.D.’s
Job Satisfaction of Humanities Master’s Degree Recipients
Job Satisfaction of Humanities Ph.D. Recipients
Number of Faculty Members in Humanities and Other Fields
Number of Faculty Members in Humanities Disciplines

Over the past decade or more, the National Endowment for the Humanities, other funders, disciplinary societies, and universities have undertaken projects to promote career diversity for doctoral degree recipients in the field. 1 While humanities Ph.D.’s can be found in virtually every occupational sector, the data indicate that they are much more likely than recipients in other fields to be employed as postsecondary teachers.

1 See, for instance, the American Historical Association (https://www.historians.org/jobs-and-professional-development/career-diversity-for-historians/about-career-diversity) and the Modern Languages Association (https://connect.mla.hcommons.org/). For earlier discussions of career diversity initiatives, see Council of Graduate Schools, “Promising Practices in Humanities Ph.D. Professional Development,” https://www.utep.edu/graduate/_Files/docs/NEH_NextGen_LessonsLearned.pdf, accessed 9/20/2022; Rosemary Feal, “Expanding Career Horizons: Possibilities, Pitfalls,” MLA Commons, April 16, 2014, https://execdirector.mla.hcommons.org/2014/04/16/expanding-career-horizons-possibilities-pitfalls/, accessed 9/20/2022; and Emily Swafford, “Career Diversity for Historians Year in Review,” Perspectives on History, November 2015, https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/november-2015/career-diversity-for-historians-2015-year-in-review, accessed 9/20/2022.
In 2019, 61% of recently employed humanities Ph.D.’s ( employed full- or part-time at any point in the previous five years) taught at the postsecondary level as their principal job, which was more than double the share for doctoral degree recipients generally (27%; Indicator III-22a ). Only health and medical sciences Ph.D.’s were concentrated to the same degree in one occupation, with 59% of their recently employed Ph.D.’s in healthcare jobs ( Indicator III-22b ).
The occupational distribution of recently employed Ph.D. holders did not differ substantially by gender in 2019 (findings not visualized). The most marked difference in occupation between the genders was in library and museum occupations, with women more likely than men to hold such positions (12% of women as compared to 5% of men).
Disaggregation by race/ethnicity is not possible because of the small number of humanities Ph.D.’s in the National Survey of College Graduates sample and the fact that traditionally minoritized racial ethnic/groups are underrepresented among humanities Ph.D.’s .

* Employed at any time (full- or part-time) in the previous five years. **See the provided crosswalk for information regarding the occupations included in this category. † Excludes holders of the D.D.S., D.V.M., M.D., and other nonresearch degrees.

Source: National Science Foundation, 2019 National Survey of College Graduates. Data analyzed and presented by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Humanities Indicators ( www.humanitiesindicators.org ).

Since the humanities were dropped from the biennial Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) in 1995, the National Science Foundation’s National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) is the only source of nationally representative data on the occupations and earnings of humanities Ph.D.’s. Conducted every two years, the NSCG gathers detailed education, occupation, and earnings information from a sample of individuals drawn from the larger pool of all those people identified via the American Community Survey (ACS) as holders of a baccalaureate degree. The foundation makes NSCG data available to researchers and the general public via downloadable data files and its online data analysis tool, SESTAT . Given the size of the NSCG sample, reliable estimates are available only for broad academic fields.

For the NSCG disciplinary categories included in each of the field-of-degree categories employed by the Humanities Indicators, see the provided crosswalk , which also indicates the types of jobs that are included in each of the broad occupational categories used for this analysis.

These occupation-related indicators are based on NSCG data, but similar items included in the Humanities Indicators rely on data from the ACS. Due to marked differences in how NSCG and ACS classify academic fields and occupations, the contents of the field-of-degree and occupational categories used for this indicator are not identical to those used for the ACS-based Indicators III-03a, 03b , and 05b . (For more information on the contents of the categories used for the ACS analysis, see the pertinent crosswalk .)

Another key difference between these indicators and the ACS-based occupation-related indicators is that the Ph.D. holders considered here are those whose doctoral degree was in the humanities, irrespective of the field of their undergraduate and any master’s degree. The ACS does not collect data about the fields in which advanced degrees were earned. The ACS-based indicators thus describe the occupational distribution of undergraduate humanities majors who went on to pursue an advanced degree, regardless of the field of that degree.

See “Earnings of Humanities Ph.D.’s,” which also draws on the National Survey of College Graduates . The Humanities Indicators also provides information on the “Job Status of Humanities Ph.D.’s at Time of Graduation” and “Number of Faculty Members in Humanities and Other Fields.”

For trends concerning the number and type of humanities Ph.D.’s conferred over the past several decades, see “Advanced Degrees in the Humanities” and “Disciplinary Distribution of Advanced Degrees in the Humanities.”

Occupation and earnings information for terminal bachelor’s degree recipients can be found under the topics “Occupations of Humanities Majors with a Terminal Bachelor’s Degree” and “Earnings of Humanities Majors with a Terminal Bachelor's Degree.” (The estimates for terminal bachelor’s degree holders are based on data from a different source, the American Community Survey, and are thus not strictly comparable to the estimates provided here for Ph.D.’s. Please see “About the Data” for further explanation.)

For information about the occupational outcomes of terminal master’s degree recipients, see “Occupations of Master’s Degree Recipients in the Humanities” and “Earnings of Humanities Master’s Degree Recipients.”

For a comparison of the humanities with other major academic fields with respect to unemployment among majors, see “The Employment Status of Humanities Majors.”

* Employed at any time (full- or part-time) in the previous five years. Excludes holders of the D.D.S., D.V.M., M.D., and other nonresearch degrees. ** See the provided crosswalk for information regarding the occupations included in this category. Source: National Science Foundation, 2019 National Survey of College Graduates. Data analyzed and presented by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Humanities Indicators ( www.humanitiesindicators.org ).

More From Forbes

New career options for recent phds in the humanities and social sciences.

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A third round of funding will expand a program for recent PhDs in the humanities and social sciences ... [+] to work on community projects at nonprofits across the nation.

Recent PhD recipients in the humanities and social sciences will be able to pursue new posts at a variety of nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies across the United States. That’s always good news for those struggling in a perennially tight job market, but it’s particularly welcome this year as academic positions in the humanities continue to dry up.

The new opportunities come from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) ’s continuation of its Leading Edge Fellowship program. This marks the third round of these fellowship awards.

The program launched in July 2020 with support from the Henry Luce Foundation , connecting new PhDs first in art history and visual culture and then in ethics, theology and religion with nonprofits focused on addressing social challenges created or exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation joined as a supporting partner in Fall 2020, allowing ACLS to open the competition to new PhDs across all fields in the humanities and related social sciences and to place them in a broader variety of social justice-oriented projects.

