Study Humanities, Humanities Schools

More a category of disciplines than a discipline in itself, the term “humanities” refers to any academic discipline that concerns the human condition or the creations of human beings. Philosophy, art, literature, history, creative writing, music, critical theory, and cultural studies are all examples of disciplines within the humanities. It is obvious that a tremendous range of different topics may be included within the humanities, so it is unusual for people to study simply humanities, without a further area of specialization. Those who do major in humanities are usually interdisciplinary scholars who work at the intersections of different fields–for example, a humanities scholar might be interested in the ways in which literature can express philosophical ideas. This would require a course of study that included courses in both literature and philosophy, so a humanities major might be the perfect thing.
 
Personal Qualities

• Passionate love of reading and writing
• Analytic mind, ability to reason well
• Very strong command of the English language – broad vocabulary and ability to parse complex sentences
• Broad range of interests including history, philosophy, art, literature, and world cultures

Study Options

Because of the diversity of fields of study within the humanities, the range of study options is almost limitless. English majors, art majors, foreign-language majors and many others may all be correctly described as students of the humanities. Courses of study in the humanities as such (i.e., interdisciplinary humanities rather than single disciplines within that category) are rare, but there are a few excellent examples. These programs are highly theoretical and abstract, and but they are perfect for curious and hardworking individuals with an intellectual bent.
 
Career Options

Most people who study the humanities do not do so because they have a specific job or career path in mind. They are simply fascinated by questions and tasks in a certain field, or they are passionate about art or music. There are a few jobs, such as college professor, professional photographer, and concert pianist, that would require many years of study in the humanities, but most people who choose this field do so out of pure love. However, an education in the humanities provides many invaluable skills that will be useful in nearly any job – humanities students learn how to write well, how to participate productively in an intellectual or political debate, and how to persuade others. Moreover, they often gain personal insights and strengths that help to improve their lives in ways far deeper than any job skill.

Here you can find schools to study Humanities. Choose where you would like to study Humanities:

Return to the list of subjects

Are you interested in touring Spain? Click here to learn about our thematic educational tours or have us design a customized itinerary specially for you!