<p>This is mostly in response to a (number of) thread(s) I've seen debating LACs vs. research universities. One of the main advantages posters have cited, and others have contested, in favor of research universities is, well...research. Posters place said emphasis on research on that conducted in the sciences.</p>
<p>Obviously research does occur in the humanities (e.g. English, foreign language, philosophy); however the term "research" as I've seen it used in various discussions refers mostly to the state of laboratory facilities and access to professor(s) on the cutting edge of a science-related field.</p>
<p>My question: How important is research for undergraduates seeking to attain a PhD in a non-science related field? Is this something that is or has been assessed in some system of rankings like US News? Does this impact how a student intending to major in a humanities-related field (French, for example ;)) should view current rankings? </p>
<p>I guess that's more than one question, but I hope you will forgive me for my curiosity.</p>
<p>PS. I am aware that specialty schools like CalTech are not especially strong in, say, English Literature. Though computational linguistics is perhaps another story.</p>
<p>Research is no less important for the humanities than for the sciences. The purpose of graduate school, regardless of field, is to produce capable researchers. Graduate programs in the humanities will expect a decent research background. A thesis is nice, but summer research and independent studies work as well.</p>
<p>No evidence to support this, but IMO humanities research is probably stronger at LACs than at universities. U’s will have grad students for what humanities research needs to be done, and unlike in the sciences, grunt work isn’t so easy to come by. Humanities “research” also tends to be less formalized–like IBclass06 said, a thesis + independent study + maybe summer research. Of those three, only the last is really dependent on research “opportunities.”</p>
<p>While I think research in the humanities and the social sciences is very important at a master’s or graduate level, I think it’s less important at an undergraduate level. Most (but not all) undergraduate research is grunt work, just like most (but certainly not all) internships are paper work/grunt work/100% observation/slave labor. Research for undegrads in the hard sciences and engineering is important because it fills the gap where humanities/social science students have study abroad programs. I’m NOT saying hard sciences/engineering majors don’t benefit from study abroad, but a humanities major studying the influence of music in Islamic cultures is going to have a completely different study abroad experience than a hard sciences/engineering/pre-med major who takes some classes in another country.</p>