Member-only story

College Professors Speak From The Heart of Humanities Education

Milton Bell

·15.5k Followers· Follow

Published in Practically Human: College Professors Speak From The Heart Of Humanities Education

5 min read

260 View Claps

31 Respond

Save

Listen

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of humanities education in higher education has come under scrutiny. Some critics argue that the humanities are no longer relevant in a world increasingly driven by science, technology, and economics. Others contend that the humanities are more important than ever, as they provide students with the critical thinking, cultural understanding, and empathy skills needed to navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century.

To gain a deeper understanding of the current state of humanities education, we spoke to three college professors who are passionate about their work. They shared their thoughts on the importance of the humanities, the challenges facing humanities departments, and the ways in which interdisciplinary approaches can help to revitalize humanities education.

Practically Human: College Professors Speak from the Heart of Humanities Education

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1321 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	172 pages

The Importance of the Humanities

"The humanities are essential for developing the whole person," said Dr. Sarah Jones, an associate professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley. "They help students to understand themselves and their place in the world. They also provide students with the tools they need to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve problems."

Dr. Jones's colleague, Dr. David Smith, an associate professor of history, agreed. "The humanities help students to understand the past, present, and future," he said. "They also help students to understand different cultures and perspectives. This understanding is essential for living in a globalized world."

Dr. Maria Garcia, an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Texas at Austin, added that the humanities are also essential for fostering creativity and imagination. "The humanities help students to see the world in new ways," she said. "They also help students to develop their own unique voices."

The Challenges Facing Humanities Departments

While the professors we spoke to were all passionate about the importance of the humanities, they also acknowledged the challenges facing humanities departments. "One of the biggest challenges is the decline in enrollment," said Dr. Jones. "This is due in part to the perception that the humanities are not as relevant as other fields of study."

Dr. Smith added that another challenge is the lack of funding for humanities departments. "Humanities departments are often the first to be cut when budgets are tight," he said. "This makes it difficult to attract and retain top faculty and to offer a wide range of courses."

Dr. Garcia also noted that humanities departments are often marginalized within the university. "Humanities departments are often seen as less important than other departments, such as science and engineering," she said. "This can make it difficult for humanities professors to get the resources they need to do their work."

The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Approaches

Despite the challenges facing humanities departments, the professors we spoke to were optimistic about the future of humanities education. They all agreed that interdisciplinary approaches can help to revitalize humanities education and make it more relevant to students.

"Interdisciplinary approaches allow students to see the connections between different fields of study," said Dr. Jones. "This helps them to understand the world in a more holistic way."

Dr. Smith added that interdisciplinary approaches can also help students to develop new skills and perspectives. "Interdisciplinary approaches force students to think outside of their comfort zones," he said. "This can help them to become more creative and innovative."

Dr. Garcia noted that interdisciplinary approaches can also help to break down the silos that often exist between different disciplines. "Interdisciplinary approaches allow students to see how different fields of study can work together to solve problems," she said. "This can help them to become more collaborative and interdisciplinary in their own work."

The humanities are essential for developing the whole person. They help students to understand themselves and their place in the world, to think critically, to communicate effectively, to solve problems, to be creative, and to be lifelong learners. Interdisciplinary approaches can help to revitalize humanities education and make it more relevant to students. By embracing interdisciplinary approaches, humanities departments can help to prepare students for the complex challenges of the 21st century.

Practically Human: College Professors Speak from the Heart of Humanities Education

5 out of 5