IT'S INEVITABLE. When you tell someone that you're planning to major in a subject like history or English, you get asked the dreaded question: "What are you going to do with that?"

You don't really need to have an answer. If you want to major in a liberal arts subject, go for it. The practical stuff, like getting a job, will work itself out. In fact, liberal arts graduates are well suited for today's job market.

Why? Because the state of the economy, technology and a broader global perspective have made liberal arts majors—and the wide range of skills that they impart—more essential than ever before.