How Humanities Classes Benefit Students in the Workplace and Combat Loneliness

[appalachiablue]

The Conversation, Yahoo News, Dec. 16, 2024. 'How humanities classes benefit students in the workplace and combat loneliness,' by Anna Mae Duane, Univ. of Connecticut.
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Stereotypes abound about liberal arts degrees leading to low-paying jobs, despite research showing that humanities majors earn salaries comparable to students in many other majors. Authorities from the White House to high school guidance counselors have encouraged students to prioritize degrees in science and technology over the humanities because of their applicability to the job market.

Some legislators have even argued that humanities courses should be defunded entirely.

As a result, enrollment in humanities majors in college has plummeted by 24% since 2012.

Lower enrollment also means fewer people are training to teach in this field as well. But employers value the skills that humanities majors have. Courses in art, literature, history and philosophy can provide students with life skills they can use outside the classroom too. This includes recovering from the current loneliness epidemic afflicting young people.

I’m the director of the University of Connecticut Humanities Institute. Here are three scientifically proven ways that humanities classes benefit students and help them develop social skills within and beyond the classroom. Development of empathy. As an English professor, I know that when I ask students to discuss the motivations of characters in novels, they inevitably find ways to empathize with the character as well as one another. Both narrative theory and cognitive science back this up.

Spending hours immersed in the words and beliefs of other people changes students’ capacity to connect with others. The same is true of studying history. Students can learn to view the world as a historical figure would have seen it – a concept known as “historical empathy.” These benefits are not restricted to those who study these subjects as their majors. Medical students who take humanities courses score higher in terms of empathy than those who didn’t. This is a vital skill for those caring for sick patients. Enrichment of conversational skills...
https://www.yahoo.com/news/humanities-classes-benefit-students-workplace-131029893.html

[Ocelot II]

1. I'm afraid Trump's GOP will do everything it can to cut funding

for the arts and humanities. They've been trying to kill the NEA since the Reagan administration; Trump tried to kill it in 2017, and this time they might finally succeed. We need the arts and the humanities to maintain any semblance of a civilization - which seems already to be circling the drain. AI threatens to kill creativity, and the arts aren't valued by the tech bros or the plutocrats. Voltaire said, "Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats." Will we even know how to sing when the shipwreck comes?

[appalachiablue]

2. Wonderful post, you covered it all. Civilization is in danger, with many challenges

now and ahead. Voltaire was right. Stay strong.

[mike_c]

3. I'm a scientist.

Recently retired, and I stay somewhat active in my field. But what I spend three-quarters of my time on these days is history, art, music, and philosophy. My professors laid the foundation's for those interests while I worked on my STEM degrees. They have enriched my life for decades. Personally, I think we should expand humanities experience more for everyone! Even with a fulfilling science career, life would be sterile without arts and letters.

We need a fulfillment economy.

[appalachiablue]

4. Great post, we can't continue on this greed and worship of money path.

Humans need science and the humanities even more now to endure the challenging times ahead.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, from one human to another.

In recent years I've grown to appreciate much more what my parents, an art student, and an engineer and nature lover gave us.

[CTyankee]

5. Late in life, I went back to school to get a Masters in Liberal Studies and it was one of the highest points in my life.

The courses were brilliant, and brilliantly taught by faculty members who were teaching what they loved. And that made all the difference. I felt renewed and I hated it when I graduated and there were no more classes to inspire me.

[appalachiablue]

6. What a great experience, good for you. Thanks for sharing your story.

[Blue_Tires]

7. It hasn't helped me combat loneliness

But I agree with the rest...