One student left the banking industry and wants to follow her passion for media design and digital humanities. Another is a recent history graduate, and plans to work in museums. Still another is a retired engineer, and dreams of reading and writing philosophy, history, and anthropology. Our students come to us from a broad range of backgrounds from recent graduates in the humanities, sciences, and professional fields to current and retired professionals. And they come to our program for a variety of reasons: to continue their passion in the arts, cultural, historical, or literary studies; to transition from one career to another; to complete that memoir or novel; or to just continue as life-long learners. Our job is to make it happen.
The Master of Arts in Humanities is a true interdisciplinary degree. It adapts advanced study of the humanities to the personal interests of a broad spectrum of students. The program provides students with varied undergraduate backgrounds the opportunity to continue their studies at the graduate level with an integrated and multidisciplinary perspective on human inquiry.
The work of our alums ranges widely: from service non-profits to museums, hospitals, public relations firms, colleges and universities. We’ve kept up with our graduates for the past 45+ years. You can see their broad range of work and employment experience on Our Graduates page.
Program Description
The Master of Arts in Humanities is now (since 2024) an on-line, synchronously delivered, all-virtual program. Most courses are offered in a seminar format: discussion-based graduate-level courses focused on reading, open and regular dialogue, collaborative and interactive interpretation, research and writing. The curriculum stresses an interdisciplinary approach, embracing a variety of fields, while allowing conventional disciplinary studies as an integral part of the program. Students consult with the Program Director to determine individual plans of study. After completing a prescribed core of humanities courses, the student elects one of four areas of concentration (Arts and Society; Cultural Studies; Historical Studies; Literary Studies). Although the student’s plan may encompass courses from more than one area of concentration it will have strong intellectual coherence. The program enhances the student’s ability to deal critically and flexibly with intellectual, social, political, historical, literary, or artistic issues with a broad humanistic perspective. The Graduate Humanities Program recommends that students not concerned with pursuing the degree (such as teachers using classes for certification and those who want to take courses for their own continuing education) to enroll as non-degree students.
Admission Requirements & Procedure
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review this Program website and contact the Graduate Humanities Program Director before officially applying to the Program.
Applicants should follow the admissions process described on the Graduate Admissions website. GRE scores are not required.
Specific to the Graduate Humanities Program, applicants must:
- have an undergraduate major in the humanities, broadly defined;
- an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4 from the bachelor’s degree transcript; and
- submit an essay (sent to the Director of the Graduate Humanities Program). This essay should elaborate the applicant’s degree goals and reasons for selecting the MA in Humanities. It should be specific with examples and include description of key texts important to the applicant.
In addition, a virtual interview is required after an application has been received and before a final decision is made. The Program Director will schedule the interview. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their essay, degree goals, and reasons for selecting the MA in Humanities.
For more on the interview, see I’ve been contacted by the Program Director for an interview. Now what?
Applicants who do not meet all of the above admissions requirements may be admitted provisionally. A provisionally admitted student must earn a grade of B or above in their first twelve hours of coursework in the humanities.
The Program Director will contact admitted students directly via email. Upon admission, be sure to read I’ve been accepted to the Graduate Humanities Program. Now what?
Program Requirements & Plan of Study
The Master of Arts in Humanities stresses an interdisciplinary approach, embracing a variety of fields, while allowing conventional disciplinary studies as an integral part of the program. Students consult with faculty advisors to determine individual plans of study. After completing a prescribed core of humanities courses, the student elects one of four areas of concentration (Arts and Society; Cultural Studies; Historical Studies; Literary Studies). Although the student’s plan may encompass courses from more than one area of concentration it will have strong intellectual coherence. The program enhances the student’s ability to deal critically and flexibly with intellectual, social, political, historical, literary, or artistic issues with a broad humanistic perspective. The Humanities Program strongly encourages students not concerned with pursuing the degree (such as teachers using classes for certification and those who want to take courses for their own continuing education) to enroll as non-degree students.
The MA in Humanities requires 36 hours to complete. Degree students have the options of a thesis or final project. Students electing the thesis must complete both HUMN 680 (Independent Research Symposium) and HUMN 681 (Independent Research Symposium). Students electing the project option must complete HUMN 680 (Independent Research Symposium) only.
With both options, students must complete a final comprehensive portfolio assessment, included with the thesis or final project. All individual plans of study are organized according to the following general structure:
Humanities Core (9 hours): Required core courses acquaint the student with the methods, materials, and problems of interdisciplinary study and research in the humanities. The core courses also provide the foundation for the remainder of the plan of study. Each student must complete the following:
- HUMN 600 – Introduction to Study in the Humanities (3 hours)
- HUMN 604 – Expository Writing for Research (3 hours)
- And one of the following:
- HUMN 601 – Literary Theory and Criticism (3 hours)
- HUMN 602 – Historical Studies (3 hours)
- HUMN 603 – History and Theory of the Arts (3 hours)
- HUMN 605 – Western Traditions and Contemporary Cultures (3 hours)
- Concentration (minimum of 15 hours): Each student develops a concentration in cultural, historical, literary studies, or arts & society (given the interdisciplinary approach of the Program, all 15 hours need not necessarily be the same course designator, A&S, CULS, HIST, LITS). These areas are:
- Arts and Society (A&S): for students interested in art history, theatre/drama, or film history and appreciation.
- Cultural Studies: for students interested in philosophy/religion, classical studies, media theory and practices, regional or ethnic studies.
- Historical Studies: for students interested in history or regional studies.
- Literary Studies: for students interested in literature, language, or creative writing.
To assist the student in developing this portion of the plan of study, course offerings are organized under these four areas. An individualized plan of study may, with permission of the Program Director, include courses from more than one area. No more than twelve hours may be taken at the 500-level.See the current schedule of classes for current and upcoming course offerings.
- Program Electives (6 – 9 hours): See the current schedule of classes for current and upcoming course offerings.
- Independent Research Project (3 – 6hours): Students may choose either a project or thesis option to complete their plan of study (both options include a final comprehensive portfolio assessment):
- Project – The student will work with a faculty member to outline and complete a final project. The project must relate to the student’s area of concentration. It should involve research and result in a written project. In the case of creative writing, a creative project may be appropriate. (3 hours: HUMN 680 required)
- Thesis – The student’s examination committee will ordinarily be the principal members of the thesis committee. The chair of that committee will serve as thesis director. The student will present a prospectus to the committee for approval before beginning the thesis. The student will defend the completed thesis. (6 hours : HUMN 680 and 681 required)