Humanities courses | 9 details of the course you must not miss 

Humanities courses deal with the critical examination of the human world and civilization. Popular majors in this discipline include English, history, and philosophy. Students in these fields examine humanity (thus the name). They use critical thinking to better comprehend literature, art, history, and human morals, culture, and values.

All humanities subjects have their own set of interpretation techniques. Historians use the historical method, which is divided into subcategories such as-

• Cultural history
• Quantitative history
• Oral history.

Learn more details like this and some job opportunities along with salary information in the blog!

How do colleges define humanities as a subject?

The humanities courses are usually divided into distinct majors and grouped in a humanities division within a College of Arts and Sciences at most universities.

Here are some examples of different humanities majors-

• Art history
• Area/ethnic studies
• Comparative literature
• Classics
• Drama and music
• English
• History
• Foreign languages
• Linguistics
• Gender studies
• Philosophy
• Religious studies

The most popular humanities majors

Each year, over 100,000 students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in a humanities subject.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 40,000 English language and literature majors graduated in 2018. 17,000 students majored in a foreign language in the same year, while under 10,000 students got a degree in philosophy and religious studies. A total of 44,000 majors were in general liberal arts and humanities.

All majors are ranked by their popularity by Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce. Humanities and liberal arts are the third most common field of emphasis on college students, behind business and education. 

In the humanities, the majority of students prefer popular subjects such as-

• English
• History
• Religion
• Art history
• Philosophy
• Foreign language
• Area/ethnic studies

Some students pursue general humanities or liberal arts degrees as well.

How important are humanities in higher education?

Because of Early modern humanists who supported the humanities, colleges are increasingly offering general education humanities courses. These scholars and philosophers advocated for a well-rounded, well-balanced curriculum. A course that emphasized critical thinking and other crucial intellectual qualities.

Colleges now implement general education resources to introduce students to a wide range of fields. While also strengthening their analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Humanities courses are essential in most colleges’ general education programs and higher education. Literary and cultural analysis, philosophical and linguistic analysis and historical analysis are all required courses for general education requirements.

Humanities courses teach you important skills

Students learn a lot more than the French Revolution and William Shakespeare’s plays in humanities classes. Humanities courses provide students with vital skills, such as the ability to communicate effectively, work independently and in teams, and analyze information.

Humanities majors have been found to benefit from the following relevant skills in the working world-

Writing Abilities

Students pursuing humanities write a lot of essays. This helps them learn how to develop evidence-based arguments, connect with their audience, and write. Students must examine the information and convey it in their research papers.

Research capabilities

Writing and research go hand in hand. Students in the humanities learn to locate significant details, examine sources, and extract usable material from their studies. Also, articulate logical and compelling conclusions. Primary materials, analytical texts, surveys, and photographs are among the sources used by students.

Creativity

Humanities classes encourage creativity by enabling students to think in sophisticated, nuanced ways and to let go of preconceived notions. Individuals in various sorts of professions, including business and STEM, highly emphasize creative problem-solving. This might benefit from being able to provide unique solutions or come up with fresh methods of presenting ideas.

Analysis

Students in literature and history study writings, whereas majors in foreign languages and English study grammatical structures and rhetorical strategies. Because students must think critically about materials and make logical arguments based on their studies, a humanities degree can help them develop excellent analytical abilities. 

Critical Thinking

The humanities emphasize on the development of critical thinking abilities. Students learn on how to approach information with a critical eye through coursework. They assess several sources, synthesize the content, and develop a compelling argument. Students also learn to recognize prejudice and use rationality.

Humanities courses list for undergraduates

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Design (B. Des)
• Journalism (BJ)
• Psychology 
• Social work (BSW)
• Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC)
• Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM)
• Animation
• Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com)
• BBA LLB course

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

Various specialization provided under Bachelor of Fine Arts is as follows-

• Applied arts
• Poetry and ceramics
• Plastic arts and paintings
• Textile design
• Drama and theater
• Music
• Cartooning
• Calligraphy
• Graphic designing
• Dance
• Sculpting and photography etc.

Top Bachelor Management courses after humanities

• Business Administration (BBA)
• Management Science (BMS)
• Hotel Management (BHM)

Diploma humanities courses after under graduation

The courses offered in the diploma are best for students who want to begin their career soon after the completion of their education. A perfect choice for those who have an interest in building their basics in a particular field before studying a bachelor’s course. Diploma courses serve as foundation or preparatory courses for the bachelor’s degree.

• Advertising and Marketing Communications Diploma
• Public Relations and Corporate Communications Diploma
• The Film, Television, and Digital Video Production Diploma

Salary

• Humanities degree holders make around $29,000 per year at the start of their employment.
• According to Georgetown University data, which is somewhat less than the median pay for all college degrees ($33,000).
• Humanities majors may be expected to earn $52,000 on average if they have five or more years of work experience.

Key takeaway

• Humanities students are engaged in great works of literature, philosophical issues, and ancient civilizations. Students improve critical thinking, communication, and analytical abilities while pursuing a humanities degree.
• According to one study, 87 percent of humanities majors are content with their careers, rising to 90 percent for those with a master’s degree. Humanities majors also have a low unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.
• Furthermore, 60% of humanities majors work in management or supervisory jobs, implying that the vast majority of humanities graduates will eventually advance to leadership positions, earning them more money in the long term.
• A humanities degree may pay off for many students. But, like any major, if you want to succeed, you must be willing to work hard and take chances.

We hope you found this blog informative. Don’t forget to comment below and share your thoughts! You can also get in touch with us if you have any doubts. 

Liked this blog? Read: Career Planning – How to plan your career well?

FAQs

1. What steps should I take to begin a career in the humanities?

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for most humanities careers. Although an associate degree qualifies you for several entry-level roles in business and education, your career options and progression chances are limited.

2. What humanities jobs pay the best?

Math and science vocations are home to many of the highest-paying humanities careers. Mathematicians, economists, physicists, and political scientists are all professions with potentially significant earnings. However, admission into these jobs usually requires a graduate degree.

3. Is it worthwhile to get a humanities degree?

While employment growth and compensation figures differ by sector and job type, many humanities careers have promising futures. A humanities degree should give adequate value if you want to develop a foundation across a range of areas.

4. What is the duration of a BA in Political Science course?

Every undergraduate BA course has a three-year duration, including political science.