Saint Francis is widely recognized for its programs in the health science and business fields, but what about the humanities?
The humanities examine the human condition through art, history and science. They include the study of literature, philosophy, history, science, art and languages.
SFU was founded with the liberal arts at its core, and it still has a strong foundation in this area today.
According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the number of students pursuing a bachelor’s degrees in the humanities has been decreasing significantly since 2005. In 2022, bachelor’s degrees in the humanities across the United States made up just 8.8 percent of the total degrees earned that year.
Yet a 2019 poll notes that around 90 percent of students who majored in the humanities are satisfied with their careers.
“The humanities allow creativity, critical thinking skills and the understanding of the human experience,” said Associate Professor of Art Jess Campbell.
Studying the humanities helps students develop skills in critical thinking and problem-solving. They also help students develop empathy skills and appreciate the importance of different cultures and diversity.
“Not only was I interested in the exchange of ideas and open communication when I was studying history, but I was also interested in learning about the human condition,” said Associate Professor of History Lori Woods. “Developing empathy toward people who have different backgrounds than ourselves is important.”
Students who major in the humanities are employed in a wide range of fields because of their critical thinking and communication skills.
“At my previous job, I was able to manage and write grants for educational programs, curate exhibitions, and host programs,” said Campbell.
More businesses are now hiring people who hold degrees in the humanities. Officials at Johns Hopkins University recently noted that leaders at tech giants such as Google and Apple often prefer people with a humanities background because they bring unique perspectives and problem-solving skills to their companies.
“If a student is interested in law school, philosophy undergraduates perform the best on the LSATs and MCATs,” said Associate Professor of Philosophy Tyler McNabb.
Those involved in the humanities at Saint Francis are deeply passionate about their subject matter.
“To echo the sentiment of one of my favorite films, Dead Poets Society, I believe that studying the humanities allows us to study the subject matter that directly corresponds to human experience and truth, such as love, passion and adventure,” said Professor of English Brennan Thomas.
“This is the most exciting experience we can have as learners – to understand our world in our terms.”
As a graduating English major, I encourage students to take a humanities course or join a liberal arts club. There are many benefits to developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and appreciating the importance of empathy and compassion are important. What you learn from humanities courses will help you in unexpected ways in the future.