The initial cohort consisted of five fellows, who specialized in art history or public art and took positions that focused on how local communities responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. The second round involved twelve fellows with doctoral backgrounds in ethics, theology and religion; they also were engaged with organizations looking at the public’s response to the pandemic. Both cohorts were supported by funds from the Henry Luce Foundation .

The Leading Edge Fellowship program provides one-year fellowships to recent humanities PhDs in the humanities and humanistic social sciences , allowing them to serve as part of community-focused policy and research projects concerning a wide span of topics, including voter suppression efforts, injustices in the criminal justice system, racial and economic inequality, access to childcare, food security, and others.

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For this latest round of the fellowship competition, up to 41 fellowships will be available to recent PhDs. Each Leading Edge Fellow will receive a $60,000 stipend, in addition to health insurance and professional development funding. Fellows also can expect to participate in professional development and networking activities intended to help them use the experiences of the 12-month placements in their future careers.

To be eligible for the fellowships, applicants must have a PhD that was or will be formally conferred between September 1, 2016, and October 1, 2021. Those PhDs may be in any field in the humanities or humanistic social sciences , as defined by ACLS. Each applicant may apply for up to two of the available Fellowships.

Applicants go through a multi-stage selection process. First, they’re reviewed by a committee of humanities PhDs working in a variety of professional contexts outside of the academy. Finalists identified by the committee are forwarded to the host organization for a second round of evaluation. Final offers are made by ACLS.

Among the list of partnering organizations are those focused on policy issues in minority communities, juvenile justice, voting, prisoner education, early childhood education, and social justice. It’s noteworthy that none of the positions is located at a university or college. Here are a few examples:

National Conference on Citizenship (Washington, DC), where the Leading Edge Fellow will support the Black Girls Vote Research Network.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (Washington, DC), where the fellow will work on research, reports, articles, and scholarship on social justice issues for a new Center for Social Justice involving scholars at various Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Hunger Free America (New York City), where the fellow will examine the long-term impacts of SNAP (once known as food stamps) on past and current recipients.
The Better Life Lab at New America (Washington, DC), where the fellow will join a multi-year project aimed at improving the U.S.’s child care and early education systems.
Colorado Children’s Campaign (Denver), where the fellow will focus on assessing and improving the behavioral health of Colorado children and families following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade (New Orleans), where the fellow will join an environmental health and justice organization that helps communities cope with the health and dislocation effects of nearby petrochemical plants and fossil fuel infrastructure.

Across all the positions, which at this time are anticipated to be conducted remotely, the fellows are expected to draw on the skills developed in the course of earning a doctorate in the humanities and social sciences. Abilities like critical analysis, cultural competence, thorough scholarship, and strong written and oral communication are emphasized.

The fellowships create valuable options for PhD recipients who are interested in applied scholarship. For many, the program provides excellent experience as they pursue careers outside the academy, while for others, the experience allows them to integrate lessons learned into subsequent academic jobs or jobs taken outside of the academy.

In response to an email inquiry, Joy Connolly, President of ACLS, told me, “ACLS created Leading Edge to be mutually beneficial both to nonprofits addressing urgent issues like racial inequality, economic insecurity, voter suppression, and access to quality healthcare and to early career PhDs facing the most difficult academic job market seen in a generation,”

“Humanistic scholarship has always played an essential role in bringing about social change: many suffragists and civil rights leaders started out as students of history, philosophy, and other fields in the humanities and social sciences that ACLS represents. Leading Edge provides a path for PhDs to put their training to work outside the campus gates. ACLS is very grateful to the Henry Luce Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for allowing us to provide opportunities to support these high-achieving people while also making positive contributions to communities in need.”

ACLS is accepting applications for the Leading Edge Fellowship program now and through Thursday, May 6, 2021. You can learn more about the program at www.acls.org/LeadingEdge .

_____________

Formed in 1919, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of dozens of scholarly organizations, colleges and universities and affiliated organizations. It seeks to be “the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and related social sciences.” ACLS has a $140 million endowment and a $35 million annual operating budget, which in spends “to support scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and to advocate for the centrality of the humanities in the modern world.”

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Southern Methodist University

Reanalyzing our world:, humanities phds at smu.

At Southern Methodist University’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, doctoral students in the humanities are not just asking the big questions. They are seeking meaning and context through interdisciplinary and collaborative study of the human experience.

At SMU, the humanities are valued for their ability to help us understand the world we live in, preserve the great accomplishments of the past and imagine what might come in the future. Here, humanities scholars are encouraged to move beyond traditional thought and study of works or things, and instead focus on the themes, structures and ideas that help us determine what it means to be human.

If a passion for history, literature or religious studies is driving you to consider a doctoral degree, this guide will help you understand SMU’s unique approach to the study of the humanities and prepare you to apply to a PhD program with confidence.

Read on to learn more about doctoral programs in English, History and Religious Studies SMU.

a PhD in Humanities?

The humanities focus on the potential and agency of human beings — considering humans as the starting point for all serious moral and philosophical inquiry. By studying literature, history and religion through a humanist lens, we seek to understand the themes of life’s “big questions” rather than to provide or understand the answers.

Doctoral study of the humanities involves imagination and speculation to determine what might have been based on limited solid evidence. In this way, doctoral study of the humanities is focused on human beings as the catalyst to great change through use of the imagination. The farther we move from the particulars or that which might be empirically proven, the closer we come to true study of the humanities.

Who Should Get a PhD in the Humanities ? Is a PhD Worth It?

Regardless of your course of study, earning a doctorate degree is no easy feat. Deciding whether a terminal degree is the right path for you should ultimately be based on your undergraduate degree, your research interests and your future goals.

(Read about the best PhD programs for English majors on our blog)

The most successful humanities PhD students are individuals who want to study and explore the “big” questions in life.

Those who pursue humanities are interested in exploring culture and our world through history, arts and literature, and religion. They are inquisitive, and while they may not be the ones physically making change they are often the catalyst.

For students in some fields, pursuing a PhD is seen as a means to an end — the necessary step to qualify for a certain career or perform specific research. Those who seek terminal degrees within the humanities, on the other hand, are most often those who want to develop a deeper understanding of a subject for the sake of exploration and discovery.

A PhD May Be Worth It For You If

You are interested in pursuing original research

You want to work closely with faculty and experts in your subject

You are willing to commit six years to furthering your education

You want to pursue a career in academia or another specialized field that requires a terminal degree

Only you can decide if a PhD program is right for you. The path to a doctorate degree is challenging and time consuming, but those who are passionate about their subject and their research rarely regret the decision to further their education.

Access our Free

Downloadable guide, phd in english.

Weight the pros and cons of pursuing a humanities PhD in English by considering not only tuition, future salary, and career goals but also the chance to engage in original research to make an impact.

Download our Guide to Choosing and Applying to a Ph.D. Program

If you're struggling to decide whether a PhD is right for you, this guide has the insider information you need to thrive in a doctoral program.

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Tenure trajectory: are there jobs in academia anymore.

The job market for future professors is different than it once was. The reduced hiring of tenure-track faculty in Humanities departments across many colleges and universities has made it difficult for those with PhDs to find gainful employment within academia. The humanities specifically has more PhDs than available jobs in academia.

However, that doesn’t mean one should forego advanced study if they’re passionate about the field and their research interests. Those who seek a PhD in a subject within the humanities rarely do so because they are concerned about the return on investment for their degree or a boost to earning potential. Instead, many humanities PhDs pursue this challenging and rewarding path for the sake of expanding their own knowledge and understanding of life’s big questions.

Humanities PhDs Aren’t Limited to Work in Academia

If passion is driving you to pursue a PhD in the humanities, know that there are many fulfilling job options that would greatly utilize the skills and knowledge gained in a doctoral program. In fact, there is much evidence to show that humanities PhDs not only find work outside of academia, but thrive in government, nonprofits and industries.

According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences , humanities PhDs are employed in nearly every occupational sector. One reason may be that these scholars possess a set of skills highly sought after by employers.

Some skills and abilities humanities PhDs possess that can help with career placement outside of academia include

1209039_-SMU- Humanities Guide-highres_icon1_110821

As the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic that left many businesses and organizations scrambling in 2020, Humanities PhDs are uniquely positioned to think creatively and critically about these unprecedented challenges. The traits and skills that make one a successful humanities scholar are the same that lead to new insights into everything from poetry and paintings to business models and politics. These “soft” skills are among the most desired employee traits in LinkedIn’s annual Global Talent Trend report , and make humanities scholars highly employable and sought after outside of academia.

Possible Careers for Humanities PhDs

Research from Columbia University Center for Career Education shows that PhDs who work outside of academia are regularly sought for positions in research, writing, public service, consulting, advising, teaching and publishing.

HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION

For many PhDs seeking employment outside of academia, the higher education industry can be a source of employment. Many non-faculty careers within higher education (and other educational organizations) require the interest and skills developed in a humanities PhD program. Some non-academic areas PhDs often excel in include teaching/writing centers, marketing and public relations, and student and academic affairs.

SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHING

Federal government.

Many skills held by PhDs in the humanities are useful to a range of governmental bureaus. PhDs with extensive knowledge of language and culture can be strong employees in the Department of State, Department of Defense, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, to list a few. Employment opportunities for humanities PhDs exist in nearly every government sector.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Work in the nonprofit sector spans a wide range of specializations and interests, including health, education, religion, art and charitable organizations. Humanities PhDs in particular thrive in nonprofit organizations due to the ongoing need for grant writing, research, fundraising, program evaluation and program development.

ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC PUBLISHING

For some PhDs, work in academic publishing allows them to remain involved with scholarship while putting their skills in writing and editing to use. Careers in academic publishing can include literary and academic journals or educational publications such as textbooks and materials for secondary schools, colleges and universities.

For those who are less concerned about remaining involved with scholarship, careers in non-academic publishing of trade books, popular fiction and nonfiction, and consumer magazines. Many PhDs find their skills translate well to careers in editorial, management, marketing, sales, production and design.

Discover Life in Dallas

Get to know the city of Dallas through our guide and learn what it is like to live, work, eat, study, and relax here while completing your graduate degree at SMU.

We'll email you a PDF of the eBook, so you can save it for your reference as you apply to graduate school.

Get the Graduate Student's Guide to Living in Dallas

The humanities at smu.

Individuals who pursue a PhD in the humanities at SMU are interested in understanding the world today and making connections to positively impact current climates and the future. PhD candidates in the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences benefit from superior training, top notch mentoring, and professional development.

Humanities PhD programs at SMU are interdisciplinary and collaborative by nature. PhD candidates in the humanities are able to take on both formal and informal interdisciplinary study by taking classes outside of their specific program and connecting with faculty and students in other disciplines.

PhD Students at SMU are encouraged to take courses outside of their core subject as well as courses specifically within the social sciences. Engaging in diverse group discussions and varied research approaches can add context and perspective to a student’s own research, helping to create a more nuanced understanding of topics and source materials.

1209039_-SMU- Humanities Guide_social1200_111021

Objective study of humans and their social relations using a scientific and evidence-based approach

Includes fields such as anthropology, economics, political science, psychology and sociology

Involves scientific and other research methods

1209039_-SMU- Humanities Guide_humanities1200_111021

Subjective study of humans, our history, culture and societies using an analytical and critical approach

Includes fields such as philosophy, history, literature, languages and religious studies

Does not involve scientific research

PhD Funding

There are many opportunities for funding within the humanities at SMU, including fellowships, grants and assembly funding. SMU recognizes outstanding PhD students through two fellowships awarded at the time of admission: University PhD Fellowships recognize PhD students who show great promise for academic success, and Mustang Fellowships recognize PhD students who show great promise for academic success and potential to enhance graduate program diversity at SMU.

Blocks with the titles and amounts of SMU graduate fellowships and scholarships.

Professional and Career Development

PhD students at SMU have access to career counseling and professional development opportunities through the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. In addition to networking and professional development events, students can meet with a career specialist to discuss:

Building your resume

The academic job search process

Searching for jobs outside of academia

Interview strategies and tips

General questions about planning a career post-PhD

Get to Know the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

Access this guide to d iscover world-changing research, competitive funding, & professional and community engagement at SMU.

Learn More About the $100 Million Gift from the Moody Foundation

Human perspective: meet faculty in the humanities department.

Richard R. Bozorth, Associate Professor and Chair English Department

What courses do you teach at smu and how long have you been teaching here.

I have been teaching at SMU since the fall of 1998. I have taught classes in poetry, British literature, and—at both the undergraduate and graduate levels—courses in Modernism, 20 th -century British literature, and LGBTQ+ studies.

What is the highest degree you hold and where did you receive it?

I received my PhD in English from the University of Virginia.

Did you always want to work/study in the field of English, or did you have other plans?

Like many an undergraduate English majors, I thought I wanted to go to law school. When I realized how bored I would be with the kind of work so many lawyers do, I looked for ways to keep reading and thinking about literature—thus, graduate school and becoming an English professor.

What area of research do you specialize in within the field of English?

My research focuses on 20 th -century literature, especially poetry and British modernism, as well as LGBTQ+ studies. These interests have coincided in my research and scholarship on W. H. Auden and other queer poets.

What do you most think is most unique or valuable about the English program and the department at SMU?

