Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, including the fundamental questions asked by humans

. They focus on critically interpreting culture and humanity, and they teach valuable skills that are central to most colleges' core curricula

. The humanities include the study of:

• History and Art History: These fields study human, social, political, and cultural developments, as well as aspects of social sciences that use historical or philosophical approaches

• Literature, Languages, and Linguistics: These disciplines explore how we communicate with each other and how our ideas and thoughts on the human experience are expressed and interpreted

• Philosophy, Ethics, and Comparative Religion: These fields consider ideas about the meaning of life and the reasons for our thoughts and actions

• Jurisprudence: This discipline examines the values and principles that inform our laws

• Critical and Theoretical Approaches to the Arts: These fields explore historical or philosophical questions and reflect upon the creative process

The humanities emphasize analysis, exchange of ideas, and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human lives and the world

. They help us decide what is important, how to make our lives and the lives of others better, and address challenges we face together as families, communities, and nations

. The humanities are distinct from natural sciences, social sciences, and applied sciences in that they use primarily critical or speculative methods and have a significant historical element