Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs have a reputation of resulting in more stable and higher-paid work, however the importance of studying humanities should not be discounted.
In 2023, Shad White, the state auditor of Mississippi, released a report advising the state appropriations to prioritize college programs that “improve the value they provide to both taxpayers and graduates.” White also said that colleges should prioritize engineering and business programs and give less focus to liberal arts majors like anthropology, women’s studies, foreign language and literature. This shift in focus overlooks the essential role the humanities plays in fostering skills such as communication, creativity and cultural awareness.
The humanities contribute to student’s critical thinking abilities and cultural understanding, overall providing a well-rounded education. Studying topics like philosophy, history, art and gender gives students a wider understanding of diverse perspectives and provides historical context for the issues the world is facing today. Removing these elements from a student’s education limits their opportunities to think critically and engage with complex societal challenges in an academic setting.
Philosophy, for example, teaches the ability to always ask questions and not take a singular worldview. As innovative technology starts to allow for us to remain isolated in our own bubbles, it is crucial that schools still give students the foundation for ethics, critical thinking and self-reflection.
A 2023 study by Oxford University interviewed employers and found that they particularly valued traits that are built and cultivated by a humanities degree including critical thinking and creative problem solving. In the same report, students with humanities degrees said “their degree has enabled them to make an essential contribution to addressing the major issues facing humanity, and informed their sense of public mission and commitment. This includes navigating ‘fake news’ and social media manipulation; climate change; energy needs; and the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence.”
According to the U.S News & World Report, deans and professors at Arizona State University, George Washington University and the University of California, Berkeley all recommended humanities degrees for the widely applicable job skills they cultivate.
Developing skills in the academic humanities fields is valuable for fostering a more inclusive and informed world that can address complex global challenges.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, Opinion Editor: Dakota Duran, Scene Editor: Elina Graham
