No more history majors...?

[Anonymous]

It’s so frustrating to see history education fading away. As a history grad, it feels like history programs are becoming a rare breed, overshadowed by more “practical” majors. Take liberal arts colleges like Amherst—once bastions of broad, critical thinking—they’re slowly getting pushed aside for programs that are more focused on job training.

It’s like we're losing the value of understanding our past in favor of immediate career prospects. History teaches us to think critically, understand complex narratives, and appreciate diverse perspectives. But with fewer history programs and a shift toward more vocational degrees, it’s worrying that future generations might miss out on these crucial skills. Instead of pushing students into the latest job market trends, colleges should be championing the importance of a well-rounded education.

[Anonymous]

What was your major?

How does having more history majors help a English major learn history?

[Anonymous]

What aren't you embarrassed that you didn't major in English or math or biology?

[Anonymous]

Colleges have tried championing the importance of spending four years and six figures on the liberal arts. 99% of students aren't buying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have tried championing the importance of spending four years and six figures on the liberal arts. 99% of students aren't buying it.

Well quite a few students major in the liberal arts and/or go to a liberal arts college so...
Education has to be dynamic and no longer serves exclusively upper class students. Getting a biology and anthropology double major doesn't have the prospects it used to, but paired with outside skill prepping and internships, you have a lot of well paying career opportunities.

[Anonymous]

A liberal arts education emphasizes critical thinking and is not vocational training. My classmates who went to SLACs have been highly successful in many professional fields (law, med school, business, etc.)

[Anonymous]

It’s the price.

If college cost $5, there would be a lot more history majors. And if the corporate world signaled they are enthusiastic about hiring history majors, there will be a lot more history majors.

But that’s not the case in 2024. And so the youngsters choose according

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have tried championing the importance of spending four years and six figures on the liberal arts. 99% of students aren't buying it.

Well quite a few students major in the liberal arts and/or go to a liberal arts college so...
Education has to be dynamic and no longer serves exclusively upper class students. Getting a biology and anthropology double major doesn't have the prospects it used to, but paired with outside skill prepping and internships, you have a lot of well paying career opportunities.

And this is not so easy for students who are LMC/first-gen/no family connections etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have tried championing the importance of spending four years and six figures on the liberal arts. 99% of students aren't buying it.

And that’s if you finish in 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges have tried championing the importance of spending four years and six figures on the liberal arts. 99% of students aren't buying it.

Well quite a few students major in the liberal arts and/or go to a liberal arts college so...
Education has to be dynamic and no longer serves exclusively upper class students. Getting a biology and anthropology double major doesn't have the prospects it used to, but paired with outside skill prepping and internships, you have a lot of well paying career opportunities.

And this is not so easy for students who are LMC/first-gen/no family connections etc

That's why you go to college and work the alumni or career center. Or get research and gain applicable skills there. There's so many opportunities to get a job beyond family nepotism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so frustrating to see history education fading away. As a history grad, it feels like history programs are becoming a rare breed, overshadowed by more “practical” majors. Take liberal arts colleges like Amherst—once bastions of broad, critical thinking—they’re slowly getting pushed aside for programs that are more focused on job training.

It’s like we're losing the value of understanding our past in favor of immediate career prospects. History teaches us to think critically, understand complex narratives, and appreciate diverse perspectives. But with fewer history programs and a shift toward more vocational degrees, it’s worrying that future generations might miss out on these crucial skills. Instead of pushing students into the latest job market trends, colleges should be championing the importance of a well-rounded education.

Your critical thinking skills must not be as strong as you think they are. Plenty of ways to develop the skills you cite without going to college and majoring in history.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, OP. I am also a history major and often find my peers (without a liberal arts education) to be pretty inarticulate and not very thoughtful. There is a correlation between the demise of the humanities and the popularity of Colleen Hoover-type authors and books.

[Anonymous]

I'm a professional historian and what bothers me isn't so much the number of majors, it's that the number of faculty and course offerings are so dependent on majors. Wouldn't it be GREAT if students focused on business, economics, engineering, comp sci, etc also had a strong grounding in history? Wouldn't it be awesome if it were part of the tool kit for future leaders?

I would love to see history integrated across the curriculum. But I guess I AM describing liberal arts education.

[Anonymous]

Well, the history curriculum in many primary and secondary schools as well as in some colleges and universities has become tangled up in the so-called culture wars. How many people who learned about “the War of Northern Aggression “ are likely to be excited enough about history to want to major in it? How many students who were taught to value contexts and points of view on one hand — and, on the other, listened to members of their communities get excited about banning books and teaching the 1776 curriculum— would have the desire to major in something that doesn’t lead directly to a career path, or even some common agreement about the value of their studies?

I actually do value having a well-rounded education, but that’s very much a luxury for many of us.

[Anonymous]

I have a history degree, loved my classes and still value the research, study and writing skills I learned. But, I had no help from my college translating the degree/skills to the workplace. It was depressing. I discouraged my kids from majoring in history. I'd be all for it as a 2nd BA. Maybe open curriculum and encouraging students to double major across fields is the way forward. Or better career advising and alum networks.