What I have learned is that there are no limits as to how a person can use their Humanities degree.

What inspired you to select your program or area of study in Humanities at McMaster?

I was always interested in the study of history and felt that McMaster offered the best program.

How do you feel that your program shaped your personal and professional development?

I have grown as an individual and as a professional because of the knowledge and skills I attained by completing the Honours B.A. in History program at McMaster University

What experience(s) were most impactful during your time at McMaster?

Even after many years after completing my program, I can recall many of the discussions and I feel fulfilled in that I had gained the extent of knowledge that I had. These experiences have allowed me to grow as an individual and as a professional and have opened many doors since graduation.

How has the versatility of a Humanities degree enabled you to succeed?

I have been able to apply for careers in a wide range of fields, not just here at home but internationally. I was able to gain employment in Ghana, West Africa, and also find work in Canada, and what I have learned is that there are no limits as to how a person can use their Humanities degree because it does cover a wide range of disciplines and the knowledge gained by completing a Humanities degree opens many, many doors, and offers opportunities that many thought were impossible to even consider going after.

Through my Multimedia major, I learned technical skills that have made me invaluable in the workplace.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

I chose to double major in Communication Studies and Multimedia, and doing both taught me extremely valuable skills that I practice on a daily basis. Through my Multimedia major, I learned technical skills that have made me invaluable in the workplace. Getting exposed to and learning the ins and outs of softwares, such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro, have been so beneficial in the PR and Marketing world. On the Communications side, the connections I created with my professors and the critical analysis taught in the unique course curricula have greatly advanced my years post-McMaster.

What advice would you give to a current student who is thinking about career options?

Get involved, try new things, and network. University is a time to explore and discover what you like and what you don’t like. A Humanities degree allows you so many options to academically learn about different worlds and industries, but there are so many volunteer opportunities or clubs on campus that will help you explore every career option imaginable.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

From Art to Social Justice to Gender Studies, a Humanities degree allows students a unique interdisciplinary experience. They are taught holistic perspectives, which in turn, advances critical-thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and oral and written communication skills. Those are highly marketable skills that any employer will value.

It was incredible that in my program we had professors who were at the top of their respective fields. They were all so passionate about what they taught and that passion ...

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

I would say for me it was the quality of the professors. It was incredible that in my program we had professors who were at the top of their respective fields. They were all so passionate about what they taught and that passion became contagious. I loved that they sort of untaught within some lessons, they made you question sources. They made you question what you have taken as sort of as gospel and unpack that, like the historiography of it. And that, for me, was fascinating because it was like being a detective.

What advice would you give a current student who is looking into their career options?

Keep doing the thing that you’re doing for love because you never know what set of eyeballs it will reach. You’ll start meeting people through these experiences and opportunities who share your interests and can aid you along the way.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

The best thing is just being able to walk away and having a general understanding or a general timeline of history (not just to win Trivial Pursuit games!) but you know it does factor into so much understanding. Knowing that the Italian Renaissance happened after the Roman Empire or, to take it out of the West, that when the Europe was in a so-called Dark Age, China was having it’s own renaissance of sorts with the Tang dynasty. Just having that general understanding of things may sound like small potatoes, but if the Humanities were lost, there would be a huge knowledge gap.