In the AddRan College of Liberal Arts, students are putting their studies into practice. Liberal Arts in Action Week highlights the connection between classroom and career, showing how skills developed across the humanities and social sciences translate into meaningful professional opportunities.
Now in its second year, Liberal Arts in Action Week grew out of the college’s team-taught Liberal Arts in Action course, first piloted in spring 2024.
“The purpose of the course is to bring students together from diverse majors across the college and institution to discuss and debate ideas and solve a problem,” said Dean Sonja Watson. “Liberal Arts in Action Week grew out of this course idea and expanded to include career opportunities by showcasing the many things one can do with a humanities or social sciences degree.”
Throughout the week, students heard from alumni, faculty and industry leaders who illustrated how liberal arts training translates into professional success across industries. The events emphasize that while job titles and industries may vary, the core skills developed through an AddRan education remain consistently valuable and adaptable.
“A TCU degree in liberal arts provides students with transferable skills such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, effective communication, research proficiency, ethical judgment, creativity, collaboration and cultural/global competency,” Watson said. “These skills prepare graduates to adapt to evolving industries and contribute meaningfully in any field.”
Those connections between academic preparation and professional opportunity became especially clear during a recruiter insights panel and alumni-focused sessions, where graduates returned to campus to share how their education continues to influence their careers.
Dallas Cothrum ’94 M.A., CEO of Masterplan Consultants, reflected on how his liberal arts skills, obtained from a history degree continue to shape his leadership approach.
“The skills of a historian are the skills of a businessman,” Cothrum said. “I can analyze the numbers and narrative, and I can ask critical questions and write well. These are all foundational skills learned in the liberal arts.”
For AddRan students like Martha Johnston, a double major in English and political science, hearing alumni describe their professional journeys reinforces the idea that a liberal arts foundation can open doors across industries while providing flexibility as career interests evolve.
“Critical thinking, communication and problem-solving are needed in every aspect of life, so I know these skills from liberal arts courses will help me in my future career,” Johnston said. “As a hopeful lawyer, I know I will have to apply these skills starting at a law school orientation when walking into a room with incredibly smart and driven students. I know that TCU has prepared me for my future endeavors.”
As industries continue to shift and workforce demands evolve, Watson emphasized that the long-term value of a liberal arts education lies in its durability and adaptability.
“A liberal arts education develops transferable, durable skills that remain relevant across industries, roles and time periods,” Watson said. “I often hear from employers that liberal arts majors are amazing writers and critical thinkers.”
Through AddRan initiatives like Liberal Arts in Action Week, students see ideas move from theory to lived experience. The experience connects academic exploration with alumni mentorship and professional insight, demonstrating how curiosity, communication and critical thinking prepare graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving world.