SKILLS GAINED BY HUMANITIES MAJORS
Adapted from
http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/faculties/HUM/Students/Career/skills.html
The following list of
skills is not exhaustive. All attributes may not apply to you.
A successful self-assessment will involve determining the applicability
of these
skills to you personally. These are skills, futhermore, which you can
stress as you
apply for jobs and positions.
1 A sense of "sequence"
and
interrelationship between events.
2 Ability to analyze
written
material and extract major points.
3 Ability to carry out tasks
with
thoroughness, precision, and attention to detail.
4 Ability to collect and
organize
important historical data.
5 Ability to concentrate for
long
periods of time.
6 Ability conduct and clearly
explain research results.
7 Ability to develop systematic
procedures for investigating a problem.
8 Ability to develop new
perspectives on a problem.
9 Ability to evaluate arguments
and research data critically.
10 Ability to evaluate lines of
reasoning for validity and soundness.
11 Ability to evolve new
perspectives on a problem.
12 Ability to formulate and
defend positions.
13 Ability to identify and
evaluate records of past events, ideas, and facts accurately.
14 Ability to identify key
elements in an argument and to evaluate the logic of the argument.
15 Ability to interact with
diverse groups.
16 Ability to make appropriate
decisions and solve problems.
17 Ability to make critical
observations, evaluations, and appropriate decisions.
18 Ability to make keen
observations, solve problems, and make appropriate decisions.
19 Ability to make sound
judgements based on research and analysis of data.
20 Ability to organize, conduct,
and clearly explain research.
21 Ability to persuade and
influence others.
22 Ability to place events in
context: cultural, social, historical.
23 Ability to read material
analytically.
24 Ability to speak articulately
and listen objectively.
25 Ability to summarize
complicated material.
26 Ability to synthesize a large
amount of information and draw conclusions based on that information.
27 Ability to synthesize the
underlying assumptions in an argument.
28 Ability to think thoroughly
and systematically, using methods of conceptual analysis, reasoning,
and detailed description.
29 Ability to understand complex
problems and identify solutions quickly.
30 Ability to work within an
interdisciplinary perspective as well as an ability to
apply knowledge from a
variety of disciplines to the understanding of concepts, people, and
situations.
31 Awareness of the contribution
of different cultures and languages to Western culture.
32 Capacity to anticipate and
understand the views and concerns of others.
33 Capacity to make critical
observations and appropriate decisions.
34 Capacity to write and speak
with maximum precision and clarity.
35 Comprehensive command of
grammar and vocabulary.
36 Computer skills - word
processing.
37 Cross-cultural understanding.
38 Demonstrated ability to learn
a second language (suggests the ability to learn other languages much
more quickly).
39 Enhanced understanding of the
present through study of the formative influences of the past.
40 Experience in analyzing
multiple dimensions of a problem and picking out the most salient
factors.
41 Exposure to different cultural
environments, an appreciation and awareness of cultural
difference
through the influence of different historical factors.
42 Good listening, clarifying,
questioning, and responding skills.
43 High proficiency in reading,
writing, and speaking.
44 Insight into personality,
character, and behaviour.
45 Knowledge of the languages,
literature, philosophy, myth, religion, politics, and history of
ancient civilizations.
46 Knowledge of the structure and
functioning of language in general.
47 Knowledge of the writings and
thinking about the many questions facing human beings, such as "the
meaning and purpose of life".
48 Knowledge of different
religious beliefs, doctrines, and practices of the great religious
traditions.
49 Proficiency for detailing
information accurately.
50 Proficiency in analytical and
synthetic reasoning.
51 Proficiency in interpersonal
communication.
52 Proficiency in reading,
writing, and oral communication.
53 Proficiency in using
techniques for addressing complex ethical and practical dilemmas.
54 Proficiency in using
techniques for evaluating complex patterns of reasoning.
55 Sensitivity to people of other
cultures.
56 Skills in applying a complex
set of criteria in order to make an evaluation.
57 Skills in examining the
grounds for the beliefs that make up people's fundamental views of the
world.
58 Skills in seeing patterns in
written material.
59 Skills in writing carefully
reasoned reports.
60 Some degree of translation and
interpretation skill.
61 Superior oral and written
communication skills in first language.
62 Thorough knowledge of second
language, both written and oral communication.
63 Understanding of differing
cultural practices and the behaviour of individuals as it is influenced
by culture.
64 Understanding of human
spiritual and social needs.
65 Understanding of the influence
of "perspective" on facts.
66 Understanding of the nature of
literature and of the various currents in literary criticism.
And many more besides....
Version Octd 16