As humanity evolves technologically, even reaching places as far as Mars, we remain extremely behind in learning how to live with one another on Earth.

In the rush to promote science, technology, engineering and math, we risk sidelining crucial fields such as psychology, anthropology, biology and sociology that teach us how to think critically, empathize, and understand the human condition. It is undeniable that the STEM subjects are extremely helpful in the advancement of society as a whole, but the humanities are helpful in the advancement of how society works together.

Teaching basic critical thinking skills and breaking down societal norms couldn’t hurt, and it could only help make the world a better place for people to work together. Grasping the many concepts of human life and interaction would help humans understand each other better, allowing for our collaboration to be stronger.

We’ve all been in situations and conversations where we wish we could read the person we are talking to, or understand why they say certain things. After taking the AP Psychology course here at GBHS, I’ve been able to apply some concepts I’ve learned to better understand the intent behind people’s actions. For instance, I was once having a conversation with one of my peers where he expressed that he doesn’t usually participate in boycotts because he is only one person, and he believes that he can’t make a difference.

This idea can be explained by diffusion of responsibility, a psychological phenomenon that explains why some are less likely to help a situation because they believe their contribution is too minute to be of use. If I hadn’t taken that psychology class, I wouldn’t have understood the reasoning behind my friend’s thought process. Learning about concepts like these has helped me broaden my perspective and strengthen my objectivity.

While STEM can help us grasp the basic concepts of the world, the humanities allow us to further understand each other. It is commonly believed that majoring in a STEM field leads to more lucrative career opportunities, influencing many students’ academic choices. While that may be true in some cases, majoring in a humanities subject such as psychology or linguistics can help you significantly in your day-to-day world, as it is much easier to apply what you’ve learned. In contrast, many STEM degrees, such as a mathematics degree, can’t always be used in everyday life.

In an article written by Karin Wulf, the author utilizes a report concerning national humanities employment. The report reveals that “humanities majors have much better employment experience than those without college degrees, that their compensation is similar to other college graduates (with the exception of engineering).”

Additionally, many humanities degrees are non-vocational; not relating to or concerned with a specific profession, in contrast to many other degrees that prepare you for a more narrowly defined profession. This can be helpful because it allows people to use their degrees in many fields of work, rather than being stuck with a specific profession for the rest of their lives.

Understanding how humans function within a society isn’t just useful, it’s transformative. It helps you see patterns in behavior, question your place in the world, and recognize how your choices affect others. Even one class in a field like sociology can open your eyes in a way no coding course ever could.

Outside of the internal growth and development that occurs when learning about the humanities, they are also very helpful in careers. A degree in sociology, one of the renowned fields of the humanities, can also help you in almost any work environment, from Human Resources to Public Relations.

With recent advances in technology and the rise of AI, fear has grown surrounding the effects it may have on the job market. This causes people who are potentially interested in the humanities to flock to careers that align with STEM degrees, because of the widespread belief that it is irrational to major in the humanities. Many people believe that STEM will dominate the future job market, but almost every field needs the human skills that the humanities teach. Employers are looking for people who can work in a team and communicate, not just those who show up to work with a paycheck in mind. A 2023 report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 91% of employers value communication skills more than technical knowledge when hiring recent graduates.

It’s often said that majoring in a humanities subject is impractical, or that ‘you can’t do anything with it’, but employers widely report that they prefer hires that can think critically and problem-solve. Studies find that companies pay a premium for leaders who demonstrate strong presentation or writing skills, both of which are developed through the humanities. For instance, in an article titled “What Employers Want” written in 2021, the author, Colleen Flaherty, states that “Employers are also willing to pay a salary premium for liberal arts skills.” Flaherty also goes on to say, “Engineering and information technology professionals can expect to make an additional $14,000 annually for leadership skills, $12,000 for presentation skills and $2,000 for writing skills.”

So yes, STEM might build the tools, but the humanities help teach us how to use them, because at the end of the day, it’s not just about building better machines — it’s about building a better society.