Humanities

In addition to departmental majors, the Division offers an interdisciplinary major in the Humanities and Fine Arts. A student interested in pursuing a self-designed Humanities major should consult with the Division II Chair no later than his sophomore year.

Each student doing a Humanities major will work with a committee appointed by the Division II Chair, taking into consideration the student's suggestions for membership and the nature of the anticipated project. This committee will help the student select his course of study, will advise and evaluate the capstone project, and will create a comprehensive examination suited to the student's curriculum.

In the first semester of his junior year, the student must submit to his committee a written proposal for a project in the Humanities and Fine Arts, which will be completed, along with his course of study, by the end of the first semester of the senior year. In every case, the committee will be looking for a creative approach to a subject matter of the student’s own choice.

Requirements for the Major

A written proposal for the student’s project accepted by his committee by the end of the first semester of the junior year.
Completion of a course of study across a number of the departments of the College which is accepted as a meaningful combination by the committee.
Completion of comprehensive examinations devised and read by the same committee.
Completion of an independent capstone project (1 credit) by the end of the first semester of the senior year.

The project might be any one of a wide range of possibilities. For many students, the most obvious project would be a thesis of some scope ranging over the fields of his interest. A student who wrote a play on a historical topic might defend his treatment of the period or character; he might then go on to produce the play and show how this aspect of the work furthers his arts. A student interested in the philosophy of language might pursue this study through the structure of a language and its literature. He might wish to study the social and intellectual context of an author’s work.

HUM-121 Language Variation and Change

This continuation of ENG-122 (HUM-122m MLL-122) will deal with the social phenomena of language, including language acquisition, social and regional variation, and language change over time.
Prerequisites: ENG-122 or HUM-122 or MLL-122
Credits: 0.5
Distribution: Language Studies
Equated Courses: ENG-121

HUM-122 Modern Linguistics

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of linguistics, the theory and analysis of human language. The first half of the course will focus on structural aspects of language: speech sounds and sound systems, and the formation of words and sentences.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5
Distribution: Language Studies
Equated Courses: ENG-122

HUM-176 Special Topics in Humanities

Topics vary with each scheduled offering. Refer to Student Planning's section information for descriptions of individual offerings, and applicability to distribution requirements.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1

HUM-196 Religion & Literature

This course is an examination of literary works dealing with religious themes. Authors covered will vary from year to year but will typically include some of the following: John Updike, Shusaku Endo, Elie Wiesel, Flannery O'Connor, Graham Greene, C.S. Lewis, Anne Tyler, Marilynne Robinson, or Christopher Morse.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Equated Courses: REL-196

HUM-277 Special Topics: Literature

HUM-278 Spec Topics: Language Studies

HUM-295 Religion and the Arts

This is a discussion course on some topic in the arts with a view to its religious implications. Refer to the Course Descriptions document on the Registrar's webpage for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1
Equated Courses: REL-295

HUM-296 Religion & Literature

This is a discussion course on religious themes and theological issues in literary works. Most recently the course focused on Dante's Divine Comedy. Refer to the Course Descriptions document on the Registrar's webpage for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1
Equated Courses: REL-296

HUM-377 Special Topics: Literature

HUM-400 Senior Project

The project might be any one of a wide range of possibilities. For many students, the most obvious project would be a thesis of some scope ranging over the fields of his interest. A student who wrote a play on a historical topic might defend his treatment of the period or character, He might then go on to produce the play and show how this aspect of the work furthers his arts. A student interested in the philosophy of language might pursue this study through the structure of a language and its literature. He might wish to study the social and intellectual context of an author's work. Completion of the project by the end of the first semester of the senior year.
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1

HUM-477 Special Topics: Literature

HUM-487 Ind Study: Lit/Fine Arts

Individual research projects. The manner of study will be determined by the student in consultation with the instructor. Students must receive written approval of their project proposal from a department Chair before registering for the course.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1

HUM-488 Ind Study: Language Studies

Committee by appointment, with leadership from the Division II Chair.