What Sets Humanities and Arts Graduates Apart
In the School of Humanities and Arts, our innovative curriculum and rich resources support meaningful research, creative expression and immersive global experiences. Whether you’re learning a new language, exploring different cultures, interpreting and comparing evidence, or critiquing and debating the crucial issues facing us today, you’ll develop durable skills to think critically, communicate effectively and lead thoughtfully.
Humanities and Arts students develop a distinctive set of competencies that translate directly to professional success.
They ask—and answer—important questions
Our students learn to identify complex problems, frame meaningful questions and develop thoughtful, evidence-based solutions.
They think creatively and critically
Beyond analysis, they generate new ideas, approaches and perspectives—skills essential for leadership and innovation.
They communicate across all mediums
Our graduates are skilled in:
- Written communication
- Oral presentation
- Visual and digital storytelling
They know how to tailor messages for different audiences—an essential workplace skill.
They understand people and context
Humanities and Arts students are trained to interpret human behavior within social, cultural and historical frameworks—an advantage in any field that involves people, systems or organizations.
They navigate complexity and ambiguity
They are comfortable working in environments where answers are not clear-cut—an increasingly valuable capability in today’s world.
Career Outcomes by the Numbers
Be sure to visit the Rice University Center for Career Development website for a look at career outcomes by the numbers.
“The rapidly changing nature of work, especially with increasing use of artificial intelligence, demands adaptability, creativity and the ability to think critically,” according to Phillip Brian Harper, a program officer at the Mellon Foundation. “These are precisely the qualities and skills the humanities instill in students, which will serve them well not just in their first job out of college, but for the rest of their professional and personal lives.”
A degree in the Humanities and Arts from Rice prepares you not just for your first job, but for a lifetime of meaningful, adaptable and impactful work. Hear alumni describe the impact that studying the humanities and arts at Rice has had on their careers.
Areas of continued study for School of Humanities and Arts graduates:
Medicine
Law
Graduate School
- Fine Arts
- Creative Writing
- Film Directing and Production
- History
- International Studies
- Philosophy
- Playwriting
- Religion
- Spanish Literature
Business
Engineering
Global & Multilingual Advantage
In an interconnected world, global fluency is a critical asset.
Rice Humanities and Arts students develop:
- Advanced language proficiency
- Intercultural competence
- The ability to communicate across cultures and contexts
These skills position our graduates to work effectively in international settings and diverse organizations.
Skills and characteristics valued most by employers:
- Multilingualism
- The capacity to think creatively and innovatively
- The ability to identify, ask and answer “big questions”
- The capacity to communicate effectively across all mediums—written, oral and visual
- Sensitivity to sociocultural contexts
These are precisely the qualities and skills you'll develop and hone in the School of Humanities and Arts at Rice.