The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication Studies
Contemporary pressures on institutions of higher learning, including economic pressures, a highly competitive “rankings” environment and critiques of the high cost of a university education, are making it increasingly more difficult to maintain a focus on intellectual values traditionally held by li...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Catalan |
| Published: |
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Anàlisi: Quaderns de Comunicació i Cultura |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://analisi.cat/article/view/2760 |
| _version_ | 1797990973996793856 |
|---|---|
| author | Brett Ingram Lisa Cuklanz |
| author_facet | Brett Ingram Lisa Cuklanz |
| author_sort | Brett Ingram |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Contemporary pressures on institutions of higher learning, including economic pressures, a highly competitive “rankings” environment and critiques of the high cost of a university education, are making it increasingly more difficult to maintain a focus on intellectual values traditionally held by liberal arts colleges and universities. The field of Communication has some apparent advantages in the more market-driven higher education environment, with its potential focus on skills training and practical pre-professional education. However, we argue that these very elements mean, ironically, that the field should re-focus on what can contribute to the liberal arts traditions to which it belongs. To do otherwise, and to focus on skills while other disciplines do not do so, is to sell ourselves short and to play into criticisms of the Communication Studies as one lacking in depth, rigor, and intellectual challenge. In the end, the value of the degree is undercut if practical principles are accepted above intellectual values and goals. The article argues that the Communication departments situated in schools of liberal arts, arts and sciences, or humanistic studies must eschew emphasis on skills-based course work and refocus attention on our intellectual traditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:45:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f720c917dbf4c8786a5a7d28586d718 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0211-2175 2340-5236 |
| language | Catalan |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:45:02Z |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Anàlisi: Quaderns de Comunicació i Cultura |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f720c917dbf4c8786a5a7d28586d7182022-12-22T04:33:59ZcatUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaAnàlisi: Quaderns de Comunicació i Cultura0211-21752340-52362016-06-015410.7238/a.v0i54.27601636The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication StudiesBrett Ingram0Lisa Cuklanz1Communication Department Boston CollegeCommunication Department Boston CollegeContemporary pressures on institutions of higher learning, including economic pressures, a highly competitive “rankings” environment and critiques of the high cost of a university education, are making it increasingly more difficult to maintain a focus on intellectual values traditionally held by liberal arts colleges and universities. The field of Communication has some apparent advantages in the more market-driven higher education environment, with its potential focus on skills training and practical pre-professional education. However, we argue that these very elements mean, ironically, that the field should re-focus on what can contribute to the liberal arts traditions to which it belongs. To do otherwise, and to focus on skills while other disciplines do not do so, is to sell ourselves short and to play into criticisms of the Communication Studies as one lacking in depth, rigor, and intellectual challenge. In the end, the value of the degree is undercut if practical principles are accepted above intellectual values and goals. The article argues that the Communication departments situated in schools of liberal arts, arts and sciences, or humanistic studies must eschew emphasis on skills-based course work and refocus attention on our intellectual traditions.https://analisi.cat/article/view/2760communicationskillsliberal artstechnologycrisishumanities |
| spellingShingle | Brett Ingram Lisa Cuklanz The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication Studies Anàlisi: Quaderns de Comunicació i Cultura communication skills liberal arts technology crisis humanities |
| title | The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication Studies |
| title_full | The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication Studies |
| title_fullStr | The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication Studies |
| title_short | The Crisis in the Humanities and its Relevance to Communication Studies |
| title_sort | crisis in the humanities and its relevance to communication studies |
| topic | communication skills liberal arts technology crisis humanities |
| url | https://analisi.cat/article/view/2760 |
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