Humanities is a multidisciplinary 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, dance, gender, women, and sexuality studies, history, literature, mass communications, modern languages, music, philosophy, and theater.

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

The humanities major consists of 36 credit hours in two or more humanities disciplines. In general, only one course outside the stipulated humanities disciplines may be used to count toward the major, if the course fits the student’s theme. At least 15 credit hours must be completed in humanities disciplines at the 500 level or above, or from equivalent advanced coursework, as determined by the department. Up to 9 credit hours of major coursework may be applied to basic requirements of the degree.

A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.