This is a relatively small department, teaching relatively small classes at all levels, but with a first-rate faculty engaged in scholarship that spans English studies. So students get lots of close attention from faculty who are plugged into their fields and the profession. And doctoral students have opportunities to teach undergraduates in a variety of classes that allow them to teach things in their own fields, as well as other areas. That’s proven to be a real asset for our PhD’s on the job market.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Getting a PhD requires concentration and the willingness to keep going at times when you aren’t sure where you’re headed. The key thing for me—particularly at the dissertation stage—was that I had found something that didn’t just have professional and intellectual value. It was something that I loved thinking about. That’s what got me through, along with supportive and wise faculty advising me.

Kate Carté, Associate Professor History Department

I teach early American history, and the history of American religion. I’ve been at SMU for nine years.

I have a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Did you always want to work/study in the field of History, or did you have other plans?

History was always my passion, but I also considered being an archivist or a policy work in Washington.

What initially interested you in teaching at the graduate level? What brought you to SMU?

I love working with graduate students. We have the time and space to get to know them well, and I learn so much from their interests and explorations.

What area of research do you specialize in within the field of History?

My research focuses on how religion intersects with some of the other big forces of history, such as economics or politics. I study religion because that’s often the place where people “put” what matters most to them.

What research have you been involved in at SMU? Other places? Do you have a favorite research project?

My favorite is whatever I’m working on! I just finished a long project on religion and the American Revolution, and now I’m starting one on religion, cartography, and categories of human difference in the early modern English Atlantic world.

What do you most think is most unique or valuable about the History program and the department at SMU?

It’s a smaller program, but that means we can really tailor what we do to each student. Our traditional focus on the Southwest borderlands has expanded into much wider realms, and now we have students working in many areas of US history, including the colonial period. At the same time, the program is still small enough that there is a lot of intellectual exchange between students and between students and faculty.

Why do you think History is an important and valuable field to study?

A lot of people think studying history is learning about the past, but I don’t think that’s true. Studying history is building a conversation between the past and the present. It’s about understanding how our world came to be, by asking the questions that are on our minds. Every community needs historians to anchor it, to reassure it, and to prod it to change and accountability.

What about studying History at the PhD level poses the biggest challenges for students (choosing an area of interest, their dissertation)?

Because the humanities are frequently under attack, there are always lots of concerns about jobs at the end of the degree. That fear and pressure can be hard for students to manage.

What research areas are most popular among the students?

We have a lot of students who work in the Southwest borderlands, but we also have a growing cluster in US political history. We also have several who do US religious history, and even(!) the colonial period.

Are there any emerging trends or developments in the field that you find exciting?

Always! It’s an ongoing conversation.

Steve Long, Professor of Ethics Religious Studies Department

I began teaching at SMU in 2015. I teach courses in theology and ethics. I also teach the core course in the doctoral program, “Philosophy of Religion” that examines both philosophical theology and philosophy of religion.

I received the PhD from Duke University.

Did you always want to work/study in the field of Religious Studies, or did you have other plans?

I was an organic chemistry major in college, and thought for a time that I would be a medical doctor. I went to seminary to prepare for ordination in the Methodist Church and was still considering medical school at the time. While in seminary I fell in love with studying theology and ethics and decided to continue my studies after receiving my Master’s degree. For some reason, I never tire of reading theology, philosophy, and ethics.

Graduate students keep you on your toes. Sometimes you need to work to interest undergraduates in your courses, but graduate students have strong motivation to learn and study. I discovered early on that graduate students make me a better scholar and teacher.

I was originally asked to apply for the Maguire Chair at SMU but was not looking to leave where I was. I finally decided to apply and came to visit. The communal sense among the graduate students was a strong draw for me. I have not been disappointed.

What area of research do you specialize in within the field of Religious Studies?

I’m a bit odd as a scholar in that I am a generalist. If you looked at my publication record, you might think that it is very eclectic and wonder if anything holds it together. I can trace lines of continuity through the diverse works but others might not so readily find them. What always interests me is moral philosophy, moral theology, and politics. Everything I have written, I think, falls under the intersection of those three disciplines.

Right now I’m working on a book on what it means to teach and learn ethics focusing on the role of the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. I find teaching ethics to be fascinating and complicated. In fact, it is fascinating because it is complicated. How do we bring together people from a diversity of backgrounds and discuss matters that concern us to the core of who we are as people?

What do you most think is most unique or valuable about the Religious Studies program and the department at SMU?

Friendship. We have a collaborative program where our students assist each other in learning and in so doing contribute to the faculty’s education. We also have a very good faculty that treat each other with respect.

Why do you think Religious Studies is an important and valuable field to study?

For good and for ill, religion affects every aspect of human existence. If you are unaware of its intricacies, you will be inept at discerning and discovering what it means to be human, for yourself and for others.

What about studying Religious Studies at the PhD level poses the biggest challenges for students (choosing an area of interest, their dissertation)?

Learning how to research and write a dissertation is a skill that takes time and tenacity. Getting through coursework, learning languages, and completing assignments can be challenging but nothing like completing a dissertation. It prepares students for a life of scholarship.

Our students seem attracted to theology and ethics, but we have many strong research areas and one of the strengths of our program is the encouragement to study broadly.

There are always surprises that arise that require constant attention. For instance, when I was in graduate school we assumed that we were at the end of a discipline known as “metaphysics.” Then it returned, requiring both rediscovery of what we thought had been left behind and new possibilities for what lie ahead. There are trends that were just trends that led me into intellectual dead-ends, and developments that made me rethink things. The philosopher Wittgenstein said that philosophy (and I would add religious studies) is more like exploring an old city that always contains more than you are aware of at any one time.

I have now supervised over thirty doctoral dissertations and sat in on many more dissertation committees. Each one was different, tailored to the student’s interest. Supervising them is a labor of delight. You observe a student with a general thesis begin to work on their project. At first it is rather vague and unclear—like viewing something at a distance. Then it gains shape and form; clarity emerges until finally it is ready to take its place among the traditions of wisdom that make for human flourishing. To be part of this process, to see it take place again and again, remains deeply satisfying without diminishing its mysteriousness. I could not imagine a more enjoyable exercise than passing along sacred wisdom from one generation to the next.

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Humanities phd programs.

Students seeking a PhD in English at SMU have the opportunity to learn from a distinguished faculty of scholars and dedicated teachers. All faculty members, including senior professors and researchers, teach regularly. English PhD students benefit from a one-to-one student-faculty ratio, ensuring small seminars and ample options for tutorial studies.

English faculty offer coursework and research supervision in most areas of literary study, including:

British and American literature

Courses in literary theory

Literature written in English by non-Western writers

Critical and rhetorical theory

Cultural studies

Women’s studies

Our aim for the doctorate in English is to graduate comprehensively trained scholar-teachers prepared to assume college and university positions, as well as a range of other non-academic jobs that benefit from advanced academic preparation.

We are committed to ensuring our graduates’ professional success through our program featuring:

Fellowships for all doctoral candidates for six full years at extraordinarily competitive rates, followed by the opportunity for a seventh year as a Visiting Assistant Professor.

