What careers can I get into with a Bachelor of Arts degree from CDU?

Curious about what kind of career you can build with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Charles Darwin University?

The key is to choose the right combination of units to match your interests, everything from digital technology to social justice and Indigenous languages and cultures. 

Media creation and journalism

The digital world is constantly changing and offering up new career possibilities. If you study Media Studies, Literature and Creative Writing, you’ll graduate ready for roles that require strong communication, critical thinking and creative skills. 

 Possible career paths include: 

• Content creation and management: Digital content producer, social media manager and web content editor. 

• Writing and editing: Journalist (print, broadcast and online), technical writer, copywriter and editor for publishing houses or corporate communications. 

• Public relations and marketing: Public relations officer, communications specialist, marketing coordinator or brand strategist. 

• Media creation: Video producer, podcast producer, multimedia content creator. 

Specialist units such as Writing for the Media can prepare you for jobs as a journalist, content writer, or communications officer. You’ll also start to build a portfolio to help you apply for roles. 

Society, culture and social sciences

A major in Society and Digital Culture helps you understand the link between society and technology – a valuable skill for employers: 

• Social and community services: Community development officer, social researcher, policy analyst and roles within non-profit organisations focused on social issues in Northern Australia and South-East Asia. 

• Digital and cultural policy: Policy advisor for government and non-government organisations on issues such as digital ethics, online safety and cultural representation. 

• User experience (UX) research: UX researcher and digital ethnographer helping tech companies and organisations understand how people interact with digital products and services. 

• Market research: Market research analyst, using sociological insights to understand consumer behaviour and cultural trends. 

Majors in Sociological Perspectives and Sociology of Crime and Deviance can lead to careers in social research, community services and policy development for the justice system.

Australian Indigenous knowledges and engagement

This major gives you the skills to work effectively with and for Indigenous communities, which are crucial for specialist roles: 

• Community and social services: Indigenous liaison officer, community development officer, and roles in health, education and housing services for Indigenous communities. 

• Policy and governance: Policy advisor in government departments at local, state, and federal levels, focussing on Indigenous affairs, land rights and self-determination. 

• Cultural heritage and arts: Cultural heritage officer or arts administrator for Indigenous arts centres, and roles in museums and cultural institutions. 

• Land management and conservation: Working with Indigenous ranger programs and land councils on culturally significant sites and environmental management. 

Units such as Building Relationships in Indigenous Contexts and Ethics and Protocols in Indigenous Contexts are essential for any job working with Indigenous peoples, from government agencies to private sector corporations with reconciliation action plans.

Languages, linguistics and global communication

A Languages, Linguistics and Culture major can be an advantage in the global workplace. Knowing another language and understanding linguistic and cultural nuances can help with: 

• Translation and interpreting: Professional translator or interpreter for government, legal, medical, and corporate sectors. 

• International relations and diplomacy: Foreign affairs officer, diplomat and roles in international development agencies. 

• Business and trade: International marketing manager, cross-cultural consultant and roles in companies with global operations, particularly those with ties to China, Greece or Indonesia. 

• Education: Language teacher in schools or private institutions in Australia and overseas. 

• Linguistics and language documentation: For those who want to take on further studies, careers in academic research, language revitalisation programs and working with organisations such as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) are possible. The unit in Language Documentation Methods and Tools is particularly relevant for this path.

The ability to speak Chinese (Mandarin), Greek, Indonesian or Indigenous languages such as Yolŋgu, Arrernte or Bininj Kunwok can lead to specialised roles in community services, education and tourism. CDU’s unit on Yolŋgu Languages and Culture prepares you for work with Yolŋgu communities in education, health and land management. 

Specialised and interdisciplinary fields

An Interdisciplinary Studies major gives you a flexible skillset for jobs that require broad knowledge. Possible career paths include: 

• Project management: Essential in a range of industries where the ability to connect different aspects of a project is essential. 

• Consulting: Providing advice to businesses and organisations on complex issues that require a multifaceted approach. 

• Emerging fields: Roles in new and evolving sectors where the job you get may not yet exist. 

A major in Justice Studies, Peace and Truth-Telling helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving to address complex social challenges. You can find roles in: 

• Social and environmental justice: Advocate, campaigner or policy officer for non-profit organisations and advocacy groups. 

• Human rights: Human rights officer for national and international organisations. 

• Conflict resolution: Mediator, facilitator and roles in peace and reconciliation initiatives. 

• Law and legal services: This major is not a law degree. It builds a foundation for more advanced legal studies, such as a Bachelor of Laws or for roles as a paralegal or in legal aid organisations. The Dispute Resolution unit is particularly useful for careers in mediation and arbitration.

Education and business-focussed units

The Arts for Education and Primary Arts majors can prepare you for a job as an arts educator. Digital Cultures, Curricula and Assessment will shape you to create interactive learning modules for the digital age. 

Business Analytics can prepare you for jobs as a business, data or market research analyst across various sectors. 

Other units can lead to careers in: 

• International business: Global Market and Sustainability Strategy 

• Supply chain: Logistics and Channel Management 

• International communication: Communication Across Cultures and Markets 

• Crisis management: Emergency and Disaster Risk Communication. 

Interested in studying a Bachelor of Arts at CDU? Work out what combination of specialist units works for your career goals.