In recent years, higher education has faced significant challenges. In an era increasingly dominated by attacks on higher education from the left and right, it’s been tempting to prioritize industry-driven degrees: business, nursing, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in 4-year degree programs and skills certification at the community colleges and trade schools. Many campuses are slashing degree programs and required courses in the humanities (literature, languages, history, and philosophy), seeing them as “nice to have” rather than essential. But is this move a grave mistake and cutting our nose to spite our face?
Promoting professional degrees and credentialing has been a valid response to industry calls for IT, business services, and accountants. Hospitals need nurses, and society needs engineers, plumbers, and electricians. Debt-ridden graduates need jobs. This post argues that we need the humanities more than ever—not just in elite universities but also in the urban, rural, public, and private schools attended by the majority of college students.
The Human Touch in an AI World
The rise of AI (especially generative AI and large language models) will fundamentally change how we work and learn. These systems can process vast amounts of information, generate insights, and even simulate and remember conversations. But here’s the catch: AI does not—and will never—" think” the way humans do. It doesn’t wonder, reason, reflect, or feel emotions like compassion and empathy. This is where the humanities shine in developing an educated population.
The humanities cultivate deep thinking, reflection, ambiguity, consequence, and curiosity—skills critical for engaging with the world in a meaningful way. As AI advances, it will need humans capable of pursuing solutions incorporating human thought. This collaborative intelligence (CI) will rely on our capacity to ask difficult questions, solve complex problems, and apply ethical reasoning. Without the humanities, we risk losing the human attributes that allow us to collaborate effectively with AI.
Curiosity: The Missing Ingredient in AI
Languages and literature foster an innate sense of curiosity - an eagerness to explore beyond what is known. AI will never know how to self-reflect, challenge assumptions, or imagine new possibilities. That ability to wonder what if?—to take creative and intellectual leaps—has always been a hallmark of humanity at its best. Cutting back on courses that develop and test curiosity could lead to generations of workers who rely on AI-generated answers without thinking critically about the output. We will create a society that is great at following instructions and formulas but terrible at creating them.
Critical Thinking in the Age of Misinformation
Of more concern, we’re living in a digital age where fact and fiction often blur. With AI capable of generating human-like text, developing a new generation with sharp critical thinking skills is more important than ever. The ability to read between the lines, to analyze and question the truth, is not something we develop by learning codes, algorithms, rules, or formulaic business practices.
The humanities teach us how to sift through narratives with care. Intensive reading and writing—particularly in and of diverse languages and cultures—are essential for developing this ability. Without these skills, we risk becoming passive consumers of AI-generated content - that may or may not be accurate - rather than discerning participants in a digital society.
Deep Thinking: A Forgotten Skill?
Few now question that AI will replace the ways we work and know, but one thing it won’t replace is the human ability for deep, reflective thinking. This is the very thing that reading literature, engaging with philosophy, and writing lengthy, analytical essays teach us. These practices train our minds to grapple with complexity, ambiguity, and paradoxes—abilities crucial for leadership, innovation, and progress. Higher education’s haste to streamline choice to applied degrees may deprive future generations of the intellectual rigor needed to navigate an AI-driven world. Without deep thinking, we end up with surface-level solutions to complex problems—quick fixes and short-term gains, not long-term strategies.
Cutting Humanities is Short-Sighted
Declining enrollment in the humanities is happening despite clear evidence that these degrees have financial and social value. Higher education has not effectively communicated this value to students, the public, or governing boards, which is a failure of mission. Not revising curricula to make college more directly relevant to digital challenges ahead is a missed opportunity to lead in solving challenges posed by AI.
Focusing on trade and industry-aligned degrees, now being called “credentials of value” (ugh), won’t drive future innovation or create thinkers and leaders for the competitive economy we need. Without a solid foundation in critical thinking, curiosity, and reflection, we risk becoming overly dependent on AI and losing the unique human elements that push us forward. As AI becomes more powerful, the world will need people who can think outside the algorithms, ask profound questions, and bring ethical considerations to the table. Revision of curricula seems needed: in the humanities, in the core/gen ed, and in a strong foundation across the majors.
Case in Point: The Tech Industry's Humanities Revival
Interestingly, some tech companies are recognizing the value of humanities graduates. Google has long valued “soft skills” in creating effective teams, especially design thinking, leadership, communication, and collaboration skills. Microsoft has recently been recruiting philosophy majors for their ability to tackle complex problems and think outside the box. This trend underscores the enduring value of a well-rounded humanities education in a rapidly changing workforce.
The Irony of Undervaluing Humanities in the Digital Age
A balanced approach to creating an educated society prepares diverse students for many roles. Removing or minimizing humanities courses might seem like a cost-saving measure now, but it risks leaving future generations ill-equipped to thrive in a world dominated by AI. Effective use demands a poorly understood collaborative intelligence (CI) between AI and humans.
Higher education should fulfill its promise and champion education that prepares students not just for their first job but for a lifetime of adaptation, innovation, communication, and leadership in a rapidly changing world. The future demands not less humanities but more. Support for the humanities allows students across the core curriculum to take courses that foster innovative, complex thinking for an unknowable future.
It’s time for college presidents, provosts, and planners to do the right thing and steer their ship toward a future that cannot (and should not) be ignored. Lead! Support innovators embracing new practices in CI; support IT in incorporating AI into campus systems; support faculty pushing back against the fear and resistance of change in the curriculum. Transitions are hard; transformations are much harder. Watch here at Strategic Initiatives for Linda Baer’s next blog, "Five Things Planners Need to Know.” And reach out to us if you need help.
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