Is it humanly possible?
What do Paperless Post co-founder Alexa Hirschfeld, former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Apple’s Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey have in common? Besides success, of course.
Well, they were all students of the humanities.
All but one (you can guess who) graduated with degrees ranging from communication sciences to literature and history.
Throughout history, people have studied humanities to understand themselves and others better.
And it is back with a bang!
In an era of artificial intelligence (AI), a need for deep knowledge about human intelligence is gaining traction in all fields.
Physicians are signing up for communication workshops to remain relevant in the face of automated medicine, lawyers are honing their human skills to stay ahead of AI, and even engineers and accountants are becoming more interested in understanding the science of being human to perfect their approach to living and business.
Some institutions report that the interest in humanities has more than doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of one thing you can be sure (for now, at least) – AI can seemingly do just about anything other than be human.
Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and the Economy will help to SHAPE the future.
Are you up for it?
Humanities education at the University of the Free State (UFS) is not just an academic journey; it is a voyage into the depths of human thought, culture, and societal dynamics.
It equips you with the tools to critically analyse the world around you, fostering an appreciation for literature, cultures, and the nuanced use of power.
Prof Mogomme Masoga, dean of the Faculty of the Humanities, said: “Today’s ever-changing career world requires several skills that this Faculty can equip you with, including language proficiency, communication skills, creativity, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, computer literacy, and critical thinking. As a Humanities scholar, you will be able to provide possible solutions to the global challenges society faces, be an action leader in society, embrace change, transformation and innovation, and actively participate in research and community activities.”
Some of the programmes on offer are specialised by design, whereas others can be tailored to your vision for your future. For example, the subject sociology can be combined with B.Soc.Sci. or BA degrees.
Students who choose sociology undertake a fascinating intellectual journey exploring the complexities of human behaviour and societal structures.
If you have a deep interest in how groups of people create meaning and how a discipline can reveal future human potentialities (despite its chequered past or maybe because of it?), and you are genuinely interested in understanding how you participate in the creation of systems of meaning, anthropology is for you. You walk into anthropology as someone with a particular story; you walk out of anthropology as a human being in conversation with other human beings.
Social work is a good option for you if you prefer to make a more hands-on impact.
The UFS’ four-year social work degree will prepare you to serve vulnerable populations through casework, group work, and community work.
Fine Arts is more than just an academic subject or field of study. It is simultaneously a life orientation and a pathway to a professional career.
Visual Arts studies embrace the wholistic development of a person, particularly with regard to innovative abilities, critical artistic judgement, creative skills and problem solving, and the power of imagenation.
Other study fields include music, geography, psychology, community development, history, criminology, political sciences, business management, industrial psychology, and more.
The UFS is at the forefront of a major shift, and you can be a part of the front-runners.
