why do people think B arts = unemployment?? (1 Viewer)

[Craven]

LOL, this thread is hilarious. I also loathe when people go "oh I didn't know you were an artist!" when I say I'm doing Arts. I got an OP2 (which is like UAI 98 right?) so I could have done any degree but I chose Arts because thats what interested me. Literature and History and Politics... now I've joined that with Education mainly because that was probably what I was always going to do and I figured that rather than do a GradDip I would get more practical experience through the Bachelor program.

Anyways... cute.asa.button has already said above pretty much everything I wanted to add to the thread: the Bachelor of Arts is actually the most widely conferred degree in the world. Perhaps it would interest you to know that in the United States for example students are pretty much required to undertake a Liberal Arts program before they can specialise in law or medicine (this is generally why in movies they refer to going to college then law school/med school).

You're pretty much guaranteed an intership as a medical graduate because of the number of drop outs there are coupled with the growing demand for health services... it isn't that difficult to comprehend. And it's not quite fair to be comparing BArts to degrees of national priority like medicine, nursing or education... what about comparing it to Bachelors in Creative Arts or Fine Arts etc lol.

 

[D.]

This entire thread is hilarious! For starters, where exactly are the statistics that show all these unemployed Arts grads (unless someone posted them around the page when two people got into an argument over what constitutes a "doctor" or a "lawyer" and I completely tuned out)? Or, is this just the urban myth run-wild?
Secondly, considering the intake for Arts is so high, and that, in my experience, many people who start in other degrees transfer into Arts just so they can graduate with something, I suspect the number of BAs out there is considerably greater than other degrees, as may be the number of graduates with lower marks. And, given the number of majors - and diversity of - in Arts, it isn't exactly right to be comparing, for example, a gender studies grad with a policy grad since they may have never even done the same units, effectively granting them both completely different degrees.
As for Arts on its own, look at the example of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The statistics (go look up "Making Australian Foreign Policy" by Gyngell and Wesley) show the majority of their intake come from humanities graduates.
What other people, with sense, on this thread have been saying to the effect of is true: Arts is a degree like any other, and it is what you make it.
Says the Arts grad though.

 

[cazgirl123]

This thread has been really helpful, and has only reinforced my determination to study Arts - despite everyone I know telling me that it will be a waste of time.

I'm actually doing BArts/BArt Theory at UNSW - anyone else doing the same? I think I may actually be the only person in Australia...

Careers in publishing and international relations have been mentioned a couple of times in here - is anyone able to provide a little more information? I'd be really grateful.

Thanks!

Casey

 

[emytaylor164]

I am doing arts as a double degree B of Teaching/ B of Arts (secondary-Technology)

 

[bwendan]

where exactly are the statistics that show all these unemployed Arts grads

http://community.boredofstudies.org/580/arts-humanities/200037/employment-outcomes-arts-grads.html

 

[SylviaB]

shortage of certain profession/qualification --> Demand for jobs ---> High Pay ---> High interest in Uni courses ---> Large competition for entry into course --- > Large UAI =/= BA