Program Director
Molly McClain, PhD, History
Faculty Coordinators
Thomas Barton, PhD, History
Florence M. Gillman, PhD, Theology and Religious Studies
Juliana Maxim, PhD, Art History
Marianne R. Pfau, PhD, Music
Michael F. Wagner, PhD, Philosophy
Irene Williams, PhD, English
In the 15th century, Renaissance scholars championed the humanities as a “return to the classics,” in particular, the literature of ancient Greece and Rome. Newly established universities such as the University of Alcalá in Spain (1499) offered an innovative Liberal Arts curriculum that included language, art, architecture, history, philosophy, and literature. Their aim was to produce educated Renaissance men and women.
Today, the humanities remain focused on the core Liberal Arts disciplines: Art, English, History, Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, Theatre Arts, and Theology & Religious Studies. Students can design their own program of study as majors in Humanities Studies or opt for one of the two other tracks in the major: European Studies or Asian Studies.
Each track requires a total of 40 upper-division units to complete the major. This includes a required 4-unit, two-semester senior seminar offered in a fall-spring format. Students planning a December graduation should take the seminar the previous year. Students in any of the three tracks must also satisfy all of the core curriculum requirements, unit requirements, and any other university and college requirements and regulations set forth in this Undergraduate Bulletin.
Students choosing the Humanities Studies track will declare an area of concentration in one of the university’s eight humanities disciplines: Art, English, Languages and Literatures, History, Music, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, and/or Theatre Arts. Other guidelines pertaining to course selection in the Humanities Studies track are noted below. The requirements and course options for European Studies and Asian Studies are also stipulated below. Note that these two tracks include options from political science and/or sociology. However, where each stipulates a certain number of upper-division elective units ‘in the humanities disciplines,’ these must be taken from among the eight humanities disciplines listed above.
Special Note: Only upper-division units which would apply to satisfying the departmental major in a given humanities discipline may be applied to the upper-division requirements for the Interdisciplinary humanities major. This includes departmental restrictions on the use of units from practicums, activity classes, field experience, and the like. In addition, students are responsible for satisfying any prerequisites for particular courses in a given humanities discipline. Students selecting upper-division courses in art, music, or theatre arts are especially advised to consult the course listings or an advisor in that area.
Humanities Studies
Lower-Division Preparation
Six units of lower-division history.
Major Requirements
36 upper-division units in the Humanities disciplines, as follows:
a. At least 12, but not more than 18, of the 36 units are to be in a single Humanities discipline, termed the area of concentration;
b. No more than nine units from any one of the other Humanities disciplines may be applied to the required 36 units; and,
c. The 36 units should include 1) a Classical studies course, and 2) a Medieval and/or Renaissance studies course as approved by the program director and, four upper-division senior seminar HUMN 490 (1) and 495W (3)
European Studies
Lower-Division Preparation
Six units from HIST 102, 103, 108, 140, 170, 171.
A fourth-semester language course (or its equivalent) in French, German, Italian, or Spanish (depending on the upper-division linguistic focus chosen below)
Two semesters (second-semester or its equivalent) in a second European language (may include Classical Greek or Latin)
Major Requirements
Nine upper-division units in French, German, Italian, or Spanish and six units in history, chosen from the following courses:
HIST 311 Greek Civilization (3)
HIST 312 Roman Civilization (3)
HIST 321 The Fall of the Roman Empire, 250-1050 (3)
HIST 322 Castles and Crusades: Medieval Europe 1050-1450 (3)
HIST 323 Medieval Women (3)
HIST 324 Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Medieval Spain (3)
HIST 331 Renaissance Europe (3)
HIST 333 Europe 1600-1800 (3)
HIST 334 European Art and Architecture in Context (3)
HIST 340 World War I (3)
HIST 341 World War II (3)
