How a Bachelor of Arts will prepare you for whatever comes next

Creative. Versatile. Strategic. These qualities are in hot demand by employers worldwide.

Fortunately, you can cultivate these transferable traits with one of Deakin’s most popular degrees – the Bachelor of Arts – equipping you to tackle any opportunity that comes your way.

In this article, we hear from Arts alumni Andriana Mantzouranis and Claire Faulmann about how their degrees led to successful, unexpected careers. And we share extra advice from Deakin’s Professor of Criminology, Chad Whelan.

A surprising turn of events

When Andriana Mantzouranis enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Commerce double degree at Deakin, she discovered a new world of possibilities.

‘For example, I had never considered working in the automotive industry,’ she explains. ‘But suddenly, I was undertaking a yearlong internship at Holden – which turned out to be a degree highlight!’

Another unexpected experience for Andriana? Studying in Washington DC for a semester. An adventure Andriana credits with broadening her perspective.

‘I became a more engaged, curious global citizen. And I learned to listen – a must-have skill for any fast-paced career.’

Since graduating in 2010, Andriana has continued to embrace the unknown, moving from one intriguing role to another. She’s managed political campaigns, worked at an AI start-up, and is now involved in billion-dollar projects as a Submissions Manager at Acciona.

‘When I started university, I didn't know most of the jobs I’ve held even existed,’ she explains. ‘But by being flexible and open to the unexpected, I’ve had the chance to try my hand in several different industries.’

Ready for anything

Andriana’s Arts degree might have led her to some unexpected places. But thanks to the skills she developed during her studies, she’s not just surviving – but thriving.

‘I have always accidentally found myself in STEM industries,’ she explains. ‘But my critical thinking skills and problem-solving ability are key to my success.’

Another skill that Andriana credits with her success is her knack for communicating clearly – which is a skill she believes all Deakin Arts graduates possess. ‘Communication has been an essential tool in my career advancement,’ she says.

‘I can tell the story of a product and coordinate the big picture, which isn’t something that necessarily comes easily to more technically minded people.’

Learning for leadership

For Claire Faulmann, a double degree in Arts and International Relations provided the soft skillset she needed to lead others with humanity.

‘I have a keen interest in social justice. And my degree not only taught me how to be a good human, it taught me to be a visionary thinker,’ Claire explains.

‘Through an international study tour in New Delhi – a truly eye-opening experience – I learned how to understand and interact with people from different cultures with empathy. It’s a transferable skill that cannot be underestimated.’

At graduation, Claire took those invaluable skills and employed them in her new role as CEO of the not-for-profit organisation, One Care. She believes she was ready for this role thanks to the education she received at Deakin.

‘Through my Arts degree, I learned there are always multiple ways to consider things. It was a critical learning that informed how I ran One Care.’

Adaptable and transferable: the real power of an Arts degree

It’s a common misconception that an Arts degree doesn’t offer learning specific enough to build a meaningful career.

But the truth is that Arts degrees have always been incredibly popular – and for good reason.

‘Many of today’s fastest-growing careers didn’t exist five years ago,’ explains Chad Whelan, Professor of Criminology at Deakin’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

‘So the best way to maximise your career outcomes is to develop a broad-based knowledge and skillset – which is exactly what you’ll do through an Arts degree.'

‘With over 30 study areas to pursue, you’ll learn technical knowledge and highly sought-after transferable skills, empowering you to capitalise on new opportunities as they become available.’

Not convinced? Consider this: two-thirds of Australia’s workforce have humanities and social sciences degrees.^* And over 67% of ASX200 CEOs have a social science degree.^{^}

As they say, two out of three isn’t bad!

A final piece of advice

If you’re still unsure if an Arts degree is for you, Andriana has one last comforting word.

‘In Year 12, I didn’t know which degree to choose. I know now that I probably needed reassurance that everything would be okay.

‘So, here’s my reassurance to the next generation of students: My arts degree opened doors to experiences and diverse skills that’ve been pivotal in my career. And it can do the same for you.’

Claire agrees. ‘The jobs market is competitive and always moving. You need to get ahead – and an Arts degree will help you do that.’

Ready to kickstart your career with a stack of transferable skills? Enrol in a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin.