Many have discounted the educational value of majoring in fields that lie outside of the science, technology, engineering and math arenas, yet an education in humanities is not the professional death sentence that it so often gets branded as. In fact, studying literature, philosophy and other humanities-based subjects can even be considered an essential part of all students' educations. Learning about the humanities can create a more well-rounded person, something that is certainly beneficial in the professional realm. Indeed, in certain job markets, someone who knows a little about a lot may actually be more employable than one who is an expert in just one area.
So maybe there are a lot of English majors who end up at jobs that, quite frankly, aren't related to English. Regardless, the point is that a liberal arts degree - specifically one in humanities - teaches one how to think critically. Studying what some may deem "fluffy" subjects often enables students to analyze issues in an efficient, effective and creative manner. Although reading upwards of 20 Jane Austin books by graduation, or producing papers about comparative religion for four years, does not necessarily make anyone a prodigy, learning from some of the greatest minds across history and thinking in more abstract terms are things that that will certainly appeal to some companies.
This is not to say that getting a humanities degree in any way guarantees employment, or even increases the chances of it. However, the myth that one's career is directly tied to his or her undergraduate or even graduate degree is simply incorrect, and only serves to discourage students from concentrating in certain disciplines. This is the reason that Tufts has a core curriculum and general requirements for all students, even engineers. One is arguably less employable if he or she has only studied one subject intensively: An experiment is moot if the scientist who conducted it cannot write a lab report or speak about the results of the tests. This bites both ways, of course, as one who only studies history or the classics ends up being caught in that same trap.
Diversifying on an academic level is crucial because it provides a foundation for learning how to think. As practicality and applicability of humanities degrees continues to come under fire, it bears repeating that the grudge that politicians, parents and even fellow students have against humanities majors is problematic and half-baked.
