What have you found most beneficial about the specific degree program you completed at McMaster?

In the Department of Anthropology, I was able to blend my interest and passion for the human experience (past, present, and future) with practical skills for a professional career. As my path and career aspirations changed over time, I pursued the interdisciplinary minor in Archaeology combined classics, archaeology, and earth sciences, which ended up being pivotal in tailoring my experience at McMaster to launch my career in community-level climate change planning. This was beneficial to me as it was a way to blend my interests with more technical/scientific skills, which I knew was going to be important as an arts student looking to pursue a career in a field often dominated by engineering and science-based disciplines. It’s been my experience that both social and technical disciplines are important for well-rounded teams in my industry, so I am grateful that I found myself in a program that fostered my desire to learn and grow from day one.  

In your opinion, what is the value of a Social Sciences degree?

Completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at McMaster was a significant jumping-off point for me in my career. As a first-generation university student, I came into the program with little knowledge of what my experience would be like, or what I would get out of it. The faculty and staff in Social Sciences were an incredible resource to me as I learned what I liked (and what I didn’t like) and as I started to form a picture of what I wanted my career path to look like.  

I took a wide range of courses that helped me build foundational skills in qualitative research, analysis, report writing, effective communication, strategizing, and critical thinking. These are all transferable skills that I use daily in my career. 

What advice would you give to a current Social Sciences student who is exploring career options?

Start to think early about what types of careers interest you, and what types of skills or credentials you might need to build in order to get there. Something that really helped me was to peruse job postings for positions I’d like to hold in the future and take stock of what types of skills they are asking for. Many professional organizations have student chapters, and there are many supplementary credentials, training courses, and certificates you can take while still a student to increase your employability as a new graduate.

Taking stock of what is asked for in the postings will help you dial into how best to focus your time and effort for maximum results. Taking this initiative was critical for me in transitioning the knowledge I had gained at McMaster (and later, graduate school), into a set of tactical skills that employers were looking for. Also consider whether an advanced degree is common in your field of interest. For example, I went on to do a post-baccalaureate in Urban and Regional Planning as a fast-tracked route to becoming a Registered Professional Planner, and then did a Masters of Environment and Management, designed for working professionals looking to become leaders in the environmental space. This ended up being the perfect bridge to blend all my formal academic knowledge into my very specific specialty, which is supporting communities in developing and implementing context-specific and actionable strategies for responding to the climate crisis at a local level.  

How did completing the SOCSCI 2EL0 career course shape your career planning or your post-graduation journey?

This course was important for me to learn how to translate my knowledge, skills, and experience as a student/new grad into the language being spoken by prospective employers. Again, as a first-generation university student, these weren’t skills that were readily passed on to me by my family. I felt somewhat nervous that I would fall behind relative to my peers in that respect, and this course was an excellent solution. In the course, I was exposed to the full experience of job searching and career development, including tailoring a cover letter and resume to a specific posting, presenting yourself well in an interview, attending industry events, and building an effective network. I wouldn’t be where I am today without these underrated skills.  

What do you like most about your program?

My favourite part about the Anthropology program was the experiential education opportunities. Through the programs at McMaster, I was able to work directly with professors and their labs to learn the ins and outs of research, while getting my own hands-on experience. This took my learning outside of the classroom and encouraged me to consider the different types of careers I could pursue following my degree.

What do you find beneficial about your program?

Anthropology allowed me to explore a wide variety of topics and research interests. As someone who felt drawn towards biological anthropology and archaeology, I felt like I could combine these interests to really get the most out of my degree in terms of information and experience.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Social Science degree?

Social Science allows students to receive a more holistic form of education which centres the wide variety of human perspectives and experiences within our communities. Throughout my degree, I felt like I was gaining valuable information which could benefit me in any career I chose to pursue. Social Science focused so closely on the human experience that it taught me the value of community, allyship, and the pursuit of making a world more safe and accessible for all.

What advice would you give to a current student interested in career options?

I would say, try as many opportunities as possible! There is no telling what career in Social Sciences may interest you. And don’t feel limited by what program you are in – the career you’re interested in could be within your field or could be connected to it in a cool way. I personally used my degree in Anthropology and Indigenous Studies to pursue a work focused on cultural retention within Afrocentric communities. If there is not a career, lab, or research that you feel properly suits your passion, don’t worry – there is always the potential for you to be the one to bring your passion to life!

What advice would you give a future student interested in the department or programs?

If you are interested in topics like science, history, health, community, and culture (especially your own), you will feel at home in the Anthropology program! It truly allows you to flex your own interests while gaining valuable information that will benefit you in any career. Anthropology is so much more than the limited scope we often see portrayed in the media (ex. Indiana Jones) – it is an opportunity for you to experiment with a wide range of ideas and to work alongside students who are all passionate about widely different topics.