Why study the humanities?

The humanities -  history, literature, languages, art, philosophy -  focus on creating lives of purpose and meaning, appreciating diversity and complexity, and communicating effectively with others while overcoming adversity. Here are just some reasons why you should study the humanities:

• The humanities help us understand others through language, history, and culture.
• They foster social justice and equality.
• The humanities reveal how people have tried to make moral, spiritual, and intellectual sense of the world.
• They teach empathy.
• They teach us how to deal critically and logically with subjective and complex information.
• Humanities help you understand the impact that science, technology, and medicine has had on society and understand the future scientific needs of society.
• Humanities strengthen your ability to communicate and work with others.
• The humanities encourage us to think creatively by teaching us to reason about being human and to ask questions about our world.
• The humanities develop informed and critical citizens.
• Humanities courses are FUN!!! You get to explore new ideas, cultures, discussions, and gain a better understanding of the world around you.

 
More About Us: The Stone House Center for Public Humanities connects the university’s humanities faculty and students to the broader community by offering collaborative educational programming, public forums, non-degree courses, workshops, and service-learning opportunities all focused on bringing the insights of the humanities to bear on contemporary public life. The Center welcomes partnership with community institutions, and values work that transcends both academic disciplines and the boundary between campus and the larger community. Contact us to learn more.