To the rescue of the humanities: Ross Douthat presents his plan. From the article:

Though this drop in humanities enrollment has recently leveled off — and Douthat believes it will continue to correct itself — he asked the audience whether there was a better way to increase enrollment in the humanities. To this day, he added, an education in the humanities is still perceived as a luxury good and a non-viable career path. Douthat said that elite institutions constantly attempt to sway students in the direction of STEM disciplines….

In response to this, the San Francisco-born journalist proposed a five-pronged approach to saving the humanities.

First, Douthat called for the recovery of a canon — one that is responsive to multiculturalism and reflects changes in American society….

Second… [h]e maintained that the humanities are inextricably related to spirituality, and that serious theological thinking is necessary to revive the humanities. Next, Douthat pushed for a new narrative of American history, especially pertaining to political science, international relations and history…. 

He also cited dissociation from the internet as an important step on this path. Douthat argued that intent of the internet is “hostile to humanistic learning … particularly in its ability to make people superficial and polarized.” Hence, he said, the humanities must serve as a mechanism through which you can escape this bubble of technology and build alternative spaces.

Douthat concluded his five-step approach with a recognition that conservatism needs the humanities, and vice versa.

h/t Rob Townsend