Humanities

The Humanities Concentration seeks to prepare global citizens by examining the breadth and depth of the human search for meaning, value, and creativity. In order to promote understanding among diverse groups of people, the courses in humanities explore how and why different perspectives about the world have arisen in different cultures and historical periods. The concentration is structured to show the ways in which the traditional disciplines of art history, history, literary studies, philosophy, and religious studies can address common topics and concerns through a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches.

The Humanities concentration offers students the chance to pursue essential questions about what it means to be human, to become familiar with perspectives from around the globe, to develop informed and humanistic goals and concerns, and to sharpen analytical, critical thinking and research skills.

Since the underlying focus of SUA’s education is toward deepening an understanding of both Eastern and Western cultures, students are encouraged to develop a balanced perspective encompassing East and West within their course selection plan. In this way, each student, whether she/he chooses to advance within one major discipline or seeks to develop a broader foundation encompassing several or all Humanities disciplines,will have a common bond and direction in which to organize her/his program.

The Humanities both prepares students for graduate and professional school and offers to all students a broad-based background in a number of disciplines that are at the basis of a liberal arts education. Three upper level Humanities courses (300 and up) are required to complete the Humanities concentration requirement.

Humanities Concentration student learning outcomes are:

1. To demonstrate an understanding of and apply theoretical and methodological insights into one or more of the above disciplines
2. To demonstrate a coherent and integrated understanding of the central issues and questions for investigation in the disciplines
3. To demonstrate the capacity for original and rigorous research and inquiry
4. To communicate ideas effectively in a manner appropriate to work in their field
5. To demonstrate and articulate an understanding of how individuals and societies are interconnected within social, historical, political, cultural environments, and the human condition
6. To exhibit imagination and curiosity in the study of the full range of human artifacts