Being a double major in humanities at a predominantly math and science university can be quite intimidating - or even any sort of humanities major for that matter. With questions like, “how much free time do you have?” and, “what do your parents think?” and, “what do you really want to do after college?” we are faced with answers of basically, “not that much,” “they support me,” and, “I don’t really know.” Employers, parents, and some faculty are pushing STEM so heavily nowadays that it’s hard to feel like you are making the right decision when choosing an arts or humanities path. These paths are typically looked at by other students as the “fun” or “easy” majors, and only the real majors like engineering and finance will get jobs. In reality, it takes a lot to be an art or humanities student. These stereotypes pop up because people outside of the major don’t know much about it and come to their own conclusions. But the fact of the matter is that we are just as intelligent and skilled in our field as any other major.

​

So many engineering and computer science students on this campus daily are absolutely hating what they are studying, and I can’t imagine having to go through that. I am very fortunate to be in a position where I can study arts and humanities, but it’s not just about luck. Having drive is incredibly important when pursuing a humanities degree. There is not a specific path one should take when majoring in abstracts like psychology or English, and you have to be creative and figure out everything you can do with your degree. With math and engineering majors, you have much more distinct paths. There is some risk involved in pursuing a humanities degree, but anything is possible with drive and application.

​

You gain a massive skill-set by studying the humanities. While most universities require STEM majors to take some humanities and arts courses for a more well-rounded education, how much do you think those majors remember after the class ends? I know I don’t remember very much from my algebra classes. Humanities disciplines are very intertwined; you have to write, research, and create as well as understand the history and evolution of the major. There are many fundamental teachings that cross over humanities degrees. For example, you need to know about sociology and psychology for art history classes. STEM majors and humanities majors require different ways of thinking and problem-solving. A broader sense of thinking can be achieved when studying a major in the humanities. There isn’t always one solid answer for things in this department; there isn’t always a correct and incorrect way. Many answers are often a matter of debate and interpretation.

​

I entirely understand and advocate pride in your own major, but no major should feel superior to another. I know I couldn’t be an engineer, but I also know that many engineers couldn’t do my future job either. The ignorance of other degrees’ coursework and experience create these stigmas. Many people may not know about the impressionist movement and its nuances or understand that art is ever-evolving and that there's always more to analyze and compare, but I also would never be able to take a thermodynamics class. It takes courage to pursue a career with an unknown future, and it’s important to give those students some credit. This is also not meant to knock on STEM majors; it is purely to shed light into some of the advantages and skills learned when majoring in the humanities and to emphasize that all majors have their own rigors and types of people needed to be successful in their respective fields. Of course, all degrees are necessary and important somewhere in the world. It’s also important to realize that everyone has different plans for their future and standards which they want to reach.