I recently came across my undergraduate college transcripts from Valparaiso University. While my degree was in physics, a hard science (very hard, to me), roughly two-thirds of my credits were in humanities - literature, Christian thought and theology, writing seminars, and foreign language.
While the quantitative and technical skills inferred by my STEM courses set me up well for a technical career path, I more deeply value the humanities courses in my undergraduate education, particularly from Christ College -- The Honors College. They shaped how I think about the world, my place in it (particularly in a Christian tradition), and how to understand one's work in a broader context than just a paycheck or the fleeting satisfaction of reaching the brass ring.
These courses, and conversations with professors in office hours, were invaluable as I was preparing to enter the Marines.
Going into Memorial Day weekend, I would recommend reading this article about a World War II naval officer who understood how important it is for those of us in the profession of arms, to appreciate the humanities.
https://lnkd.in/gTg2VQ5e
Additionally, my undergraduate humanities courses have become even more invaluable in my post-military career in analytics. They ground me in how to think about our present age of rapid technological change, with its accompanying social impacts. Indeed, I believe that insufficient rootedness in humanities among technical professionals today, is a major contributing factor to the justifiable apprehension around emerging technologies.
#operationsresearch #datascience #ai INFORMS