Research and creative expression in the areas of the humanities and the arts at UNH focuses on exploring the human condition from an intellectual, cultural, and historical perspective.

Research in the humanities asks the large questions about culture, literature, philosophy, and language in an effort to illuminate the human experience. It explores humanity from the ancient to the modern. Although humanities research often is a solitary venture, the work is part of the ongoing dialogue that stretches back millennia and across cultures: what does human life mean?

Arts research is both creative and scholarly. Our artists push aesthetic boundaries as they explore the human condition—they write plays, choreography, and musical scores; they paint, sculpt, and photograph; they act, sing, and play instruments. Our arts historians further understanding of the role of arts and artists across the span of human history.

To gain an appreciation for the diversity and depth of UNH’s scholarship related to the humanities and the arts, explore the departments, programs, Institutes and Centers listed below.