A new study by the American Academy of Sciences and Letters, an academic society promoting open debate and intellectual diversity, finds that the production of humanities dissertations has dropped by nearly 49% since 2015, while social-science dissertations have decreased by only 4.5%. The study analyzed the full texts of half a million dissertations produced between 1960 and 2025 using natural language processing.

What this means for applicants

This decline might affect students considering humanities majors, especially those interested in pursuing advanced degrees like a PhD. Applicants should consider the current trends and ensure they are passionate about the field, as competition for spots in graduate programs may be increasing. Additionally, students should stay informed about the latest developments in the humanities and engage with contemporary debates to strengthen their applications. Checking the websites of universities offering humanities programs for updated information and resources is also advisable.

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