HOW UNEXPECTED DEGREES MAKE GREAT MARKETERS
Graduation season is in full swing, and across the country, newly minted degree-holders are asking themselves the big question: Now what? While marketing and advertising may not have been their major, for many grads, these could be a surprisingly perfect fit.
English majors already know we hire them. Hemingway wrote ads for both Parker Pens and Ballantine Ale. Writing compelling copy, scripting video content, or managing social media channels are natural extensions of their studies. Computer science grads? They’re building websites, analyzing data sets, and developing marketing automation tools. Math whizzes have found their niche in media buying, performance analytics, and market research.
That said, some of the most creative, strategic minds in advertising come from less expected academic backgrounds. Take the psychology major. Who better to understand consumer behavior, motivation, and decision-making? These grads can bring valuable insights to campaign strategy, user experience design, or brand positioning work.
Sociology or anthropology are in the mix. A deep understanding of cultural dynamics and social trends makes them ready to help brands navigate audience segmentation and community engagement in authentic ways.
Philosophy majors have a place here. Many will make brilliant strategists. Their training in logic, critical thinking, and ethics makes them uniquely suited to tackle brand identity challenges and navigate the intersection of marketing and purpose.
Art history can be a foundation for visual storytelling and design critique. Theater majors often shine in presentation, production, and experiential marketing. Biology grads bring rigor and structure to regulated industries like healthcare or environmental marketing. That reminds us of an important point. Particular areas of expertise can translate into specific industry work. For example, when someone is tasked to write copy for an ad or brochure about a new pharmaceutical, it can be very helpful if they had some expertise in the field.
The common thread across all these disciplines? Curiosity. The desire to understand people and how they think, feel, and act. That’s the heartbeat of advertising. So to the class of 2025, whatever your degree says, don’t rule out marketing and advertising. You might be exactly who we didn’t know we needed. 😊