Humanities degrees have declined since 2012 according to a study by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Many now see the humanities, or “coffee shop degrees,” as elementary and useless fields. This fallacy is perpetuated by the stereotypes and derogatory opinions of elitist STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors who believe memorizing long, esoteric names like “Penguinone” make them more intelligent.
While humanities majors are not doctors, mathematicians or astronauts, they are just as vital to society as a whole. Those who obtain degrees in the humanities create jobs to help explain and understand the world we live in. They explain the meaning of the world, not the chemical makeup of it. Without artists, writers and musicians, the world would be nothing but meaningless numbers. Without teachers, the world would crumble into chaos. The humanities may not be essential to a large paycheck, but they are indispensable to the progress of society.
Science majors may claim their classes are the hardest, but the humanities are no walk in the park. English majors have to write ground-breaking papers; mass communication majors must remember and apply every single rule of journalism; history majors are forced to recount obscure dates of random events. These fields require just as much hard work and dedication as any technology major.
While STEM students complain about labs, art students take studio courses that require six hours of class a week. In addition, many require extra hours in the studio outside of class. The amount of hard work put into a class relies on the student, not the field. There are dedicated, intelligent workers in both the sciences as well as humanities. Being in a certain major does not make one student smarter than the other.
Many students who claim to be in a better field cite higher salaries as their primary reason. However, the average salary of humanities majors is only seven thousand dollars a year less than those of other fields. While this pay gap makes a difference, the satisfaction humanities majors receive from their jobs is more than worth the lesser pay. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 74 percent of STEM degrees eventually switch to non-STEM related careers. Humanities students are not lazy – they are simply brave enough to follow a career that genuinely interests them rather than an appealing salary.
While the saying “follow your heart” may sound cliché, it is not errant advice. Students who are in a field they enjoy are far more likely to create satisfying work and excel in both class and future careers. There are those who enjoy the fields of science and technology. However, no one should feel forced to aspire to those professions, and no one should look down on others who decide to follow different careers. Both sides are necessary for the future of our society and should be respected as such.
Ethan Gilberti is a 19-year-old English sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.