I guess it's not so much what degree you do that counts as what you do with your degree. Obviously, an arts degree won't get you a job as a neurosurgeon or a lawyer, or even an accountant, but it doesn't hurt. I once read that Microsoft was keen on recruiting arts graduates because of their analytical and critical thinking skills; Other organisations like the research-intensive nature of history programs and other, similar arts degrees. As a teacher, an arts degree has given me an edge over colleagues who have plain education degrees - it is assumed that my depth of knowledge must be greater than that of teachers who do not have a second degree.

But is this enough to keep anthropology, philosophy, history, historiography, literary studies and other arts programs relevant in today's world? It would certainly be a great loss to society if knowledge for the sake of knowledge was replaced entirely by knowledge for the sake of employment. Again, I'm not belittling professional qualifications. I just think that there is a certain value in understanding our culture, the culture of people around us and the societies in which these cultures have evolved. It may not cure cancer (then again, it might), but it will certainly help us remember how far we've come.

Now to make it economically viable . . .