The humanities teach valuable soft skills that enhance almost any career.
The focus in higher education has been on investment in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) resources for some time, and understandably so. STEM education is a boon to the economy, and STEM degrees earn graduates more lucrative positions in booming fields. But the long-standing emphasis on STEM education may be inadvertently communicating that degrees in the humanities—English, history, literature, fine arts, and others—are less valuable.
The truth is that any education a student pursues passionately is better than no education. But even from a purely pragmatic standpoint, humanities degrees provide students with tools and skills that are both extremely valuable in the workplace and highly portable across industries. In a moment when humanities programs in higher education are facing cuts and closures, many students have fewer options to pursue their chosen fields. Community colleges have an opportunity to draw in students who are interested in the humanities by highlighting the connection between humanities degrees and career success. Here’s how.
Humanities programs face risks.
Degrees in a specific field of science or engineering are often easily connected to their corresponding job skills—and, thereby, more easily extrapolated to their role in the larger economy. The skills learned as part of a humanities degree, however, can be tougher to quantify. With the cost of higher education ballooning, that leaves many institutions and students struggling to demonstrate a strong return on investment for a humanities degree.
In response, many four-year institutions are cutting large swaths of their humanities programs. However, in doing so, these institutions are losing a valuable vehicle for teaching students the kind of job skills that employers arguably prize most.
The skills humanities majors learn are some of the most valued in every industry.
In a Forbes opinion piece, Pace University president Marvin Krislov cites the soft skills that students learn in humanities courses as “the difference between an adequate employee and a great one.” Humanities courses teach students to communicate clearly and precisely, think critically, and problem-solve creatively. They teach research skills and encourage interdisciplinary insight.
These soft skills can be thought of as “meta-skills,” which can be applied in almost any field and enhance the concrete training and job performance of their owners. Good communication promotes cross-functional relationships and silo breakdown. Research skills promote media literacy and confidence in seeking out information, which is especially important for new hires getting up to speed. And as we’ll see, graduates in the humanities leverage these abilities into success in a wide range of fields.
The earning potential of a humanities education is clear.
For many community college students, the path to a financially rewarding career is a chief priority. Humanities degrees are often compared unfavorably to STEM degrees on their earning potential, but a study by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences shows that the reality is somewhat more nuanced.
While the median earnings for humanities graduates were ten to twenty-five percent lower than science or business graduates in most states, they were also forty percent higher than the earnings of workers without a degree. And while the study is focused primarily on four-year degrees, we’ve noted before that humanities courses are a prime target for community college students who are ultimately seeking to transfer.
In addition, while holders of STEM degrees may out-earn their humanities counterparts early in their careers, the disparity doesn’t last long. Earnings tend to even out over the first decade, and remain comparable after that.
The outcomes for humanities students are promising.
Humanities skills act as enhancers for almost any career. In 2021, the AAA&S found significant percentages of humanities degree-holders in education-related roles (10.5%), business and financial operations (12%), and arts, design, entertainment, and media (7%). Some (9%) were even working in STEM roles such as healthcare and engineering.
The sheer range of career fields for humanities majors highlights the transferability of their skillsets. Strong communication helps candidates present well in applications and interviews, and portrays their job performance in the best possible light. Humanities students have the tools to advocate for themselves in the workplace as well, and can state a strong case for a raise or promotion with well-crafted language and relevant evidence.
When evaluating candidates for management, employers tend to prioritize the same strong communication skills, as well as an ability to bring disparate personalities and disciplines together for a common purpose. Managers also need to adapt to shifting priorities and solve problems creatively, making humanities training invaluable for success in leadership roles.
Adaptability is also crucial in an economy with rapidly evolving technology. The humanities teach employees the skills that will help them embrace new tools and capabilities and make innovative use of them. And while repetitive tasks are increasingly being folded into automation efforts, the jobs most resilient to automation are those that require flexibility and critical thinking—which are core humanities learnings.
Humanities courses open career opportunities for community college students.
Whether students ultimately want to transfer to a four-year institution, pursue soft skills for their current roles, or even just expand their horizons, community colleges have an opportunity to fill a growing humanities gap in higher education. Colleges have an incentive to promote the value of their humanities programs, and highlight the successes of their alumni.
Aperture Content Marketing offers a rich library of community college marketing content, customizable to your programs and needs, and supports your outreach with microsites and print publications. To learn more about how Aperture can help you promote your humanities offerings, contact us today.