Undergraduate Course Catalog 2006-2007

College of Liberal Arts

» http://www.unh.edu/liberal-arts/

Humanities (HUMA)

Coordinator: Catherine M. Peebles

The Humanities Program examines the fundamental questions and issues of Western civilization. Through studying diverse texts in the arts, music, literature, history, philosophy, and science, students seek answers to questions that thoughtful human beings must address in the course of their lives. Whether these questions come from Socrates (What is justice?), from Sir Thomas More (What is obligation to God?), from Raphael (What is beauty?), from Newton (What are the laws of nature?), or from Martin Luther King, Jr. (What is freedom?), they direct our attention to enduring human concerns and to texts that have suggested or illustrated the most profound and powerful answers.

Humanities Major
The humanities major consists of a minimum of 40 credits of academic work, with a minimum grade of C, including the following core requirements:

Critical Methods in the Humanities (HUMA 500). Students will be made acquainted with the methods and technology required for research in the humanities. Students should take this 4-credit course during the sophomore or junior year.

Integrated Core Courses (HUMA 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515). Each student takes at least two courses (8 credits) from the 510-515 sequence, preferably in the freshman and/or sophomore year.

Seminar in the Humanities (HUMA 700). Each student takes at least one offering (4 credits) of the Seminar in the Humanities, preferably during the junior or senior year. This seminar provides an opportunity for in-depth reading, viewing, and/or listening to texts and artifacts. The emphasis is on the multiple perspectives and methodologies that can be brought to bear upon these works from several humanistic disciplines.

Research Project in the Humanities (HUMA 798/799). Each student participates in the research seminar (for a total of 4 credits) throughout the senior year. The seminar provides a context within which students may discuss and receive directions in the course of completing a major research paper. At the end of the second semester, students present their research to the faculty and their fellow students.

Additional Requirements. Beyond the 20 credits of core requirements, each student must fulfill the following requirements: 1) a minimum of 8 additional credits from other Humanities Program courses; 2) an additional 12 credits from Humanities Program offerings and from the offerings of other departments and programs, with the advice and approval of each student’s major adviser or the program coordinator. These offerings should bear some relation to the student’s particular interests and senior research paper, as seems appropriate in each individual case.

Humanities Minor
The Humanities minor consists of the following courses: 1) two courses (8 credits) from the 510/511/512/513/514/515 sequence; 2) two courses (8 credits) from other humanities program courses, one of which should be at the 600-level; and 3) seminar in the humanities (HUMA 700) or another approved course.

Inquiries about the humanities major and minor should be directed to Catherine Peebles, coordinator of the Humanities Program, G19 Murkland Hall, (603) 862-3638; e-mail huma@unh.edu.

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