Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
Pepperdine University has cut the Humanities sequence requirement for the incoming class of 2028, according to a Graphic article.
“‘There was a pretty widespread consensus among the faculty that if we could find some ways to streamline the process and, perhaps, reduce it, that would be a good thing,’” History Professor Brian Givens said to the Graphic in previous reporting.
Pepperdine’s general education requirement was previously very large, sitting at 19 general education courses during the 2023-2024 academic year, according to Seaver’s General Education Program.
Reducing the general education requirement is beneficial because it gives students more room in their schedules to take other courses.
It is uncommon to find a course from another school that can fulfill the Humanities requirement at Pepperdine. Many “Western Civilization/European History” in Advanced Placement high school courses or at community colleges do not fulfill the Humanities requirement, according to the Pepperdine Humanities and Teacher Education website.
That being said, I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the Humanities courses. I have learned a lot of things that I had never been exposed to in my educational career, such as Ancient Rome and Greece in Humanities 111.
Although many may argue that I will not use the history learned in the Humanities sequence in my adult life, I disagree.
While I may not be citing historical dates and events regularly, there is immense value in being well-read and understanding the broad history that the Humanities sequence teaches.
In fact, skills from studying history and literature are valuable in many different settings.
While history and literature may not produce hard skills as commonly as other fields, they produce an excess of soft skills, according to the American Historical Association.
“Technical skills can add one more important pointer to your resume but soft skills can get you credibility in the market. Soft skills drive success at an interpersonal level at your workplace. It helps you grow individually and with a team,” according to Forbes Advisor.
Comfort with ambiguity, analytical prowess and curiosity are all deemed as essential qualities of leaders, according to the Harvard Business Review. It is hard to find a subject that develops these characteristics better than history and literature, both taught in the Humanities sequence.
Additionally, being well-read may be an informal expectation for many careers, especially prestigious careers that Pepperdine-educated students may pursue. “One’s literacy proficiency can influence one’s employment and overall economic stability,” according to the Michigan Journal of Economics.
When I tell people I have a degree from a liberal arts college like Pepperdine, they may expect that I have a basic knowledge of popular literature and history. Not fulfilling these basic expectations could reflect poorly on myself and the university.
The best solution to keep the benefits of the Humanities sequence requirement while ensuring Pepperdine students are not overwhelmed with general education courses is to make Humanities courses fulfill other general education requirements.
For example, students could choose between taking History 204, History of the American Peoples, or one of the three Humanities sequence courses. Alternatively, perhaps students could choose to fulfill a World Civilizations requirement with a Humanities course.
While removing the Humanities sequence from being explicitly required benefits students, there is still a place for them at Pepperdine.
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Contact Caitlin Murray via email: caitlin.murray@pepperdine.edu or by Instagram: @caitlin_murray36
