Amy Wilkins Explains Why STEM Undergraduates Should Take Social Science and Humanities Classes

As technology advances, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) courses are becoming increasingly popular among undergraduates.

However, experts like Amy Wilkins in Longmont, Colorado, say if you’re an undergraduate looking to get ahead in the workplace, you should also consider taking social science and humanities classes.

These classes can provide invaluable skills that will set you apart from other candidates when applying for jobs or internships. Let’s examine why taking social science and humanities classes benefits STEM undergraduates. 

What are social science and humanities?

Amy Wilkins contends that social science and humanities classes focus on topics related to people, society, culture, politics, history, philosophy, and more.

Examples of social science classes include psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, political science, gender studies, and many others. Examples of humanities classes include literature, philosophy, art history, music, and more.

Benefits of taking social science and humanities classes for stem undergraduates

Here are just a few of the many benefits that STEM undergraduates can gain from taking social science and humanities classes:

Improve communication skills

By taking social science and humanities classes, STEM undergraduates will learn how to communicate effectively with different types of people.

They’ll gain the skills necessary to understand other points of view and express their ideas clearly and concisely. This is an invaluable skill that will help them in the workplace.

Broaden perspectives

Amy Wilkins claims that by taking social science and humanities classes, STEM undergraduates will gain a better understanding of the world around them.

They’ll learn to appreciate different cultures and opinions, allowing them to think more critically about the issues that affect their field. This can help them become more well-rounded professionals who can tackle problems from multiple angles.

These are the types of employees that employers are looking for.

Strengthen leadership skills

By taking social science and humanities classes, STEM undergraduates will learn to lead teams productively and efficiently. They’ll gain the skills to manage conflict, motivate their team members, and confidently make decisions. These essential leadership qualities will set them apart from other candidates in the job market.

Social science and humanities classes can provide many valuable skills for STEM undergraduates to help them stand out in the workplace. These classes can broaden their perspectives, strengthen their communication skills, and improve their leadership capabilities.

Employers want well-rounded employees 

The world of work is changing rapidly due to technological advancements—especially in the field of STEM. Employers are increasingly seeking out young professionals with experience in social sciences, humanities, and STEM.

By taking both courses, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you have a diverse skill set and can think critically about complex problems from multiple angles. This type of well-roundedness is attractive to employers since it shows them that you can adapt quickly to different challenges and work within various fields.

Social sciences offer insight into human behavior

In addition to providing an edge in the job market, taking social science classes can give you a better understanding of human behavior.

In today’s digitally-driven world, it’s essential for people working in the tech industry to understand how humans interact with technology—and social science classes are perfect for learning more about this topic. By studying sociology or psychology, for example, you can gain insights into how people think and behave when interacting with technology—which could be valuable knowledge when developing new products or services in your field. 

Humanities courses teach creative problem-solving skills 

Amy Wilkins argues while many STEM courses focus on technical skills such as coding or data analysis, humanities courses focus on developing creative problem-solving skills.

Whether through literature or history courses, these classes offer opportunities for students to learn how to think outside the box when approaching problems. This skill is essential in any field of work today! In addition, critical thinking skills learned through humanities classes can help you develop innovative solutions that would otherwise be difficult to come up with using only technical knowledge alone. 

How to incorporate social sciences and humanities

Taking social science and humanities classes as part of your STEM degree can be a great way to gain an edge in the job market. It’s essential to consider which courses are best for you, so do some research into what will give you the most bang for your buck. 

For example, if you’re interested in pursuing a career in tech, you may want to consider taking courses on the psychology of technology or the sociology of the digital age. Additionally, being realistic about what lessons you can manage while promptly completing your STEM degree is essential.

Final thoughts

Social science and humanities classes can be incredibly beneficial for STEM undergraduates looking to accelerate their careers after graduation.

They provide insights into human behavior that could be useful when developing new products or services and teach creative problem-solving skills that are essential in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape.

So if you’re an undergraduate interested in getting ahead after graduation, consider adding some social science and humanities courses to your academic curriculum!