Introduction Christendom alumni, armed with their degrees in liberal arts, are prepared for the world postgraduation. A number go to graduate school, while most end up entering the workforce. Some join seminaries or religious orders, while others get married. No matter what they do, Christendom alumni are well-educated, and have the ability to take on anything that comes their way. In summary, about 15% of Christendom alumni have gone on to graduate school and attained a graduate degree. Some might mistakenly think that you would need to go to graduate school in order to get a job, if all you have is a liberal arts degree from Christendom. That is not true, since 85% of our graduates fi nd and hold challenging, well-paying jobs without graduate degrees. Interestingly enough, in the U.S. today, only about 27% of college graduates end up working in the fi eld in which they studied, and that is not surprising. It is very hard for someone about to graduate high school, or entering college, to know - for certain - what they want to do when they graduate. And so it is diffi cult to pick a college based on the major that you think you are going to “use” in your career. There are too many variables. People change. The world changes. Job descriptions change. Industries change. Technology evolves. Things never stay the same. A recent survey of employers by Hart Research Associates, one of the leading research fi rms in the nation, confi rms the value of education in the liberal arts. Check out the survey results in the box on the right.
Almost all Christendom alumni are working in fi elds totally unrelated to their majors. And this is a good thing. Students normally do not choose Christendom because of this or that major, but rather, because they know that they will be given the tools to succeed in any fi eld they choose: written and verbal communication skills, ability to solve complex problems, to work well with others, and to adapt in a changing work environment. If our alumni who majored in English had to work in the “English fi eld,” or our philosophy majors had to fi nd employment in the “Philosophy fi eld” (whatever that is?), we’d be in trouble. But that is not the case. Our philosophy majors are now airplane pilots or computer engineers. Our Theology grads are running businesses or schools. And our philosophy majors, well, they do everything! You get the picture. This booklet is meant to give you an understanding of the very many possibilities there are for graduates of Christendom College - jobs, graduate schools, vocations. A Christendom liberal arts degree gives you a fl exibility and adaptability that employers like, as well as the communication skills, organizational habits, and work ethic needed for grad students, employees, husbands, wives, postulants, brothers, sisters, and priests. At Christendom College, we prepare our students for a life spent in pursuit of truth and wisdom, with a particular focus on enabling them to become leaders in society, thereby, giving them the tools they need to work to fulfi ll the College’s mission of “restoring all things in Christ.”
Hart Research Associates Survey Results
95% of employers surveyed give hiring preference to college graduates with skills that will enable them to contribute to innovation in the workplace.
93% agree that “a candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than their undergraduate major.”
Over 90% say it is important that those they hire demonstrate “ethical judgment and integrity, intercultural skills, and the capacity for continued new learning.”
Over 75% want colleges to place even more emphasis on helping students develop critical thinking, complex problemsolving, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings.