Humanities

College of Arts & Humanities
Humanities Program
230 Armstrong Hall
Phone: 507-389-2350 or 389-2117

Director: William Dyer

Interdisciplinary humanities explores human experience through examination of texts, performances, art symbols, cultural and historical systems, and other modes of human expression. The Humanities Program is concerned with connections between particular texts and their social and historical contexts, with relationships among the various arts—literary, performing and visual—and with links to other disciplines that explore the human condition.

The Humanities Program helps to prepare its students to use language effectively, to locate information from a variety of sources and examine it critically, to discover patterns of relationships within this wealth of information and sources, to view these patterns within cultural and historical perspectives, and to assess the beliefs, values, and ideologies that lie beneath or within these patterns and perspectives.

Admission to Major

Admission to Major is granted by the department. Minimum university admission requirements are:

• a minimum of 36 earned semester credit hours.
• a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (C).

Contact the department for application procedures.

Humanities BA

Required for Major (Core, 38 credits):

Choose one course from the following:

• HUM 150 Western Humanities I (4)
• HUM 151 Western Humanities II (4)

Choose one course from the following:

• HUM 155 Global Humanities I (4)
• HUM 156 Western Humanities II (4)

Choose one course from the following:

• HUM 250 Topic in Humanities (4)

Choose two courses from the following:

• HUM 280 Humanities Traditions (4)
• HUM 281 Human Diversity and Humanities Traditions (4)
• HUM 282 Global Perspectives and Humanities Traditions (4)

250, 280, 281, 282 may be repeated when topic differs.

Required:

• HUM 380 Topics of Humanities (4)
• HUM 450 Global Seminar (4)
• HUM 490 Senior Capstone Project (4)

Electives required for Major (8 credits):

• HUM 3/400 Level (3)
• PHIL 460 Philosophy of the Arts (3)

Required for Major:

one additional Major or two Minors

Humanities Minor

Required for Minor (20 credits):

Choose one course from the following:

• HUM 150 Western Humanities I (4)
• HUM 151 Western Humanities II (4)

Choose one course from the following:

• HUM 155 Global Humanities I (4)
• HUM 156 Western Humanities II (4)

Choose one course from the following:

• HUM 250 Perspectives in Humanities (4)
• HUM 280 Humanities Traditions (4)
• HUM 281 Human Diversity and Humanities Traditions (4)
• HUM 282 Global Perspectives and Humanities Traditions (4)

Required complete:

• HUM 380 Topics in Humanities (4)
• HUM 450 Humanities Seminar (4)

Required for Minor (Electives, 2-3 credits):

Electives chosen in consultation with the director of humanities. Must be in 300 or 400-level classes.

Choose a minimum of 2 credits for an elective:

• Elective xxx

Joint Minor in Ethnic Studies and the Humanities

The mission of this minor is to offer students an opportunity to explore the connections between ethnic experiences and cultural contexts of ethnic groups, as well as assess the values, beliefs, and ideologies of varying perspectives. This joint minor will expose students to an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human culture and the contributions of Western and Non-Western cultures. All students will be encouraged to focus in-depth on culturally diverse issues in order to gain a broader perspective of their community, both locally and globally.

Required General Education Courses (7 credits):

• ETHN 100 or ETHN 101 (3 credits)
• HUM 150, 151, 155 or 156 (4 credits)

Required for Minor (21-22 credits):

Choose one:

• ETHN 110 Introduction to African American Studies (3)
• ETHN 120 Introduction to American Indian Studies (3)
• ETHN 130 Introduction to Asian American Studies (3)
• ETHN 140 Introduction to Latino/Hispanic Studies (3)

Choose one (in addition to GE requirements above):

• HUM 150 Western Humanities I (4)
• HUM 151 Western Humanities II (4)
• HUM 155 Global Humanities I (4)
• HUM 156 Global Humanities II (4)

Choose one:

• ETHN 400 Cultural Pluralism (3)
• ETHN 410 Foundations of Oppression (3)

Choose one:

• WOST 251 Coming of Age: Gender and Culture (3)
• HUM 281 Human Diversity and Humanities Traditions (4)
• HUM 282 Global Perspectives and Humanities Traditions (4)

Upper Level Requirements (choose one):

• HUM 450 Humanities Seminar (4)
• ETHN 495 Selected Topics (4)

Electives (3-4 credits):

Three to four credits of 300-400 level courses with advisor approval in the areas of ART, ENG, HIST, MODL, MUS, PHIL, or THEA.