Medical benefits, tuition waivers, summer seminars in Taos, NM, and professional travel support for all doctoral Fellows.

Opportunities for doctoral Fellows to teach writing and literature classes, beginning in year two.

Dissertation-year support for all doctoral Fellows.

Close mentoring from matriculation to and beyond graduation.

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SMU's Graduate School is proud to offer doctoral and master’s degrees in a wide variety of fields. This resource is designed to give you an overview of the admissions requirements and processes for our Master’s and Doctoral programs.

PhD in History

Students seeking a doctorate in history at SMU have the opportunity to study with faculty members who are dedicated teachers and distinguished scholars, specializing in fields that cover the globe. They believe that the study of the past offers students critical and analytical skills essential not only to the discipline of history but also to their future careers.

The course of study explores historical experiences in American, transnational, and global contexts, with special emphasis on advanced work in

U.S. Southwest

U.S. political, diplomatic and/or presidential history

Ethnic Mexicans

Native Americans

Borderlands

Specialized global/comparative themes, such as gender, democracy, and capitalism

The strengths of the graduate program in the areas of borderlands, transnational, global, and comparative history will prepare students to produce innovative scholarship, teach in a wide range of higher educational institutions (including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and research universities), and pursue careers outside the academy (in historical archives, museums, and other public history institutions).

The program offers unexpected opportunities for historical scholarship to broaden and deepen students’ knowledge. Resources include:

The Clements Center for Southwest Studies , which promotes research publishing, teaching and public programming in a variety of fields of inquiry related to Texas, the American Southwest and the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.

The Center for Presidential History , which allows for research in the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum , which serves as a resource for the study of Bush’s life and career while promoting a deeper understanding of the presidency, American history and public policy.

We are committed to ensuring our graduates’ professional success through a program featuring:

Fellowships for all students accepted into the PhD program, guaranteed for a period of five years for those whose work remains excellent.

Fellowships include tuition, fees, health insurance and a $20,000 stipend for the academic year with additional competitive fellowships available through the Moody School of Graduate & Advanced Studies.

Resources available for travel to professional conferences and to research archives

The International Applicant's Guide to a PhD

Are you an international student considering graduate study in the United States? Our Guide to International Admissions has all you need to apply to earn a PhD in the United States with confidence.

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Phd in religious studies.

The department of Religious Studies fosters a greater understanding of the roles of religion in the contemporary world and throughout history. The study of religion at SMU is interdisciplinary, employing methods drawn from across the humanities and social sciences to examine the world’s religious traditions as social, cultural, and historical phenomena. The PhD program is designed to prepare persons for academic leadership and professional careers as teacher-scholars in school, colleges, universities, schools of theology.

Students focus their work in one of six specialized fields of study:

Hebrew Bible/Old Testament

New Testament

History of the Christian Tradition

Religion and Culture

Religious Ethics

Systematic Theology

All students are expected to demonstrate a reading competence in at least one approved language other than English upon matriculation. Learn more about language requirements for the PhD in Religious Studies.

Download our Guide to Humanities PhD Programs at SMU

Access this guide at any point to make references and keep this important information at your fingertips.

Receive this resource as an eBook now!

Read our blog:, set yourself apart: earn your humanities doctorate at smu.

If you are ready to explore life’s biggest questions and their implications, a PhD in English, History or Religious studies from SMU will help you gain a deeper understanding of the human experience. You will have the opportunity to research the nuances of life and the universe through study, collaboration and thoughtful discussion with other bright and curious minds.

Whether you are ready to apply or want to know more about faculty, research and opportunities in a PhD program, the humanities department at Dedman College are excited to help you find your place at SMU.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS OR ASSISTANCE WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Stevie Otto Director of Recruitment and Admissions

Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies Southern Methodist University Telephone: 214-768-4345 Email: [email protected] Graduate application: smu.edu/gradapp

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How to transition from PhD to consulting?

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Going from PhD to consulting can feel intimidating. It’s hard to know which consulting firms recruit PhDs, and at which level. And it can also sometimes feel unclear if you’ll be using your PhD skills at all or completely starting from scratch.

So let’s walk through how you should manage your transition from PhD to consulting step by step. From which firms to target to how much you will be paid and how to ace your applications and interviews. Read the full article here .

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Humanities and Social Sciences Ph.D. Pathways

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Useful resources on the diverse and fulfilling career paths by Ph.Ds in humanities and social sciences disciplines.

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How to Transition from a Ph.D. to Consulting

Last Updated March, 2024

Former BCG Consultant

Why Become a Consultant?

What challenges do ph.d. & advanced degree candidates face in the consulting recruiting process, what do consulting firms look for in ph.d. & advanced degree candidates, what do you need to know to ace your consulting job application & interviews, which management consulting firms want to hire ph.d. candidates, resources for applying to consulting jobs..

What Do Consulting Firms Look for in PhD & Advanced Degree Candidates?

Which Management Consulting Firms Want to Hire PhD Candidates?

What Challenges Do PhD & Advanced Degree Candidates Face in the Consulting Recruiting Process?

Are you in your 3rd or 4th year of a Ph.D. or other advanced degree program and rethinking your future career in academia? Considering the transition from Ph.D. to consulting?

So here you are. Maybe you’re supposed to be writing your dissertation, but you’re dreading that upcoming job market and wondering about alternative career paths instead. Or you’re a postdoc and your principal investigator just asked you to stay in the lab the entire weekend for something that you deem ridiculous.

Like me, you probably entered your Ph.D. program with plans to be a researcher or an academic, and for whatever reason, this does not feel appealing anymore.

Luckily for you, the skills you’ve been building in your Ph.D. program can be extremely in management consulting. Furthermore, consulting firms, especially the MBBs (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) are very keen on us.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

Why become a consultant?
What do consulting firms look for in Ph.D. and advanced degree candidates?
Which management consulting firms hire Ph.D. candidates?
What challenges do Ph.D. and advanced degree candidates face in the consulting recruiting process?
What do you need to know to ace your consulting job application and interviews?
Resources for applying to consulting jobs.

Let’s get started!

1. It’s an Attractive Job & Great Entry Point into the Private Sector

First, all the usual arguments on why consulting is a great career apply. Consulting is an amazing ramp to launch you toward any other career in the private sector. This is even more true for academics with no business experience: it’s like getting a stamp of approval from the private sector.

It’s also a way for you to figure out what you like over the long run as you will get rapid exposure to many different industries, problems, and actors. You’ll also learn skills that are transferable to literally any other job. The pay is good, of course, and may represent an upgrade in lifestyle compared to your student stipend.

2. It Might Be Refreshing After Academia

In a Ph.D. program, you pick your one or two advisers, and then you spend a (very) long time on a precise question, make sure you go as deep as anyone else on it, and then a little bit deeper.

In consulting, you will change your client, case (the client problem you’re solving), and the team every few weeks to months. Each case delivers an answer to a (sometimes initially vague) question that the client has, and that answer is “good enough” to support the decisions they have to make: going any further would be a waste of resources that could be better spent.

That does not mean getting lazy either though: the bar consulting firms set for this “good enough” is high and that’s what justify the fees they charge their clients (and the hours you’ll be working).

Consulting is also extremely fast-paced: you might have a check-in with your immediate manager every few hours during the day with output to deliver each time. That’s a whole other story from taking a few months to revise an article or presenting your progress in a seminar twice a semester, which can be a refreshing change if you work better under pressure.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

3. Consulting and Academia Have a Lot in Common

Structured thinking. Both consulting and academia require a taste for rigorous analysis and structured thinking. In both worlds, you have to like solving problems and presenting your answers to others to succeed.

Teamwork. Consulting is really the place for teamwork, both with the rest of your case team and with your clients. This might be something you are more or less used to depending on your own field. Personally, collaborations were my favorite part during my Ph.D.

Impact. Consulting and academia are also similar in that successful people tend to care deeply about the impact that they have, which I believe is the case of most people who produce top research.

Continuous learning. Finally, they are both places of continuous learning which is quite precious in itself. This can’t be taken for granted in the rest of the labor force (you often hear people searching for a new job when they are not learning anything anymore in their current one).

4. You Might Be Very Good at It

No matter what your field is, the skills you spent 5 years or more honing are going to be helpful on the job: being analytical, structured, and independent (in consulting, this last one is called “ability to drive”).

When I say no matter what your field is, I mean it. My Ph.D. was in Economics, but my two best friends in my entry class at BCG wrote their respective dissertations in Philosophy and Biomedical Engineering.

Consulting firms got curious about hiring Ph.D.’s, postdocs, and the like because they kept growing faster than the MBA programs in top universities. They needed to look for other pools of talents that would allow them to target many great candidates easily.

They started hiring the occasional Ph.D., J.D., or M.D. to try it out — at BCG we used to be called “exotic candidates” a few years back. As these hires consistently performed well, top consulting firms started to systematically hire this candidate profile (and BCG went for the more sober “advanced degree candidates”).

During my recruiting process, a senior partner at BCG who was himself a Ph.D. told me that Ph.D.’s transitioning to consulting tend to have a steeper learning curve than their MBA counterparts, but that they end up performing better over the long run.

This might be a bit underwhelming to read (or if you’re very early in your application process, scary?), but the answer is simply: pretty much exactly the same as in any other candidate.

I’m no expert on the consulting resume / cover letter side of things, but make sure that your CV has some items that are not from academia so that they can tell from reading it that you are a well-rounded human being with a life outside of academia (whether or not you feel like it’s the case at the moment).

To show that you can make the transition from Ph.D. to consulting, you’ll need to show in your interview that you:

Are a structured thinker.
Know how to identify what the client’s problem is.
Can solve it fast.
Can communicate clearly.
And are a driven individual who influences others and cares about impact.

Your Pool of Reference Is MBAs

One thing to note is that as a Ph.D., postdoc, M.D., or J.D., you are typically entering these firms as a second-level analyst (the name of that position changes for each firm). This means that the rest of your entry class will likely be all MBAs, in addition to a few first-level analysts getting promoted internally.

This also means that you are only about 2 years or so away from your first manager position if you get hired, so the soft skills and the independence matter more for you than they would for an undergrad who would be applying to enter as a first-level analyst.

Of course, your interviewer will expect you to be a little less polished than the average MBA candidate as they know that you didn’t spend the last 2 years preparing only for this one day of interviews (in between some heavy partying and an internship in an NGO).

However, they still want you to be someone they’d feel confident putting in front of a client. On top of your analytical skills, that means communicating clearly, understanding basic business terms, and showing the right set of soft skills such as presence, confidence, and personability.

The MBBs (McKinsey, Bain, & BCG)

Advanced degree candidates make up a larger share of the incoming classes at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG each year. These firms are the leaders of the industry and are generalist firms, meaning that you will be able to see many different industries while working there (but you don’t have to if you already know you want to specialize).

McKinsey, Bain, and BCG even have special immersive recruiting workshops called respectively “ McKinsey Insight ,” “ Bain ADvantage ,” and “ Bridge to BCG .” Links to both programs are included in our resource list below.

I went through Bridge myself, and these 3 days convinced me this was the firm where I wanted to work. Friends of mine who went through Insight shared similar things about it. My own experience at BCG showed me that my background in academia was really valued there

Other Generalist Firms

T hen you have all the other generalist firms. Each one has its own recruiting policy for advanced degree candidates, and you should get familiar with the recruiting process of any that you are interested in. (You can find a list of over 200 management consulting firms here ).

You can also use that recruiting process to get a sense of each firm’s familiarity with advanced degree candidates and whether you think you’d thrive there.

Specialized Arms of the Big Consulting Firms

Most big generalist firms also now have specific entities within them that focus on some particular industry. Examples include BCG Gamma for data science or Deloitte Federal Consulting for public sector and non-profit.

These entities typically have a separate recruiting process from their parent company and can be very interested in the expertise of certain academic profiles.

Boutique Firms

Finally, many specialized consulting firms look to hire Ph.D., M.D., and other postdoc candidates who work in related fields.

This is especially the case for life science consulting firms such as IQVIA or Putnam Associates , where the business problems their clients face cannot be fully separated from the technical side.

Moreover, when everybody in the client’s company has a Ph.D., it helps these consulting firms to build trust and credibility when the analysts they send speak the same language and have the same credentials.

Understanding What the Interview (and the Job) Are About

As a Ph.D. candidate, you’ve learned the jargon and the code of your academic field. You know how people think and talk, what they see as important. Consulting is just another world to discover, with a new set of codes that you have to learn and show that you know.

A consulting firm is hired by their clients to help them solve their business problems and help them make decisions based on what matters to them . The case interview is just a role play of that.

For that reason, it is not a differential equation to solve in your corner or a literature essay to write in full before publishing it: it is really about solving a business problem in real-time while taking the interviewer by the hand as you do so.

In practice, that means that you want to constantly (but succinctly) explain to your interviewer what you are doing before you do it, explain the logic in your steps, get their approval (we say “buy-in”) on any assumption that you have to make by justifying it, etc. Your job is to drive toward the answer while bringing your interviewer along with you each step of the way.

Being Efficient

The rhythm of the interview is a reflection of the intense rhythm on the job. Whether you’re laying out your structure for solving the problem, doing the math to support a recommendation, or answering a brainstorming question, you want to show that you know how to be efficient.

It’s not so much about speed (as long as you move fast enough to finish the case in ~25-30 minutes of course) as it is about your ease and steadiness. Strong candidates know exactly where they are going at all times, get their interviewer on board, and are just unrolling the steps to get there without getting stuck. They understand what matters for the answer and what does not as much and allocate their time accordingly.

