Why We Study the Humanities in College
By studying the humanities in college, both students and their teachers become engaged in areas that are not easily accessible in other academic disciplines. The humanities offer us a vital and essential experience and exploration into our own humanity. Courses in this arena invite us to take on the major questions that any thoughtful and ethical citizen must confront.
Why study humanities? Because doing so invites learners to take on the vital work necessary for a full life at all levels. What does it mean to be a human being? What are the moral, ethical, social, and spiritual values that must be adopted and acted upon to cultivate and preserve humanity at its highest levels?
In many ways, a college course in the humanities asks us to consider how we will guide and govern ourselves in an ever-widening and challenging social landscape. Engaging in the humanities helps us learn more about ourselves and our place in the world, leading to a more meaningful and purposeful life. Studying humanities at the college level encourages us to think critically and helps us become better communicators.
The Importance of the Liberal Arts in College
Life in the new century, more than ever before, is a relativistic frontier in which the crucial values (What is “good”? What is justice? What is truth or beauty?) are constantly up for argument and debate. Where and how are we to learn and acquire the skills and materials that will enable us to answer the central questions? As so much of our contemporary undergraduate curriculum swings toward preparation for careers and professions, the task of educating us as ethical, noble, decent, and even heroic citizens is left to courses in the humanities.
Where are we to learn our manners, and how will we develop aesthetic taste? How are we to become fully thriving individuals ready to contribute to a struggling world? Such dispositions do not exactly come naturally. They must be learned.
But essentially, we do not learn our humanity through the STEM curriculum. Rather it is through the humanities that we learn how to be truly human.
The Profound Benefits of Studying Humanities
College humanities courses help students develop empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. Humanities courses help us:
- Develop into well-rounded individuals who can positively impact society.
- Navigate the world’s complexities.
- Become more compassionate.
- Value diversity.
- Work for social justice and the common good.
- Think critically about our place in the world.
How can we make tomorrow better for others? This is the kind of big-picture question that the humanities, at the college level especially, encourage us to ask ourselves.
Why Humanities Matter in the Modern World
It’s not an exaggeration to propose that, especially in these times, it’s essential that learning institutions stress the importance of the liberal arts experience, which includes generous exposure to the humanities. How can we use this newfound compassion and understanding to make change in our own communities? Let us contribute toward a more just and equitable future together.
Suggesting that humanity, in its myriad dimensions, depends on studies in the humanities is not an outrageous claim. Indeed, without a strong foundation in the humanities, we will struggle to understand and address complex issues facing the world today.
The Value of Humanities Courses at Excelsior University
I encourage you to consider the humanities courses at Excelsior University. Our thoughtful and diverse curricula will help you fully embrace the power of the liberal arts to drive positive change in our communities and beyond, communicating across differences and manifesting a better future that is inclusive and equitable for all.
There are practical reasons why you should study the humanities at Excelsior. The developed sense of innovation, creativity, and resilience in thinking delivers long-term career success and adaptability. Humanities graduates are commonly seen in executive positions and have acquired skills that AI cannot replicate. Empathy, creativity, and critical thinking are all soft skills that are more difficult to train but are necessary and cultivated through the humanities.
My experience as an art history instructor has taught me much about myself and the world. A background in the arts and humanities has been essential in helping me to become a well-rounded and cultivated human being, eager and unafraid to make a difference. I find myself ever more able to find my way in this diverse and challenging reality.
Consider taking an art history course. Today is the perfect day to start exploring the possibilities that await you!
