At the University of Regina, some Arts students feel undervalued in comparison to those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, better known as STEM.
“I feel like there’s a lot more appreciation for STEM in society in general,” said Carmen Jerry, a fourth-year student in Media, Art, Performance (MAP). “because science and technology are seen as like essential to holding up society and arts is seen as fun and extra. I personally believe that the work that MAP does is just as important as what STEM does.”
This reflects in the numbers within the faculties, students choosing practicality over passion, as the Art faculty has decreased by approximately two hundred students between 2023 and 2024, whereas STEM has been on a slow but steady rise, according to the fall Census done in 2024 by the University of Regina. However, when it comes to convocation, 2025’s spring Census reveals that the numbers of Arts and STEM graduates are mysteriously nearly identical.
Due to a rapidly advancing world, the job market has become increasingly unstable, regardless of what faculty a student chooses to follow. A true jack of all trades, liberal arts education passes on skills that can be used in many industries while STEM tends to focus on one specific technological advancement, resulting in a loss of employment once the advancement breaches past their expertise. Using skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, and approaching problems with an open mind, liberal arts prepares for jobs for now and in the future – even jobs that haven’t been created yet. The use of liberal arts skills and STEM is an everyday skill for Happiness Okeke, an alumni at the University of Regina with a B.A. of computer science.
“I have taken a couple art and MAP courses as electives at the University of Regina,” said Okeke. “and surprisingly, I earned some of my highest grades in those courses. Blending what I learned in art with my science courses has strengthened my communication skills and expanded creativity. During my internships with the Government of Saskatchewan and Farm Credit Canada, I was able to apply this blend of art and science in practical like communicating ideas, thinking creatively, and using media skills to support my technical projects.”
Liberal arts establishes a bridge between science and society, keeping advancements up to date as well as humane. Rather than STEM dominating Liberal Arts, it is important for students, faculties, and society alike to recognise the co-dependence between the educations, and to recognise the achievements in each discipline equally.
