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Began in 1988, this major reflects the traditional idea of humanistic studies. This idea sees the ideal liberal education to be one which illuminates and examines human history, culture, and values while also contributing to their expression and development and to the intellectual, creative, and spiritual development of the individual student. Today, humanistic studies tends to be identified with its component disciplines as these have arisen in the Modern university.
The Interdisciplinary Humanities major provides its students a unique opportunity to develop a program of study which draw upon the subject matters and methodologies of several different humanities disciplines. It will thus appeal especially to students whose own academic or personal interests and aspirations would benefit from the diverse strengths of the humanities disciplines here at USD.
For example, it would allow a student with a special interest in a particular era of history also to take related courses in art history or literature, or other of our humanities disciplines. Or, a student with a special interest in spiritual and religious studies could also take related courses in philosophy or history, or other of our humanities disciplines. Or, a student who simply is equally interested in music and theatre, or Spanish history and literature, or some other combination of humanities subject matters, could accommodate both within this one major. (Be aware, of course, that USD's undergraduate programs typically do provide room for a student also to take some number of 'elective' courses or to acquire a minor in a program outside their major. There is no minor in interdisciplinary humanities, however.) Every interdisciplinary humanities major is also required to develop and complete a senior research project.
The European Studies and Asian Studies tracks are configured somewhat differently from the Humanities Studies track, with its eight possible areas of concentration. Their lower-division requirements differ; and their upper-division unit requirements are structured around particular course options stipulated in their complete descriptions. The European Studies track focuses on the history, cultures, and political realities of Europe, with an emphasis on continental Europe. The Asian Studies track focuses on Asia and its constituent nations and cultures in a similar way, with an emphasis on East Asia. Both offer students a diversity of interdisciplinary course options. The European Studies track also requires upper-division course work in a particular continental European language. A complete description of requirements for these tracks, as well as for the Humanities Studies track, is available in the Undergradute Bulletin.
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