Humanities

Humanities is the interdisciplinary study of literature, language, history, philosophy, religion, and the fine arts. These disciplines are called the humanities because they are concerned with human creations and achievements.

The humanities search out the values and ideals of human expression. They focus on persons as models rather than as types. They prompt subjective and moral judgments beyond mere objective description. In short, the humanities embrace the best of human heritage. They help us understand ourselves by understanding others through their exceptional accomplishments.

Some graduates in Humanities enter careers in publishing or travel or education or the arts. Still others use their liberal arts experience to work in management or administration or to study law or medicine.

Major

The major in Humanities, like the Classics major, combines language, literature, and culture. The major requires 30 upper division units and 12 lower division premajor units. There are two emphases: General Humanities and European Humanities. The General program provides a contrast between the European and non-European traditions. The European emphasis centers on a five-course survey of European civilization from the Ancient Mediterranean World to the 21st century. A foreign language requirement of four to seven semesters facilitates some expertise in a classical or national civilization. See MAPs (Major Academic Plans) to plan the eight semesters of your major.

Premajor requirements consist of 12 lower division units that include the following: Humanities 101; History 105-106; and three units from Comparative Literature 270A, 270B, Humanities 140, Philosophy 103, Religious Studies 101, or Women’s Studies 102.

All Humanities majors are required to take the Senior Seminar and to submit a senior portfolio. A minor is not required with this major.

Minor

The minor in Humanities consists of a minimum of 18 units, of which at least 12 units must be upper division and at least 12 units must be in Humanities; three to six units must be selected from Humanities 460 and Asian Studies 458; three units may be selected from Classics 140 or Comparative Literature 270A.

Courses in Humanities & Related Disciplines for the Major & Minor

The following courses are acceptable for the Humanities major, minor, and premajor.

Humanities
101. Introduction to Humanities (GE)
140. Mythology (GE)
296. Experimental Topics
310. French Humanities (GE)
320. German Humanities (GE)
330. Russian Humanities (GE)
340. Italian Humanities (GE)
370. Humanities in America (GE)
401. Age of Faith (GE)
402. Renaissance (GE)
403. Age of Enlightenment (GE)
404. Romanticism to Postmodernism (GE)
460. African Civilizations (GE)
490. Senior Seminar in Classics and Humanities
496. Topics in Humanities
596. Topics in Humanities
599. Special Study

Emphasis in General Humanities
A minimum of 30 upper division units to include Humanities 490; 12 units from Classics 340, Humanities 401, 402, 403, 404; 15 units from Art (art history), Asian Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature, English, History, Humanities, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre, or Women’s Studie, with no more than three units in any discipline. At least nine units must be taken in non-Western content.

Emphasis in European Humanities
A minimum of 30 upper division units to include Classics 340, Humanities 401, 402, 403, 404 and 490; three units from Geography 336, Political Science 301A, 301B or 302; nine units from Art (art history), Asian Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature, English, History, Humanities, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre, or Women’s Studies, with no more than three units in any discipline.