These are the degrees that are supposedly the “money makers.” STEM is an ever-growing employment sector that is heavily funded and will always need university graduates to fill job roles. You tell someone you are studying accounting or biology, or engineering, and they don’t bat an eye. You tell someone you are studying art or media, or English and eyebrows are raised.
“What are you going to do with that?”
“What are you going to do with that?” is the common question us humanity students face. Whether through a lack of understanding of what can be achieved with a degree or simply a prejudice towards the arts, this question diminishes degrees as nothing more than a stepping stone for achieving a lucrative job in the future.
But that’s not what university is, and this way of thinking certainly does not make my degree any less valuable. I did not apply for university to do a degree in journalism and media with the mindset of how much money I’ll make from it or how successful it can become. I chose to study this subject out of love and passion. I love media. I love the theories and the sociological thinking behind it. I love journalism. I love being able to tell people’s stories and have a voice to highlight issues I think are important.
"To say my degree, alongside other humanities and art degrees, lacks value is comparable to saying that my passion lacks value."
To say my degree, alongside other humanities and art degrees, lacks value is comparable to saying that my passion lacks value. There is value in passion, which often goes unacknowledged in favour of supporting degrees which are more likely to contribute monetarily to society. One of my favourite quotes is from the book Dead Poets Society, in which teacher Mr Keating states, “medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” I have always loved this quote, and I believe it completely summarises the starting question.
Both types of degrees have value, but ultimately it comes down to whether you see that value in money or in passion. When I graduate, and I stand next to someone who has a degree in maths, I’m aware that I won’t necessarily be the most valued scholar there. However, I can stand there and know what my degree may lack in employability or money, I can make up for in drive and determination, something which I believe is lacking in the STEM field.
"All these things have just as much value, and it is a shame that many do not see it that way."
As a journalism graduate, I can write stories that expose corrupt politicians, an art graduate can create an exhibition that is so unique and groundbreaking that it defines a generation, and an English graduate could write a novel that becomes an instant classic. All these things have just as much value, and it is a shame that many do not see it that way.