Policies/Information

GPA Policy. Candidates for a major in Humanities must maintain a 2.5 grade-point average.

P/N Grading Policy. Humanities core courses taken for a major or minor in Humanities may not be taken on a P/N basis.

Course Descriptions

HUM 150 (4) Western Humanities I: Beginnings through the Renaissance
An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the Western Humanities, from ancient times through the Renaissance. Artistic, philosophical and religious forms of cultural expression are considered within their social and historical contexts.
ALT-F
GE-6 CD-Related

HUM 151 (4) Western Humanities II: Renaissance through the Present
An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the Western Humanities, from the Renaissance to the present. Artistic, philosophical and religious forms of cultural expression are considered within their social and historical contexts.
ALT-S
GE-6CD-Related

HUM 155 (4) Global Humanities I
An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the humanities, as expressed through the cultures and traditions of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and East Asia. Artistic, philosophical and religious forms of cultural expression are considered within their social and historical contexts.
ALT-S
GE-6, 8 CD-Related

HUM 156 (4) Global Humanities II
An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of the humanities, as expressed through the cultures and traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific region. Artistic, philosophical and religious forms of cultural expression are considered within their social and historical contexts.
ALT-S
GE-6, 8

HUM 250W (4) Perspectives in Humanities
Explores the critical analysis of written, visual and/or musical texts; considers these texts from a variety of cultural and historical contexts; and analyzes issues that engage basic questions of human existence, for individuals and societies. May be repeated when topic changes.
Variable
GE-1C, 6

HUM 280W (4) Humanities Traditions
Historical or cultural periods, beliefs, or movements within the larger Western traditions of Europe and America and the expressions of these traditions through the visual, literary and performing arts and other forms. May be repeated when topic changes.
Variable
GE-1C, 6

HUM 281W (4) Human Diversity and Humanities Traditions
Cultural and artistic traditions of groups that have experienced discrimination or exclusion in U.S. society and how these groups express themselves through the visual, literary and performing arts and other forms. May be repeated when topic changes.
Variable
GE-1C, 6, 7 CD-Core

HUM 282 (4) Global Perspectives and Humanities Traditions
Historical or cultural periods, beliefs, or movements of one of more groups outside Europe and America and the expressions of these traditions through the visual, literary and performing arts and other forms. May be repeated when topic changes.
Variable
GE-6, 8 CD-Related

HUM 282W (4) Global Perspectives and Humanities Traditions
Historical or cultural periods, beliefs, or movements of one of more groups outside Europe and America and the expressions of these traditions through the visual, literary and performing arts and other forms. May be repeated when topic changes. Variable
GE-1C, 6, 8 CD-Related

HUM 350 (1-3) Reading for Honors
Independent reading in the Humanities. Requires permission of faculty member.

HUM 380 (4) Topics in Humanities
Students will pursue interdisciplinary study of a topic rich in cultural significance. Topics include "The Arthurian Tradition," "The Harlem Renaissance," "The Oral Tradition," "The Postoral Tradition," "The Quattrocento," "Expressions of Quixote in History and the Arts." Topics will change annually.

HUM 450 (4) Humanities Seminar
Intensive study of a topic related to the Humanities. Topics have included the Baroque Era, Modernism and the Arts, and Culture and Critical Theory.
F

HUM 490 (4) Senior Capstone Project
An individual project by Humanities Majors that will demonstrate an ability to use interdisciplinary methods to draw together different areas of study in focusing on a specific topic, problem or concern. Requires approval of the Humanities Director or designated advisor.
Pre: Admission to college as Humanities Major

HUM 499 (1-4) Individual Study
Interdisciplinary study in an area for which the student has basic preparation.
Pre: Approval of faculty