Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Program Scope The program enables students to seek understanding of cultural experience through interdisciplinary study of the humanities. Undergraduate and graduate students study cultural practices, values, and insights reflecting many diverse human communities, past and present. Humanities majors explore methods of bringing the various humanities, such as literature, music, visual forms, and architecture, into an integrative view of the world's cultural diversity. Students who wish to base their careers on broad knowledge of American and world cultures will find this major applicable to posts in government, business, law, education, and the arts. Practical training in a specific professional field (TESOL, journalism, museum work, etc.) may well be taken in conjunction with the major or the minor in humanities. The Bachelor of Arts in Humanities program is also good preparation for entering a K - 12 single subject or multiple subject teaching credential program. Those earning the M.A. are qualified to search for a position at a community college. For the B.A. in Humanities, students must complete a core of five courses (including a senior seminar) in basic methods of understanding culture through the humanities, and then choose combinations of courses in European, American, Asian, and Cross-Cultural Studies (the cross-cultural studies area consists of courses in which the subject matter is from outside the Americas, Europe, or Asia, and courses that specifically include a number of different cultures). In one of these culture-study areas, additional courses will be chosen, making it the area of emphasis in the major. Up to three appropriate courses in related departments such as ethnic studies, English, art, and music may be included in the major with an advisor's approval. he department's lower division General Education courses (HUM 220, HUM 225) or other lower division courses concerned with ideas, social conditions, and art forms are recommended for students planning to major or minor in humanities. HUM 130 may be counted toward the major as an elective in Cross-Cultural studies. Study or practical experience toward mastery of a foreign language is strongly recommended along with the major or minor. Humanities majors who successfully complete HUM 300GW in spring 2010 or thereafter will have satisfied the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).