The Humanities is the oldest area of the study in the world, one which originated with the first considerations of human beings about who they were, where they came from, and what they ought to do. It deals with questions fundamental to what it means to be human and what we value. Hence, the Humanities encompasses religious studies, ethics, aesthetics, and the relationship between the personal, the social and the political.

There are a number of benefits that may be gained through a study of the Humanities:
First, it provides an individual with an opportunity for personal development and the understanding of others. It asks questions about human nature, political and social values, and how we ought to behave, The analysis of important tests helps us to understand the human condition and why it is that we behave as we do. Indeed, the Humanities is very important in giving us an understanding of today’s world. There are a number of profound analyses of preventive war and the nature of colonial authority. Understanding the role of woman in society and gender issues has a long tradition. The nature of sexuality and the morality surrounding it is the subject of a multitude of profound commentaries. The difference between what is and what ought to be is at the centre of great protest literature, art and music.
Second, the Humanities teaches about one’s own culture and many others. Through the Humanities, students can gain a deep understanding of one’s own background and knowledge of other societies. The Humanities asks questions which are cross-cultural in its attempt to find the best response. To issues about ethics, it considers formulations from a variety of sources, including those from aboriginal societies, Islam, Asian, European, African and Latin-American cultures. It often seeks the truth from those who are marginal to society, rather than the utterings of those in power. Hence, madness might be considered a way of behaving which challenges established truths, the views of the poor in history and in the present are different from those of the establishment, and minorities often challenge old ideas and force a reconsideration of what we ought to be doing.
Third, the Humanities as a discipline focuses on the learning of critical skills, especially the analyses of texts and the development of skills to learn what is really being said by an author, painter or musician. Students in the Humanities learn to analyze and synthesize material and to write coherently, with style and grace. They learn research skills, and the ability to judge the validity of a variety of material in an era when we are overwhelmed by information, some of it highly suspect. Students are taught to develop their own ideas and judgments and to make arguments that are clear and have force.
Individuals who have majored in the Humanities are found in many professions, because the skills and insights developed in the discipline are valued by a wide variety of professions. They include: teachers, lawyers, journalists, creative writing, editing, publishing, library studies, museum studies, information technology, film, television and the media, public service, business, civil service, and university teaching and scholarship.