‘Useless’ majors: hierarchies in higher education and the role of the humanities
College students majoring in humanities fields like history, philosophy, and English often face scrutiny from peers and family due to perceived lack of clear career paths and lower immediate return on investment. Students argue that their majors cultivate valuable skills like critical thinking and communication, despite unclear career outcomes.
College students selecting majors in humanities fields face scrutiny due to perceived lack of clear career paths. Majors like history, philosophy, and English are often viewed as less practical compared to STEM fields. Students Caroline Quiroga, Eli Boone, and Sophia Shearman report feeling the need to justify their choices amid concerns about practicality. They attribute negative attitudes towards humanities majors to career anxiety and a misunderstanding of the skills cultivated in these fields. Quiroga and Boone note that humanities majors lack linear professional pathways, but argue that they still provide valuable skills. Shearman says there's a miscommunication about the skills taught in humanities versus traditional commerce or pre-med tracks.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.