I believe that Humanities degrees help empower people who want to make a difference in this world.

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

The professors and teaching assistants in the Humanities are excellent educators. The class sizes were relatively small which created a more personal learning environment. I am very pleased with my experience at McMaster University!

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

The Humanities programs I completed at McMaster University provided me with many valuable learning experiences which have shaped my personal and professional development.

The Humanities Faculty at McMaster teaches you how to think critically about the world we live in; these critical thinking skills have allowed me to effectively identify and address social issues within my local community.

Humanities programs help build many of the “soft skills” that employers are looking for like leadership, creativity, and problem solving.

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

McMaster provided me with many valuable and impactful experiences. I loved going to lectures! The professors in the Humanities Faculty are exceptional speakers and teachers! Moreover, they are very congenial and approachable, which made my educational experience at McMaster enjoyable and engaging.

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

I think a Humanities degree is very versatile and valuable. Humanities programs create critical thinkers and problem solvers. In a world where we have many social issues, we need creative people who can think “outside-the-box.” We need individuals who can analyze situations and come up with ethical solutions.

Employers value employees who can communicate and collaborate with others effectively. I believe that Humanities degrees help empower people who want to make a difference in this world. I am very pleased that I completed my undergraduate education in the English and History programs, and a MA in the Department of History at McMaster University.

If you're looking for a program that gives you flexibility to think with both literature and culture while growing your close reading skills, this might be the one for you!

As a transfer student in the ECS program, I felt nervous that I wouldn’t be able to make connections, starting at Mac in my second year. Instead, I now cite connections and support as two of the strongsuits of this program, where my peers and professors both helped me grow as a thinker and writer. If you’re looking for a program that gives you flexibility to think with both literature and culture while growing your close reading skills, this might be the one for you!

I feel immensely grateful to have achieved my BA and MA in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster. The network of friends, peers, and instructors established there have been formative to both my education in cultural critique and literary analysis as well as my growth as a thinker and leader. The critical skills honed in English and Cultural Studies classrooms, I can now confidently say, are ones I reach for most often.

This department treats students as individuals and offers a learning environment that is both nurturing and challenging.

I completed both an MA and a Ph.D. at McMaster’s department of English and Cultural Studies. This department treats students as individuals and offers a learning environment that is both nurturing and challenging. I learned a lot not only about myself as a person but also how to navigate the world in a critical way.

I was well-positioned to begin my career upon graduating from my program.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

My program at McMaster equipped me with an academic toolkit of critical thinking, analysis and strong communication skills, which I furthered through extracurricular opportunities within the faculty and university writ-large. My professors and academic advisors were knowledgeable, engaging and invested in their students’ success. I benefited from their support and guidance throughout my academic journey. I was well-positioned to begin my career upon graduating from my program.

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

In today’s world, one’s career trajectory is often non-linear, and in many cases, untraditional. As a result of a strong academic foundation, Humanities student can pursue a plethora of career opportunities. The options are endless, so I would encourage current students and recent grads to explore their curiosity and embrace uncertainty. In order to determine where to begin and which paths are most suitable, it is important for students to be confident in their skill sets and remain open to new experiences, to get involved in communities and to engage with peers, professors, and industry professionals, in order to build a professional network. During this “exploration” and “experiential” phase of a student’s search, they will become more attune with their interests, will learn about the types of environments which spark their curiosity and provide them with opportunities for professional and personal growth. Students will learn about the types of leaders they want to work for and work with. Albeit challenging and intimidating, the exploration phase is critical. So students should take time to explore and learn from others!

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

In my opinion, a Humanities degree: Equips students with technical and transferrable skills which are incredibly sought after by employers; Prepares students to be effective communicators, analytical problem solvers and agile team members; and Fosters self-aware, empathetic global citizens. Humanities students can conduct excellent research, write persuasively, and quickly assimilate and synthesize new information. From an employers point of view, these skills are invaluable in today’s knowledge economy.

The experience of a Humanities degree is the preparation for life’s skills and opportunities.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

The Humanities program at McMaster was so fulfilling and enriching. Aside from the amazing friends and colleagues that I met, the faculty and staff were excellent and approachable. Humanities students are one of the most easy-going and open-minded groups of students on campus, which is why, I feel, that Humanities students are often the most successful after graduation, because they can apply what they learned most readily to any post-graduation experience.

