The small size of the Studio Art program at McMaster helped me to form close collaborative relationships with my professors, which is something that I have always carried with me.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

The small size of the Studio Art program at McMaster helped me to form close collaborative relationships with my professors, which is something that I have always carried with me. The flexibility of the program allowed me to challenge myself and be curious, which I think is invaluable to a liberal arts education. After graduating from the arts program at McMaster, I started a media arts-oriented collective/space (HAVN) in downtown Hamilton with a number of McMaster alumni from various faculties and disciplines, which would not have been possible otherwise.

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

Do your best to take the leap and engage in community and collaboration!

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

I place a great deal of value on a humanities/liberal arts education for giving a certain breadth of thought and conceptual flexibility that proves important later in life.

Through my Multimedia major, I learned technical skills that have made me invaluable in the workplace.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

I chose to double major in Communication Studies and Multimedia, and doing both taught me extremely valuable skills that I practice on a daily basis. Through my Multimedia major, I learned technical skills that have made me invaluable in the workplace. Getting exposed to and learning the ins and outs of softwares, such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro, have been so beneficial in the PR and Marketing world. On the Communications side, the connections I created with my professors and the critical analysis taught in the unique course curricula have greatly advanced my years post-McMaster.

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

Get involved, try new things, and network. University is a time to explore and discover what you like and what you don’t like. A Humanities degree allows you so many options to academically learn about different worlds and industries, but there are so many volunteer opportunities or clubs on campus that will help you explore every career option imaginable.

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

From Art to Social Justice to Gender Studies, a Humanities degree allows students a unique interdisciplinary experience. They are taught holistic perspectives, which in turn, advances critical-thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and oral and written communication skills. Those are highly marketable skills that any employer will value.

Our courses are so hands-on and application based that you end up developing a unique and valuable skillset, which ends up leading into a variety of career paths ...

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

Compared to four years ago when I first entered the program, I am now much more of a critical thinker. Our professors were always pushing us to “think outside the box” and to never accept an answer without analyzing it first. Cog Sci was a fairly small program, so it really allowed us students and professors to get to know each other. Everybody is there for one another which fosters an amazing sense of community. I miss it already!

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

Experience! Try to get as much experience as possible, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be paid. Volunteering in the community, at faculty events or volunteering in a lab will allow you to truly understand what you find interesting. You may even come across career paths that you didn’t know existed! Don’t be afraid to send someone an email asking if there are any volunteer/shadowing opportunities available. There is really nothing to lose.
Additionally, it’s never too early to start getting experience. I personally started volunteering at an audiology clinic in first year, realized I wanted to pursue something else and eventually moved on to other positions. This is a time for you to figure yourself out!

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

A Humanities degree really helps you develop a more flexible view of the world. We are able to take courses in everything from History and Linguistics to more “science-y” subjects such as Anatomy and Psychology. Our courses are so hands-on and application based that you end up developing a unique and valuable skillset, which ends up leading into a variety of career paths that would otherwise have been difficult to grow accustomed to.