Humanities, Minor - COLA, UNH

Undergraduate

Humanities

Study everything from Greek tragedies and Renaissance art to contemporary social theories while developing essential analytical writing and critical thinking skills.
2026
Degree
Minor
Location
Durham, NH
Courses
5
Credit
20 hrs.
Full-time
- -
Part-time
- -
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Classics, Humanities and Italian Studies

The Humanities minor at UNH offers a transformative and interdisciplinary exploration of what it means to be human through diverse cultural and historical perspectives. Here you'll be able to study everything from Greek tragedies and Renaissance art to contemporary social theories while developing essential analytical writing and critical thinking skills. 

Through intimate seminars and team-taught courses, you'll explore the research and works of scientists, artists, philosophers and writers. Whether you're majoring in liberal arts, sciences or business, this minor enriches your primary studies and can be enhanced through engaging study abroad opportunities in Rome, Greece and Budapest.

Department of Classics, Humanities and Italian Studies

Contact Cards

Associate Professor
Murkland Hall, Room 320, Durham, NH 03824

What is humanities?

The humanities ask, “What does it mean to be human?” As a student in the humanities minor, you’ll explore that fundamental question of existence. For answers, you’ll look everywhere from Greek tragedies, postmodern novels and High Renaissance sculpture to pop art, baroque music and contemporary psychological and social theories. Humanities students are in the company of scientists, artists, musicians, historians, revolutionaries, philosophers and writers who, for thousands of years, have been engaged in the same quest. Students can combine the humanities minor with majors from across the university, from liberal arts to sciences to business.

Why study humanities at UNH?

The humanities minor at UNH complements your main area of interest while helping you develop your analytical writing and critical thinking skills. You’ll obtain a solid liberal arts education through regular coursework, small, intensive seminars and team-taught classes. You’ll also enjoy study-abroad opportunities that include a popular January-term course in Rome, and programs in Greece and Budapest.

Potential career areas

  • Communications
  • Content strategy
  • Intelligence analysis
  • Law
  • Marketing
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Writing

Curriculum & Requirements

01
Program Description
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There has never been a more exciting time to be human—or has there? What exactly does it mean to be a human being in the twenty-first century? How can you get the most out of your humanity? Find out by minoring in the humanities. It can help prepare you for a life you may not have considered, in ways you've never imagined.

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Requirements for the Program
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Academic policies related to minors.

The humanities minor consists of five courses for a total of 20 credits.

Required Courses
Select two courses from the following HUMA Course Topic sequences:8
Ancient Humanities: Cultures and Empires (HUMA 510 A, B, C, D)
Medieval Humanities: Rise of Global Empires (HUMA 511 A, B, C)
Modern Humanities: Colonies, Constitutions, and Capital (HUMA 512 A, B, C)
Global Humanities (HUMA 513 A, B, C, D)
Space, Place & the Environment (HUMA 514 A, B, C, D)
Select two additional courses from other humanities program courses, one of which should be at the 600 level8
HUMA 701WCapstone Course (or another approved course)4
or HUMA 798
HUMA 799
Research Seminar
and Research Seminar
Total Credits20