The first question most undergrads ask is, “What can I do with this major?” Humanities offers many benefits. Liberal education, as John Henry Newman insisted, is a good in itself (since knowledge is a good in itself), and it also has secondary benefits. A cultivated, enlarged, disciplined mind will be useful in any undertaking—social, political, economic, and so forth.
We are confident that Humanities is one of the most intellectually stimulating, enjoyable majors at Villanova. It offers students the unique chance of learning not only traditional wisdom, but the chance to bring that wisdom to bear on a range of contemporary economic, religious, political, and social questions that are at the heart of human culture and life.
Humanities has practical advantages as well. It can lead to challenging and satisfying employment, even in business. Employers value students who are broadly educated, who can speak and write effectively, and who are capable of tackling complex problems. The Humanities major also prepares students extraordinarily well for graduate study. Students with this kind of interdisciplinary major can go on to law school, business school, or medical school.
