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Why isn't Humanities a prevalent major in colleges?

Was browsing through some college websites and noticed something. Why does it seem like Humanities is not listed as a major in most colleges? Is there some particular reason for this? Would like to get some perspective on this, thanks!

a year ago

When you're browsing through college majors, it can be a bit confusing to parse exactly what is what. To clarify, the term "Humanities" is more of an umbrella term that includes a diverse range of fields of study such as Literature, Philosophy, History, Foreign Languages, Art History, and so on. While some colleges might offer a broad "Humanities" major, most tend to break it down into these more specific disciplines. This is because each field within the humanities has its own distinct methods, skills, and terms, preparing students for unique roles in the workforce or for further specialization in graduate school.

So even though you might not frequently see "Humanities" listed as a specific major, I assure you that these disciplines themselves are alive and well in colleges across the country. If you're interested in the humanities, I would recommend examining the individual departments and majors under that umbrella at the universities you're interested in. For instance, if you are inclined towards literature, look for a major in English or Comparative Literature. If it's philosophy that interests you, look for a Philosophy major. Through this, you'll be able to find a program that aligns with your specific interests under the broader humanities umbrella.

a year ago

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