CONNECT YOUR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Excerpts: The first, most practical defense is that the liberal arts (and sciences) are the best possible preparation for success in the learned professions–law, medicine, teaching–as well as in the less traditionally learned but increasingly arcane professions of business, finance, and high-tech innovation. It’s insurance against obsolescence; in any rapidly changing field (and every field…

U.S. News says that liberal arts majors often drop through the cracks in employer job searches, not because companies don’t value you but because their search engines don’t always see you. Find ways to make yourself more visible and desirable here: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/10/28/4-tips-for-making-the-most-of-liberal-arts-degrees

Six experts on the global economy debate this question. See what they have to say here: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/01/29/is-learning-a-language-other-than-english-worthwhile

Thomas Friedman makes an excellent case for why the study of the liberal arts, language and culture should play a role in American education. Americans can no longer sit on their laurels; the global economy requires that students stay abreast of world events and trends and to anticipate opportunity. read here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/opinion/sunday/friedman-made-in-the-world.html?hp

A young graduate tells the story of finding his way in China. If you find yourself in a similar predicament of un- or underemployment, you might consider his invitation: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/opinion/china-as-a-destination-for-job-seekers.html

Excerpt: One of the best choices you can make when planning your college years is the decision to learn a foreign language, whatever your major. Learning another language will open the door to another culture and enhance your career opportunities in the increasingly global economy. Having strong skills in another language may give you an…

Journalists like to beat up on the humanities. We don’t need to look far to find fresh stories on why universities need to get back to job training and to limit students majoring in the liberal arts. Art History, like literature or philosophy, is a favorite target for its lack of utility. Read here about…

The authors of “Fear of Being Useful,” a recent article in Inside Higher Ed, expose the fallacies in what passes for conventional wisdom on  humanities degrees–that they’re a waste of time, a ticket to unemployment, and so on. Their survey of the types of communicative and thinking skills valued by the modern marketplace holds out…

From the NLSC website: The National Language Service Corps, NLSC, is a group of individuals like you, who can speak, listen and understand English and other languages. These individuals (known as “NLSC Members”) make themselves available to help others in times of emergency or crisis wherever that may be. They have the opportunity to help…

The UNDP International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) offers internships to graduate students in Brazil in the following areas: Communications, Outreach and Advocacy. Details here: http://pressroom.ipc-undp.org/get-involved/internship-programme/