When it comes to choosing a major, students—and their parents—often dismiss the humanities in favor of a more lucrative professional track. But studying culture, philosophy, history or the arts can prepare young people for a range of distinguished careers, offering a deeper understanding of the human condition that will serve them in any field.

In this episode of School’s In, Caroline Winterer, director of the Stanford Humanities Center, joined Graduate School of Education Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope to talk about why the humanities matter in education and in life.

The field of humanities encompasses everything that makes us human, said Winterer. “The sciences are the way we explore the natural world,” she explained. “The humanities are the tools through which we explore the human world. Everything that makes us human—that falls under the umbrella of the humanities.”

Listen from the link below, and find more episodes of School's In at the Stanford Radio main page. The show airs Saturdays on SiriusXM Insight Channel 121.