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

A Humanities degree isn’t one of those where you enter and get processed and then are spit out as a widget ready to go. It is a constant exercise of learning and application. The experience of a Humanities degree is the preparation for life’s skills and opportunities. By the time you graduate, you should be able to read people; communicate in a variety of ways that suits the audience, market and purpose; and, be able to critically analyze any situation. In that way, this is one of the most adaptable and transferrable academic degrees available. This can be leveraged to market yourself in any undertaking.

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

Someone who has earned a Humanities degree has also examined the human condition in a variety of ways. History is the examination of lessons from the past. Philosophy is the examination of reason and inquiry. Literature is the examination of communication and inspiration with words. This is just the beginning. Humanities graduates can understand what is not being said, how to analyze critically any situation and communicate a rational explanation to any audience. You can be the smartest person in the world but without a means to communicate that wisdom, it is all for naught.

There is something special about the program and I really think it has to do with some of the professors there who put their hearts into teaching and mentoring students.

I really loved my time at McMaster and I will always cherish the people I learned from there. It really was an excellent program and I truly felt cared for and supported. I’ve worked with people and taught students who have gone to Ivy League schools and I quickly noticed that they were not as well prepared for academia as I was. There was always a link to the “real” world in the courses I took and I think that grounded my work and made social/cultural awareness and activism a serious part of my vision. There is something special about the program and I really think it has to do with some of the professors there who put their hearts into teaching and mentoring students.

To think critically about the world is a skill far more valued in the workplace than you can imagine.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

My program at McMaster taught me essential critical thinking and literacy skills. I was introduced to controversial topics in a sensitive way that allowed me to build my understanding rather than feel inadequate. I was taught about Indigenous and post-colonial issues which I am now able to share with students. Further, the professors promoted a lifelong love of learning and I find myself coming back to my university learning all the time.

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

Humanities is just the beginning! To think critically about the world is a skill far more valued in the workplace than you can imagine. Follow your passion and keep learning.

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

The Humanities degree is valuable because it offers students a connection to the world. Students learn critical thinking skills and become more aware of world issues. With this, students become better global citizens.

The most impactful experiences were the interactions with the professors from whom I had the privilege to learn and to attend McMaster as a student.

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

The most impactful experiences were the interactions with the professors from whom I had the privilege to learn and to attend McMaster as a student. I was encouraged to ask questions and not be afraid to participate in discussions and express my thoughts.

To attend McMaster, was an honour and I looked forward every day to coming on campus to attend class. McMaster has enriched my life through learning, I never thought I would ever appreciate.

Because of the research skills I acquired from this very unique MA, I was immediately hired by one of the top Public Health institutes in Bangladesh. This only proves how versatile and beneficial ...

McMaster’s English MA program was an absolute treat. Since I came in as an international student, my skill set and knowledge base was somewhat different from my domestic peers. The English & Cultural Studies department helped me to hone the skills that I already had (in my case, a more traditional “literary” and immersed in South Asia type of training) and acquire new ones, especially since we are a Cultural Studies department too. Because of the research skills I acquired from this very unique MA, I was immediately hired by one of the top Public Health institutes in Bangladesh. This only proves how versatile and beneficial the degree was for my career.

My program at McMaster taught me a breadth of skills beyond what you see on the surface from a history degree.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

My program at McMaster taught me a breadth of skills beyond what you see on the surface from a history degree. Yes, there was critical thinking, reading, writing, and learning historical events. But behind those activities I learned advanced writing skills, in particular how to synthesize complex ideas and events into digestible arguments. Probably most importantly however was learning critical analysis skills like considering a source or argument from every angle and to take into consideration who is writing the stories we learn and internalize both in history and elsewhere in society.

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

My advice would be to keep your options, and mindset, open. The skills you learn with your degree are applicable to so many professions. The area of work I ended up in wasn’t something I knew existed when I was doing my degree however the skills I learned at McMaster and my studies beyond perfectly prepared me for it.

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

A degree in humanities gives you a vast amount of transferable skills that are useful in many areas of life and in countless careers. The value in learning how to think critically, analyze and synthesize information, and effectively communicate are crucial to success in nearly every situation.

My time at McMaster has been wonderful and has provided me with so many new experiences and connections.

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

My time at McMaster has been wonderful and has provided me with so many new experiences and connections.