In practice, that means getting enough practice so that you can:

Lay out a MECE structure in under 2 minutes.
Do not get stuck on the math and can go through calculations with ease.
Know how to brainstorm a list of potential solutions.

Being at Ease with Business Concepts

I’m not saying you need to know every business concept. You just need to not be afraid of them. Ph.D. candidates and postdocs transitioning into consulting are often convinced that they will fail a case if a business concept they do not know shows up.

There are some extremely basic ones that for sure you should understand, but those you probably already know:

costs (fixed and variable)
market trends
competitors

Sure, you need to understand what these words mean but you cannot go through the first 2 or 3 cases in your preparation without seeing them all.

There are also a few concepts that are slightly more complex and appear slightly less often but are as important. You’ll either need them to understand the question or because they basically are the answer to the case. These are:

breakeven point
product mix (and the related concept of cannibalization)
turnover rate

Check out Case Interview Formulas You Need to Know for a primer on these important concepts.

Even for those though, you should realize that business concepts are just fancy words describing common-sense quantities of interest. If one that you do not know shows up, it’s completely fair game to ask your interviewer to clarify its meaning, and then use it as if you always knew it.

Again, business is not rocket science so if you spent x many years pushing the bounds of human knowledge forward, you can probably pull that one-off. The more you familiarize yourself with the basics through the casing and maybe listening to business podcasts or reading the business section of your favorite newspaper, the easier it will be for you. The point is not to know them all, simply to feel at ease and confident if a new one shows up.

Not Being Obsessed with Details

Solving the case is not the same as trying to think of any point and sub-point a reviewer might ask you to cover in order for your paper to be published. Remember that the answer you’re trying to get at has to be “good enough” for the client to make a decision, according to their criteria.

Of course, consultants like to go a little bit over the top and deliver some extra (such as an analysis of the risks to consider), but they do not try to get exhaustive the way an academic would. This has no point in the business world where we constantly bathe in massive uncertainty.

If there is a moment in the case when you realize that the data you’re given or the way the interviewer wants you to do the math is making an implicit assumption or is ignoring potential nitty-gritty cases, don’t feel like you have to hammer that nail and lose time.

At most, if it’s already going well you can just acknowledge that out loud. And if taking this into account wouldn’t change the answer, it’s not worth wasting time on.

Doing the Math the Consulting Way

Your current level of confidence around the math might depend on whether you are in an analytical field, but know this: consulting math is high school math, and you probably did ok in high school.

It’s all simple arithmetic. The trick is that you have to be at ease doing it under pressure, ideally without mistakes and without getting stuck. You should also be extremely structured in the way you approach it and detail to your interviewer everything you are going to do before you do it.

As you build more ease, you will also start seeing which shortcuts you can take to get to the right answer even faster.

Displaying the Right Soft Skills

Finally, you have to understand that consulting is a client services business and as such, the opinions of their clients matter. Therefore, consulting firms care about how their employees appear and the image they project, and you’ll have to conform to that to get the job. Moreover, the intensity of the job, its feedback culture, and the omnipresent teamwork also matter.

That means being a great communicator, displaying confidence, being present and making eye contact, and being personable is important. It also applies to something as simple as how you dress on interview day: make sure you come with a suit or other business formal wear that is well-tailored to you. Again, your interviewer has to feel confident you could represent their firm in front of a client.

As an academic, it’s not that you are naturally less gifted at any of these, it’s that so far you might have gotten a pass as long as your research was good. Now you are entering a world where those things matter as much as the content of your brain, and the people who have been in that world for longer simply had to work on it already. Now it’s your turn.

1. Do Your Research

Ph.D. candidates looking to transition to consulting need to identify the companies they’re interested in and learn the specifics of each. Reach out to alumni from your schools, friends, or friends of friends who work for these firms. You can also network with consultants who present at on-campus or virtual information sessions (or even cold message consultants on LinkedIn. The best people to reach out to are those who share your academic background).

The more exposure you get to this world, the easier it will be for you to figure out whether you like it and to show that you do if that’s the case.

2. Be Strategic in Your Application Process

Once you know where you want to apply, get familiar with their application process. Go to their recruiting events. Don’t miss deadlines.

When applying, don’t neglect polishing your Resume and Cover Letter so that they fit the mold of consulting. That means that if you are a postdoc, do not send an academic CV that is just the 17-page list of all your academic talks in bullet points.

3. Prepare for the Interview

As a Ph.D. student, this is maybe the scariest for you at this point. You probably have more to learn than an MBA who spent the entire year thinking about it, but the good news is that casing is not rocket science: you do not need a Ph.D. in it to excel.

It’s only about methodically planning your preparation so that you hone all the skills you’ll be tested on. The preparation is also a great way for you to see whether you’d like the job.

If you don’t know where to start, have a look at our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep .

Good luck on your transition from Ph.D. to consulting!

Bridge to BCG: What It Is & How to Get Accepted
McKinsey Insight
Bain ADvantage
What Is Consulting?
Consulting Resumes
Consulting Cover Letters
The Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep

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In this article, we’ve covered:

What makes Consulting attractive after pursuing a Ph.D.?
What are consulting firms looking for in advanced degree candidates?
Which consulting firms should you apply to as a Ph.D. or postdoc?
What challenges you might face as Ph.D. applying to consulting?
How can you ace your recruiting process and case interview coming from academia?

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about transitioning from a Ph.D. to consulting, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Help with Your Consulting Application

T hanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on transitioning from a Ph.D. to consulting. My Consulting Offer has helped almost 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Ellen was able to get her offer from BCG.

