97 percent of recent Arts and Letters graduates land full-time jobs, enroll in graduate school, enter service programs, join the military, or launch independent projects within six months of graduation.
By asking big questions, studying classic texts, and exploring languages and cultures, you’ll develop the skills that are in-demand in the professional and academic worlds. You’ll learn to read deeply. Think about issues critically. Discuss topics thoughtfully. Write arguments persuasively. Contribute to projects creatively.
The world is constantly evolving. With a foundational education in the liberal arts, you're not only prepared to keep up with changing times—you're prepared to thrive in them.
Why Arts and Letters?
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93% of employers care more about critical-thinking, communication, and complex problem-solving abilities than undergraduate major.*
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96% want employees with ethical judgment, integrity, and intercultural skills.*
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74% of employers say a modern liberal arts education is the best way to prepare for success in the global economy.*
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55% of public and private sector leaders have degrees in the social sciences or humanities.+
"Because of their broad skill set, we've seen Arts and Letters students from Notre Dame be successful regardless of the major that they came from.”
– Nick LoManto, finance leadership development program manager, Vanguard
Where Arts and Letters majors are six months after graduation:
Arts and Letters In Demand
Notre Dame liberal arts students graduate knowing how to conduct research. They’ve developed strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. And they’re prepared to apply their learning in real-world settings. That’s why they find such immediate success—they’re ready to contribute to the world.
Emmie Mediate ’15
Major: Africana Studies, Arts and Letters Pre-Health
After ND: Rhodes Scholar, University of Oxford
"The most important thing Notre Dame instilled in me is a sense of concern for others. My future goals come from a concern for the common good, and a sense that there is something bigger out there to fight for — and I want to be a part of that."
Emmie Mediate ’15
Major: Africana Studies, Arts and Letters Pre-Health
After ND: Rhodes Scholar, University of Oxford
"The most important thing Notre Dame instilled in me is a sense of concern for others. My future goals come from a concern for the common good, and a sense that there is something bigger out there to fight for — and I want to be a part of that."
Anna VanEgmond ’14
Major: Sociology
After ND: IT advisory cybersecurity privacy experienced associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers
“Walking into professional environments, you see that being in the College of Arts and Letters, you’ve been given the foundation to succeed — to really make an impact on these companies and take what you’ve been given at Notre Dame and pay it forward.”
Sean Cotter ’15
Major: Art History
After ND: Master's degree program, University of London Courtauld Institute of Art
“I’ve learned how to creatively approach so many different issues through sociology, through political science, through archaeology. Every class, I learned something new about how to approach a different problem. And it’s made me such an aware person.”
Ray'Von Jones ’16
Majors: Spanish and Sociology
After ND: Education master's degree, Stanford University
“I was really dedicated to doing something that mattered, and that really led to my decision to major in the College of Arts and Letters. Through a liberal arts education, you develop skills that you can apply to any field.”
Kellie Travis ’14
Majors: Russian and Political Science
After ND: Vanderbilt University Law School
“My major helped me stand out in applications to law schools. My education was tremendously beneficial in improving my understanding of the world around me."
Adam Llorens ’14
Major: Film, Television, and Theatre
After ND: Broadcast associate, CBS Sports
“You have so much opportunity at Notre Dame. There are so many people here wanting to support you and help you and guide you and mentor you along the way. They want to see you be successful. You can do anything you want — the sky truly is the limit.”
First Destinations of Recent Graduates
In the Workforce
- Ad solutions research analyst Nielsen Company
- Associate consultant Ernst & Young
- Assistant marketing manager Condé Nast
- Brand specialist Amazon
- Business analyst Target
- Communications consultant Fidelity Benefits Consulting
- Content developer NerdWallet
- Digital marketing analyst Acquity Group
- Editorial assistant HarperCollins Publishers
- Events coordinator Chicago History Museum
- Global risk associate Bank of America
- Leadership analyst Central Intelligence Agency
- Legislative correspondent U.S. Senate
- Recruiting coordinator Google
- Research associate National Institutes of Health
- Storyboard artist Visual Storyline
- Trader Black River Asset Management
- Word wizard Epic Systems
In Graduate School
- Cognitive neuroscience University of Arizona
- Economics Columbia University
- History University of Pennsylvania
- Human evolutionary studies Cambridge University
- Law University of Chicago
- Literature University of Oxford
- Math University of California, Berkeley
- Medicine Johns Hopkins University
- Music New York University
- Political science Princeton University
- Public health Dartmouth University
- Theology Yale University
In Service Programs
- Peace Corps
- AmeriCorps
- Teach for America
- Alliance for Catholic Education
- City Year
- Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Arts and Letters in the World
Wendy Wang ’06
Vice president, BlackRock, Hong Kong
Political Science major
The value of a liberal arts education is not so much about the here and now, because a lot of jobs that currently exist will change in the next five or 10 years. A liberal arts education prepares you for future challenges.
Bill Kennedy ’90
Portfolio manager, Fidelity Investments, London
Economics major
My career grew right out of my Arts and Letters degree. I spend time talking, researching, and going to untraditional sources--because you need an edge. You have to have an inquisitive nature.
Chris Down ’93
Senior vice president and general manager, Hot Wheels, Mattel Inc.
Design major
Choosing a more balanced liberal arts education — instead of just a design program — really set me up to succeed at my first job. It has also been a competitive advantage as I move through my career.
The value of an Arts and Letters education
Hear from Arts and Letters alumni on how studying the liberal arts provided a strong foundation for success.
