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Oh, the Humanities! An Invaluable Foundation for a Career and Meaningful Life

By Rebecca Goldfine and Tom Porter
We're sharing a three-part series on why ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ faculty are so committed to teaching literature, languages, the arts, history, philosophy, and religion—and how students benefit.

The first in the series looks at the value of low-tech classes and what happens when students put away their gadgets and just focus on reading, and talking about what they are reading. The second explores why studying the humanities is essential for designing our AI future. And the third story in the series explains why professors, career counselors, and employers all believe an education in the humanities provides the best foundation for a successful and meaningful career.

“Engagement with the humanities—the arts, literature, history, philosophy, and other fields—fosters a lifetime of curiosity, wonder, learning, and community. The humanities represent fundamental ways of being and knowing in the world,” says Senior Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs Jen Scanlon.

Prof. Maggie Solberg with a student
Prof. Maggie Solberg in her class Beowulf with a student.

The High Value of Low-Tech Classes

While many professors across ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s curriculum emphasize the importance of dialogue in their classes, the art of reading and connecting with other students sitting with you, with very few distractions in the room, is perhaps practiced in its purest form in humanities classes. Read more.

A student practices calligraphy in  Brush and Ink: The Art of Writing and Painting via Calligraphy
A student practices calligraphy in Professor Shu-chin Tsui's class Brush and Ink: The Art of Writing and Painting via Calligraphy.

Why the Humanities are Essential for Designing Artificial Intelligence

Four faculty in digital and computational studies, cinema studies, and government recently collaborated to teach a groundbreaking class at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ that dove into the role ethics plays as the emerging technology transforms nearly every aspect of our lives. Read more.

A scene from the Theater Department's production of Our Town, in 2022
A scene from the Theater Department's production of Our Town, in 2022

Want to Get Ahead in Life? Study the Humanities.

The Office of Career Exploration and Development (CXD) keeps a printout of employers’ most coveted attributes in employees. Referring to it, CXD Director Kristin Brennan said, “Year on year, they are these major buckets: relationships, communication, management of self and of others—or leadership, analytical and critical thinking, problem-solving skills, including quantitative and qualitative skills, and creativity. These are found in humanities classes.” Read more.