Who Lost The Liberal Arts — And Can We Get Them Back?

The humanities are falling. Universities across the country are phasing out degree programs and closing departments.

Indiana University’s main campus is eliminating 40 majors in the humanities. Sonoma State in California is shuttering its art history and philosophy departments. Graduate programs in the arts and sciences at the University of Pennsylvania are having to rescind informal offers of admission. And except for philosophy and music composition, the University of Chicago will not admit doctoral students for the 2026–27 year in the arts and humanities.