Humanities

Humanities is an interdisciplinary major that deals with human thought and culture. Cultural study enables students to understand their own places in existing traditions and contribute positively to the development of new ones. Creativity, imagination, and interpretation are central to humanistic study.

The humanities disciplines include:

• American Ethnic Studies
• Anthropology
• Art
• Art History
• Communication Studies
• Creative Writing
• Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
• History
• Literature
• Mass Communications
• Modern Languages
• Music
• Philosophy
• Theatre

A student works closely with an interdisciplinary humanities advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences deans' office to develop a plan of study. The student's humanities advisor may encourage them to confer with other humanities faculty members who have expertise in the student's interest area. (Students who select music as an emphasis must seek additional advising in the music department.)

By offering more latitude in its curriculum design, Humanities often allows students to pursue less traditional or unique intellectual ventures, particularly those that require the synthesis of several disciplines. Students will be asked to choose, at minimum, two focal areas within the humanities disciplines to create a degree plan with their advisor. This program also occasionally serves as an undergraduate pathway for graduate programs. The Humanities degree may not be earned in conjunction with a degree from one of the individual Humanities disciplines.

 

Advisor: Chrissie Patry