The Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences released an important report this week entitled, "The Heart of the Matter."
The report highlights the importance of humanities and the social sciences to a well-rounded education and describes how it complements STEM education. According to the report:
“The humanities remind us where we have been and help us envision where we are going. Emphasizing critical perspective and imaginative response, the humanities — including the study of languages, literature, history, film, civics, philosophy, religion, and the arts—foster creativity, appreciation of our commonalities and our differences, and knowledge of all kinds. The social sciences reveal patterns in our lives, over time and in the present moment. Employing the observational and experimental methods of the natural sciences, the social sciences—including anthropology, economics, political science and government, sociology, and psychology—examine and predict behavioral and organizational processes. Together, they help us understand what it means to be human and connect us with our global community.”
To access the full report: http://www.humanitiescommission.org/_pdf/HSS_Report.pdf