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COMMENTS

The new reality for humanities Ph.D.s is a transformation, not a crisis
First, no one today needs to argue that noncampus careers are a viable option for humanities Ph.D. holders. Indeed, now these careers are often described as the only realistic options. The second difference is suggested by the subtitle of the 1983 publication, A Guide for Faculty Advisers. We now recognize that this is an unrealistic expectation.
PhD Program
William Egginton. Director, The Alexander Grass Humanities Institute. Decker Professor in the Humanities. [email protected]. A Zoom information session on the PhD in IHS program was held on November 7, 2023. A recording of that session is available below for viewing: Applications for Fall 2024 admission will be due January 15, 2024.
What Are You Going to Do with Your Humanities PhD? Career Opportunities
Higher education institutions offer many rewarding employment opportunities besides faculty positions that use the multitude of skills you have developed in your humanities PhD program. According to the Office of Career Strategy at Yale University , "These skills include critical and innovative thinking, written and oral communications ...
Humanities PhD deciding between two job offers (academia vs ...
Humanities PhD deciding between two job offers (academia vs corporate/consulting) Humanities. Posting here in case people have had similar experiences and can share how they made their decision: I completed my PhD in a humanities field last fall and have been applying to both academic and non-academic jobs since.
5 Truths About Jobs for Humanities PhDs & 10 Potential Careers
Humanities PhDs are also great candidates for consulting jobs. There are huge consulting firms around the globe that hire PhDs and train them to work with companies on strategic direction, management, business processes, and so on. Doing consulting with your humanities PhD might mean working for one of these companies. You can find them here ...
29 Jobs For Humanities PhDs (Critical Thinkers' Careers)
Opportunities for consulting on archival projects and teaching at the university level are also possible for those with a PhD in the humanities. Museum Curator. Average Salary: $48,000 - $70,000 per year. Museum Curators are responsible for the acquisition, care, and exhibition of collections within museums.
PDF Reimagining the Humanities PhD: A Guide for PhD Programs and Faculty
The remainder of this document features creative curricular modifications and enhancements to humanities PhD programs across North America.1 We lack a concise inventory of the swiftly-growing number of innovations in doctoral training that have emerged across a complex and too-often siloed higher education landscape.
Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving in and beyond the
Praise "Covering every conceivable aspect of rethinking doctoral education in the humanities, Katina L. Rogers offers sound and sage advice on topics ranging from inclusion and diversity in graduate programs to the need for better mentoring and the relegitimization of the humanities in the public sphere. Her exceptionally timely, important, knowledgeable, and necessary book fills a real need ...
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Career Paths for Humanities PhDs IF YOU LIKE RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND PROBLEM SOLVING . . . Postsecondary Faculty (Research Intensive) Consulting Consultant, PwC Principal, Theresa Reid, PhD + Associates Consulting Consultant, The Bridgespan Group Consultant, InterVISTAS Consulting Consultant, Boston Consulting Group
Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities
Program Description The humanities graduate program brings together scholars from history, philosophy, literature, creative writing, art history, film studies, and the performing arts who share a commitment to transnational and interdisciplinary approaches to humanistic study and practice. Career Opportunities Graduates of the program seek positions such as: teacher/educator, researcher ...
Transitioning from academia to commercial consulting
Emily Levitt,, PhD '18 Anthropology, led a Workshop for Humanities Scholars focusing on the transition from academia to commercial consulting.Invited through support via Careers Beyond Academia faculty funding, Levitt shared the pitfalls and opportunities that she discovered as she made the journey into consulting for Doblin, a Deloitte business on October 11 at the A.D. White House.
Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Efforts at UVA
On the other side, diverse career outcomes of PhDs underscores the value of humanities training to employers across sectors that may facilitate higher financial investment for humanities training. At UVA, through the PhD Plus program and graduate programs in Scholars' Lab, we strive to make those connections and translations visible and ...
10 Career Opportunities For Humanities PhDs
As a humanities PhD, you will already have experience in many of these areas and can provide valuable skills and insights to many of these organisations immediately. 8. Consulting. You may have thought that consulting roles were reserved for MBAs. This is no longer the case. As a PhD, you are proficient in identifying problems and thinking of ...
Occupations of Humanities Ph.D.'s
In 2019, 61% of recently employed humanities Ph.D.'s (employed full- or part-time at any point in the previous five years) taught at the postsecondary level as their principal job, which was more than double the share for doctoral degree recipients generally (27%; Indicator III-22a).Only health and medical sciences Ph.D.'s were concentrated to the same degree in one occupation, with 59% of ...
New Career Options For Recent PhDs In The Humanities And ...
getty. Recent PhD recipients in the humanities and social sciences will be able to pursue new posts at a variety of nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies across the United States. That ...
Career Exploration for Humanities and Social Science Students
As a graduate student, you have tremendous strengths and transferable skills to offer employers. With advanced training in the humanities and social sciences, you will ﬁnd a wealth of rewarding job options in many ﬁelds, including qualitative research, writing and communications, public service, consulting, advising, teaching, publishing, and more.
Humanities and Social Sciences PhD Pathways
Exploring Pathways: Finding Your Match (es) As graduate students and postdocs in the Humanities or Social Sciences, you have a wealth of resources to help you explore careers that could be a great fit for you. At Yale, you are developing subject matter expertise as well as a broad set of skills in high demand in many job functions and industries.
Reanalyzing Our World: Humanities PhDs at SMU
The Humanities at SMU. Individuals who pursue a PhD in the humanities at SMU are interested in understanding the world today and making connections to positively impact current climates and the future. PhD candidates in the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences benefit from superior training, top notch mentoring, and professional development.
How to transition from PhD to consulting?
Going from PhD to consulting can feel intimidating. It's hard to know which consulting firms recruit PhDs, and at which level. And it can also sometimes feel unclear if you'll be using your PhD skills at all or completely starting from scratch. So let's walk through how you should manage your transition from PhD to consulting step by step.
PhD student (Humanities/Social Sciences) looking for consulting career
I'm a PhD candidate at NYU in the Humanities/Social Sciences field. I'm in the final stages of it and will graduate in the summer of 2026. I've been exploring career options and am very interested in a career in management consulting. I'm looking for advice and resources to help me make this transition.
Humanities and Social Sciences Ph.D. Pathways
The Office of Career Strategy works with students and alums of Yale College and Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as well as Yale postdoctoral scholars from all disciplines. The Office of Career Strategy advisors help students, alums, and postdocs to clarify career aspirations, identify opportunities, and offer support at every stage of ...
The PhD to Consulting Transition: Should You Take the Leap?
3. Prepare for the Interview. As a Ph.D. student, this is maybe the scariest for you at this point. You probably have more to learn than an MBA who spent the entire year thinking about it, but the good news is that casing is not rocket science: you do not need a Ph.D. in it to excel.

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29 Jobs For Humanities PhDs (Critical Thinkers’ Careers)

Postsecondary Education Administrator

Museum Curator

Publishing Editor

Higher Education Lecturer

Public Relations Specialist

Market Research Analyst

Nonprofit Program Director

Cultural Resource Manager

Policy Analyst

Social Researcher

Library Science Professor

Human Resources Manager

Legal Consultant

Marketing Manager

Advertising Executive

Writer/Author

Diplomat/Foreign Service Officer

Philosophy Professor

College Professor

Academic Researcher

Public Relations Manager

Non-Profit Organization Director

Ethnographer

Library Director

Art Restoration Specialist

Communications Director

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Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving in and beyond the Classroom

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Academic Workforce: Expectations and Realities

Inclusive Systems, Vibrant Scholarship

Expanding Definitions of Scholarly Success

What Faculty and Advisors Can Do

Students: How to Put Your PhD to Work

Building a University Worth Fighting For

Ten Ways to Begin

Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities

Career Opportunities

Marketable Skills

Application Requirements

Contact Information

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Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Efforts at UVA

What is a humanities PhD good for? Where does it lead? What can it do?

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