HIST 342 Birth of Two Nations: France and India (3)
HIST 343 Germany 1945-Present (3)
HIST 344 Eastern Europe Since 1815 (3)
HIST 346 Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Europe (3)
HIST 347 Topics in Modern Europe (3)
HIST 348 Modern France (3)
HIST 350 History of the British Isles (3)
HIST 351 Modern Britain (3)
HIST 353 Spain to 1820 (3)
HIST 354 Modern Spain (3)
HIST 355 Imperial Russia (3)
HIST 356 Russia Since 1917 (3)
HIST 357 Topics in Russian and East European History (3)
and six units in political science, chosen from the following courses:
POLS 355 Politics in Western Europe (3)
POLS 362 Politics in the United Kingdom (3)
POLS 363 Politics in France (3)
POLS 364 Politics in Germany (3)
POLS 365 Politics in Russia (3)
POLS 372 Russian Foreign Policy (3)
Six units in philosophy and/or fine arts, chosen from the following courses:
ARTH 333 Modern Art: 1780-1920 (3)
ARTH 334 Art of the Twentieth Century in Europe and the Americas (3)
ARTH 338 City and Utopia: Introduction to History of Urbanism (3)
ARTH 345 The Avant-Garde and Mass Culture: Art and Politics (3)
MUSC 330 Music History I: Antiquity-1600 (3)
MUSC 331 Music History II: 1600-1830 (3)
MUSC 332 Music History III: 1830-Present (3)
MUSC 430W History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (3)
MUSC 431 History of Baroque and Classical Music (3)
MUSC 432 History of Romantic Music (3)
MUSC 433 History of Twentieth Century Music (3)
PHIL 467 Studies in Renaissance Philosophy (3)
PHIL 470 Studies in Ancient Philosophy (3)
PHIL 471 Studies in Medieval Philosophy (3)
PHIL 472 Studies in Modern European Philosophy (3)
PHIL 474 Studies in Contemporary Continental Philosophy (3)
and nine upper-division elective units in the humanities disciplines and four upper-division senior seminar HUMN 490 (1) and 495W (3)
Asian Studies
Lower-Division Preparation
HIST 130 Introduction to East Asia (3)
PHIL 175 Asian Philosophy (3)
or
THRS 112 World Religions (3)
Intermediate Mandarin or Intermediate Japanese, or equivalent; or fourth-semester or equivalent in another Asian language
Major Requirements
12 units of Asian civilizations courses chosen from the following courses:
ECON 337 Economic Development of Asia (3)
HIST 364 Topics in Asian History (3)
HIST 365 History of China (3)
HIST 366 History of Japan (3)
HIST 367 Women in East Asia (3)
HIST 372 U.S.-East Asia Relations (3)
POLS 358 Politics in South Asia (3)
POLS 367 Politics in Japan (3)
POLS 368 Politics in China (3)
SOC 351 China in the 21st Century (3)
Asian civilizations courses offered by the languages and literatures department or appropriate upper-division topics courses in these disciplines.
12 units of Asian cultures courses from the following:
ENGL 364 Postcolonial Studies (3)
ENGL 494 Special Topics: Sanskrit (3)
MUSC 440 Topics in World Music (3)
PHIL 476 Asian Philosophy (3)
THRS 312 Hindu Faith and Practice (3)
THRS 314 Buddhist Faith and Practice (3)
THRS 315 Islamic Faith and Practice (3)
Asian literatures courses offered by the Languages and Literatures department or appropriate upper-division topics courses in these disciplines, and 12 units of electives in the Humanities disciplines, and four upper-division senior seminar HUMN 490 (1) and 495W (3).
Humanities Courses
HUMN 490 Thesis Preparation Seminar (1)
This course precedes the 3-unit HUMN 495W course. In this course, each student will identify a research topic that would integrate and apply his/her interdisciplinary experience in the Humanities major. This topic will lead, in HUMN 495W, to producing a senior thesis (a substantial research paper or a well-researched creative project). Each student will consult with the instructor in identifying and developing a topic; produce a prospectus and a bibliography for the topic; and, as possible, begin collecting and outlining research material from the bibliography. A class presentation is typically required as well. Prerequisite: Senior or, for December graduates, junior standing in the Humanities major; or approval of the Humanities program director. Fall semester.
HUMN 495W Senior Research Seminar (3)
In this continuation course to HUMN 490, each student will complete the research phase of his/her thesis project; produce a working outline and at least one substantial draft of the senior thesis or creative project; and revise and finalize the thesis by the end of the semester. A formal presentation of results and highlights from the completed research and initial thesis draft is typically required as well. Spring semester. Prerequisite: HUMN 490.
