The studies that fall under the category of humanities, such as media, visual arts and philosophy, are widely controversial in their value as degrees. In the New York Times, an article called “Humanities Studies Under Strain Around the Globe” reported that in 2011, financing for humanities research in the U.S. fell to less than half of the amount dedicated to science and engineering research and development.

The recent recession and decreasing job opportunities in the humanities fields have led to a number of people claiming their majors were chosen solely on the basis of a consistent salary after graduation. However, let us look a little deeper at this problem and ask why people continue to study these fields if they indeed contribute nothing to society.

The website Human Experience, run by Stanford University, is quoted as saying, “Through explorations of the humanities we learn how to think creatively and critically, to reason, and to ask questions.”

All of these skills would be valuable crossovers into analytical fields. In addition, the National Humanities Alliance states, “Employers predict that future economic growth will come from cultural knowledge and analytical ability paired with technical knowledge and scientific research.”

So, do employers really value a liberal arts degree when seeking out workers? The Association of American Colleges and Universities recently released a report called “How Liberal Arts and Sciences Majors Fare In Employment” that includes U.S. Census data from 2010-11.

According to the research, by their mid-50s, liberal arts majors with an advanced or undergraduate degree are on average making more money than those who studied in professional and pre-professional fields and are employed at similar rates.

So while a liberal arts degree might be a bit of a slow start, over time it is rewarding and does bring a successful life. Each person is born with an individual skill set. Not everybody possesses an aptitude for math and science, nor can everyone draw, write or dance.

To completely negate a natural talent, no matter what the salary is from it, is to deprive the world of a unique skill that can be used to further an understanding of the world. The staying power of some of the world’s greatest artists, playwrights and authors attests to the influence humanities have on shaping our world.

We still see students reading Shakespeare, and every year, the Art Institute of Chicago sees a rush of people looking to get lost in the imaginations of artists from every period in history.

If we have whole museums dedicated to our love of creative expression, why would we want to deter students from furthering their education in those areas?