INTERVIEW cont.
Dad: I use the study of the arts and humanities every day when using the law and studying history. I love to watch the history channel and read books about WorldWar II. I have continued to embrace the life long learning process after completing a college degree in history. Me: How do you think the arts and humanities are valued in the education system compared to more research based focuses such as STEM? Dad: I can not stress the importance of the arts and humanities enough in our education systems. I want to place emphasis on the importance of history in education. I have a strong belief that every child should have a basic understanding of world history before entering the workforce. The arts and humanities are essential to the foundation of education because a background of history usually can not be found in fields such as engineering or medicine.
Ryan, the Business Student
Lastly, I spoke with my friend Ryan, who is an Economics major. I was surprised to learn how the arts andhumanities impact different aspects of life besides education. As we talked, she realized that the arts and humanities have existed throughout her family for her whole life in different ways.
humanities can be applied to the rest of a person’s life, especially in their future professions.
Me: How do you view the arts and humanities in your own life?
Me: What role does the arts and humanities play in your current or future professional careers?
Ryan: As an Economics major, I have realized that a background in the arts and humanities is essential to the understanding of the economy. Now that I think of it, I have been surrounded by the arts and humanities my whole life. My family has been oriented around the arts and humanities for as long as I can remember through painting, drawing, and sculpture. My older sister attends SUNY New Paltz, a Liberal Arts college that focuses a lot on the visual arts. Me: How do you think the arts and humanities are valued in the education system compared to more research based focuses such as STEM? Ryan: In college, I think that it is a common perception that the arts and humanities are “easier” than courses in STEM. However, I do not find this to be true. I think that the arts and humanities are important in education. They are just as challenging as STEM courses. The college courses that cover topics in the arts and
Ryan: Through my study of economics, I have realizedtheartsandhumanitiesareessential tomy future. I hope to work in business after I complete my degree in economics. In the business world, I know that I will be utilizing components of the arts and humanities frequently. I will use reading, writing, critical thinking, and communication skills everyday.
beneficial in the workplace because of the constant collaboration that occurs in most jobs. Collaboration and interaction with other people to understand different perspectives is an essential part of the arts and humanities. Young students across the world are responsible for continuing to spread knowledge. What people learn in schools translates to how they interact with the world around them. The implementation of the arts and humanities in school curriculums is necessary to maintain valuable lessons about the importance of knowing about other cultures, about understanding diverse modes of thinking and living and learning in historical context. Asking questions like the ones in this interview makes people really think about how the arts and humanities are useful in their lives, and they make everyone
My Conclusions
Me: What role do the arts and humanities play in your current or future professional careers?
Even if they are not the full focus of someone’s educational background, the arts and humanities dominate the world. Expanding one’s education to incorporate history, language, and culture can help improve a person’s understanding of the world. Throughout my interviewing process, I found that it is clear that the arts and humanities have a profound impact on research based jobs that predominantly involve medicine, biology, and technology. Arts and humanities courses are
Dad: To be a lawyer, the arts and humanities are critical. You need to have solid reading skills and the ability to understand exactly what you are reading. The arts and humanities can provide a wide variety of knowledge in many different areas besides math and science. The skills taught by the arts and humanities are essential for the legal profession.
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Arts & Humanities
Don’t Leave College Without Them
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