What are humanities? (Including skills and career options) Updated 30 September 2022 Humanities are the study of what it means to be human. If you have a passion for knowledge and are curious about humanity's development throughout history, humanities could be an ideal area of study. Understanding humanities and how it can help you learn how to think critically and develop important skills can be a significant advantage if you're a current or prospective humanities student. In this article, we discuss what the humanities are, what skills you can learn by studying them and what career choices might be open to you upon completion of your studies. What are humanities? Learning the answer to, 'What are humanities?' can help you decide if this is an area of study that might interest you. There are several areas within the humanities. These include philosophy, art, languages, history, archaeology, anthropology, religion, politics, law and literature. Humanities look at the world of human beings and society from a critical perspective. Humanities students study what it is to be human, language, art and literature, poetry and culture. They look at values and morality, how societies rise and fall and human emotions and spirituality. How do universities define humanities? Many universities offer several humanities courses. Humanities itself is part of the liberal arts category of study. Besides humanities, liberal arts comprise social science, natural science and the arts. Many humanities courses overlap other areas of fine arts. For example, some universities would consider history a humanities course, but as a subject, it draws a lot from social and political science so as a subject, other universities might classify it as a social science. What type of humanities courses are available? Depending on your chosen area of interest, there are various humanities courses that you could choose to study. Some focus on one area while others combine multiple topics. Here are some of the most common undergraduate humanities courses available to study: art history English literature religious studies linguistics music visual arts performing arts philosophy classical studies (also called Classics) history anthropology modern languages ancient languages human geography law dance communications Several universities also offer master's degrees in humanities, some of which focus on the core humanities subjects, but many of which are in more specialised areas of study, focusing on more specific topics or combining several humanities subjects. These include: marketing and consumerism digital culture equality, diversity and inclusion European studies Irish studies history, politics and sociology applied linguistics youth, community and social regeneration public administration and leadership Related: What is sociology? (Plus relevant skills for sociologists) What skills can you learn from studying humanities? The study of humanities brings with it a series of benefits, including learning several useful skills that you can apply in the workplace and in day-to-day life. These skills include both soft skills and technical skills, depending on the area of humanities you choose to study. There are several skills that many humanities students can develop over the course of their studies, regardless of their area of expertise. These include: Writing: completing a humanities degree involves a lot of writing so students often improve and develop their writing skills. Through developing assignments, compiling essays and writing persuasive texts, humanities students often learn how to communicate effectively through writing, how to structure written pieces and how to convey complex ideas through the written word. Research: a lot of humanities coursework involves research and most universities expect students to perform their own investigations and draw conclusions from their findings. The research skills learned during the course of studying for a humanities degree, such as analysing source materials and identifying which information is useful, can be of great use both during and after the study period. Creative thinking: in humanities, lectures place little emphasis on learning by rote and for the most part, universities expect students to think creatively and comment analytically to come up with their own conclusions. Over time, this helps a student learn to approach problems in new ways and to solve problems creatively. Critical thinking: one of the most valuable skills you can learn while studying humanities is the ability to think critically. You can learn to use critical thinking to identify and solve problems, enhance your understanding of arguments and appreciate and acknowledge different points of view about any topic. Communication: most employers value communication skills and a humanities degree is a great way to hone this skill. You can develop the ability to get your ideas across clearly through repeated practice and humanities offers several opportunities for this, such as essay writing, debating and active listening. Interpersonal skills: learning to work as part of a team and getting along with others is a skill that many humanities students develop during their time at university. Working on projects together, learning to understand and accept others' viewpoints and collaborating to achieve a common goal are skills that you can apply to many aspects of life. Analytical skills: humanities students typically learn how to gather and analyse information from qualitative sources. The study of humanities can help you develop strong analytical skills where you think critically and build a logical argument based on your analysis of a topic. Related: Soft skills in the workplace (with examples) Why are humanities important? There are several benefits to studying humanities. The study of humanities helps people understand humanity through the study of language, art, history and culture. It helps people make sense of the world from both a moral and intellectual perspective, which can foster empathy and help bring about social justice and equality in society. While the study of humanities doesn't focus on a single job-related skill, employers are increasingly seeking out people with abilities such as critical thinking, creativity and interpersonal skills. You can gain many of these skills through on-the-job training. Organisations often look for graduates who can write clearly, communicate effectively and who can analyse information to draw conclusions. These are skills that you can gain by studying humanities. Related: What are the different types of communication? What does studying humanities involve? Whether you're considering a primary degree or a postgraduate qualification, it's useful to know what to expect when studying humanities. The specifics would depend on your exact degree subject, but in general, there is usually a lot of reading and writing involved. Reading would include a range of textbooks, literary documents, academic works and other source material. Writing would involve condensing what you have learned through reading and from your lectures into essays in which you draw conclusions, such as developing an argument about a particular question. You might also listen to lectures by professors and academic experts, either by attending in person at your university or online. There could also be seminars or classes in smaller groups or even one-to-one time with a tutor or mentor. Related: What are analytical skills? And tips for developing them What career can you pursue after studying humanities? Unlike students with qualifications-focused degrees, humanities students do not graduate and apply for a job as a humanist. Depending on your interests and preferences, there are several career paths you could pursue after studying humanities. A benefit of humanities is that almost any job which does not require specific qualifications is a prospect for a humanities graduate. While studying humanities, it's likely you have developed certain important skills that are sought after by many employers and that you could apply to a variety of industries. Some examples of careers that humanities students might pursue after graduation include: writer journalist researcher lawyer marketer technical writer travel agent curator human resources graphic designer interpreter secondary school teacher university lecturer editor public relations executive Related: What does a lecturer do? Plus salary, steps and skills Further study Not all humanities graduates begin their careers directly after finishing their primary degree. Many choose to further their studies with a postgraduate qualification, developing and building on what they have already studied or choosing a completely different area of speciality. Opting to continue studying can be an enjoyable way to develop your knowledge about an area you're passionate about and can have a positive impact on your future employment prospects. Sometimes, a master's degree might be a requirement for a role or an employer might offer a higher salary to a more qualified candidate. Explore more articles How to become a doctor in Ireland (With helpful steps) What is self-employment and why do people pursue it? What is a professional? (Definition, standards and types) How to copy formulas in Excel (With tips and examples) What is a performance appraisal? 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