In September 2015, the University of Navarra will offer students the option of taking its Degree in Humanities in English. This revised degree program is aimed primarily at international students whose native language is not Spanish. "Twenty-five percent of the students currently enrolled in this degree program are international. Our objective is to reverse the proportions so that 75 percent of the students come from other countries," says Ignacio Gil, Director of Development in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Since it was founded, the University of Navarra has been firmly committed to education in the humanities and now offers this degree program in English as an opportunity for international students to immerse themselves in the language. "We don't want language to be an obstacle to studying at the University of Navarra," says Rosalía Baena, the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Eighty percent of the subject content is taught in English during the first and second years. The remaining 20 percent of the curriculum will be taught in Spanish to ensure that international students become integrated and perform well academically. Gil goes on to say, "It is designed for students who don't know Spanish but want to study the humanities. The subjects have been planned in such a way that by the second semester of the second year, students will have reached a B2 level in Spanish." The Degree in Humanities is the first degree program at the University of Navarra to include a language immersion plan for international students.

This new vision of the humanities should also appeal to students whose native language is Spanish and who are interested in learning in a bilingual environment. The international dimension of this new program is strengthened by the opportunity to undertake two exchange programs at universities abroad. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers exchanges at more than 60 destinations around the world.

Twenty-five percent of the new degree program will consist of elective subjects, the same as the current percentage in other undergraduate programs. Students can choose subjects offered by the School of Communication and the School of Economics and Business Administration, or take the Specialization in Culture and Heritage Management. Students will be able to take the Diploma in Curatorial Studies (which is offered in conjunction with the Museum University of Navarra), the Management of Organizations pathway or the International Program.

Why study the humanities?

Jill Abramson, a former editor of The New York Times and professor at Harvard University, was a guest at the University of Navarra in Madrid on Thursday, 12 February 2015. She gave a lecture to 600 people in which she stressed the role played by the humanities. Here are a few excerpts from her address:

"In the United States, and I've heard it's the same in Europe, the study of the humanities – great works of literature, art, music and philosophy – has been declining for some time. This isn't happening because there are fewer good books to study or because it's no longer a fascinating subject. In fact, it's largely due to financial pressure."

"Students in the United States aren't interested in the arts because they think they won't get a job if they study the humanities. At Harvard, I'm trying to explain that the power of storytelling, knowing how to write a clear, interesting story, is invaluable and can help you get a job. Perhaps it's not as obvious as IT or economics, for example, but it's certainly extremely important and can be very lucrative."

"The main reason for pursuing an arts degree is to help you showcase your talents. You'll be able to enjoy great works of literature and art for the rest of your life. They'll enlighten you and provide you with the best possible company for a long time to come."

"At the most prestigious universities in the United States such as Yale and Harvard, the number of English literature students has dropped by 50% since 1991. In fact, the most popular course for first-year Harvard students is now Introduction to Computer Science. One of my objectives is to help the arts regain their popularity. What's more, the academics who teach these subjects at Harvard are the best in their respective fields."

"You're under a great deal of pressure and you think, ‘Am I going to get a job when I leave university?' If you speak to entrepreneurs and show them you can give them what they need – and they need employees who are capable of thinking and managing with clarity to help the business grow – you'll begin to see how the humanities can help you achieve success in any field you want to work in, instead of simply turning you into a technical expert in a specific area. That's why I want to make this statement in support of the humanities today."