The Humanities Equal Jobs: A Conversation with Alain-Philippe Durand
In Episode 10 of Season 2 of the EdUp Provost podcast, host Gregor Thuswaldner interviewed Alain-Philippe Durand, Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities and Professor of French at the University of Arizona. Here is an excerpt from the episode:
Question: You emphasized in your TEDx talk the versatility of a humanities degree. Can you tell us a little about that talk and why you believe the flexibility of the humanities degree is especially relevant in today’s job market?
Alain-Philippe Durand: Absolutely. First, doing a TEDx talk was a great experience, but also incredibly stressful. It was an opportunity to address a major misconception about the humanities—that they are outdated or don’t lead to jobs. We often hear that the humanities are declining, but the reality is more complex. While some institutions have cut programs, others have seen growth and success. Unfortunately, the media tends to focus only on the closures.
One of the biggest myths is that studying the humanities won’t lead to a job. I’ve heard people say things like, “What can you do with a degree in French? Flip burgers?” But the truth is, our humanities graduates are employed in a vast array of fields. The competencies they develop—critical thinking, adaptability, collaboration, communication, intercultural competence, and multilingualism—are exactly what today’s employers are looking for. This is why I titled my TEDx talk ‘Humanities = Jobs’—to challenge these misconceptions and show how valuable these degrees truly are.
Question: You’ve had remarkable success growing the College of Humanities at the University of Arizona. What do you see as the key strategies behind that growth?
Alain-Philippe Durand: Several factors have contributed to our success. First, we have the support of our senior administration, which is not something every institution has. The University of Arizona values the humanities, and the fact that we have an entire college dedicated to them sends a strong message.
Second, interdisciplinary collaboration has been crucial. We’ve built strong relationships with other colleges, including engineering, business, medicine, and public health. When I speak with other humanities deans, they often ask, “How do you even get a meeting with the Dean of Medicine?” At Arizona, that kind of collaboration is encouraged.
Another key strategy has been the launch of our Bachelor of Arts in Applied Humanities. We created this degree to integrate the essential skills of the humanities with professional emphases like business, public health, and fashion studies. The idea is to provide students with both a strong humanities foundation and practical expertise that aligns with workforce needs. This degree has been very successful because it bridges the gap between traditional humanities education and career pathways.
Most importantly, we actively engage with our alumni. They are our best ambassadors, and their career success stories demonstrate that a humanities degree leads to meaningful and diverse opportunities. If you talk to them, you’ll hear firsthand that the skills they developed in the humanities have been instrumental in their professional lives. That’s a story we need to tell more often.
Here is the link to Alain-Philippe Durand’s TEDx Talk: Humanities Dean Says, “Get a Job”
Listen here to the entire conversation on EdUp Provost, the podcast of the Association of Chief Academic Officers in collaboration with The EdUp Experience. EdUp Provost is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
