Stop Downplaying Humanities Programs

As an English major who loves writing, humanities courses have been deeply embedded in my studies ever since I started at Chapman. These courses have introduced me to vivid literary works I was previously unfamiliar with, challenged me to write analytical essays that I’m deeply proud of, and honed my critical thinking skills in meaningful ways. They also give me a chance to go crazy on my keyboard and write whatever I feel like writing (within an assignment’s parameters, of course). 

At the same time, I know there are naysayers.

The following comments come from people who don’t seem to understand the importance of humanities programs. “What are you going to do with that degree?” “How are you ever going to hold a stable job?” Or my personal favorite, “Your classes must be super easy since you’re not doing any math.” (This last comment is especially striking to me since math shouldn’t be seen as the only challenging subject in a college curriculum.) 

While these comments might seem like overly-pessimistic reactions to humanities students, nationwide trends have shown a significant decrease in the popularity of these majors: according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, U.S. undergraduates who graduated in 2025 received the lowest amount of humanities degrees since 1991. The reasons for this remain relatively unclear, but the study mentions employment concerns and declining interest in teaching careers as possible explanations. 

I want to preface this article by saying that non-humanities majors (such as business or STEM degrees) are undeniably valuable and shouldn’t be torn down for the sake of my argument. Ultimately, I hope that humanities majors can be given the same respect as STEM or business programs. 

In a world that constantly seems to be dictated by AI and other technologies that can simplify everyday tasks, society needs the humanities more than ever. In fact, those writing skills that are heavily emphasized in humanities classes can even help you stand out from competitors who may rely on AI to craft cover letters or personal statements. If you’re still skeptical, imagine yourself at a workplace where you don’t have immediate access to AI. Will you be able to write an email or report without any assistance, or will you panic at the thought of having to perform these tasks alone?

Besides writing, humanities classes teach other important skills such as creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and communication. These skills are also highly valued in a workplace and can open the door for many different opportunities. While business and medical professions tend to earn higher salaries, humanities programs teach many transferable skills that can be applied across many different industries. 

Of course, it’s easy for me to tout the benefits of humanities programs since I’m working towards my English degree and also take humanities classes for Chapman’s honors program. But Apple CEO Steve Jobs, whose background is primarily rooted in business and technology, sees the humanities as a necessary component to the company’s iconic products. 

“It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology married with liberal arts married with the humanities yields the result that makes our heart sing,” Jobs said during an iPad 2 launch event in March 2011. 

The next time someone wants to downplay your studies or speak poorly about the humanities in general, remind them that the phones they hold in their hand were brought to life with those so-called “useless” classes rooted in writing and critical thinking.