Humanities Major (B.A.) Manchester

The UNH Manchester humanities program is an interdisciplinary study of the human condition, past and present. The program is based on careful examination of substantial works from a variety of disciplines and is intended to develop intellectual skills, specialized knowledge, and breadth of understanding. It provides students with a broad foundation of knowledge and skills in the liberal arts combined with a coordinated, self-designed program of studies in an area of individual student interest.

The program attracts highly motivated students who wish to assume significant responsibility for the content and direction of their studies. Humanities students develop skills of analysis, critical assessment, and effective communication as they study diverse works of art, music, literature, history, philosophy, and the sciences. Individually designed programs may cover the full range of student interests: for example, the social and ethical implications of genetic engineering or the examination of an historical period through study of its literature, arts, history, philosophy, and sciences. Students complete their major with two capstone seminars. The first, HUMA 795 Study of Creativity, explores the nature of creativity through the lives and works of individuals such as Leonardo da Vinci, Kathe Kollwitz, Mozart, Freud, Einstein, and Georgia O'Keeffe. The second seminar, HUMA 796 Study of Contemporary Issues, explores current social and political issues with a focus on developments in public policy, science, and business, and their impact on social values.

Humanities majors find employment in a wide range of fields or pursue graduate study in subjects such as law or education. Skills and knowledge developed through the major are important in virtually all social and career responsibilities. A humanities major or minor can also complement work in other majors such as elementary or secondary education, business, communications, or computer information systems.

Program of Study

For the humanities major at UNH Manchester, students must complete a minimum of 128 credits and satisfy the University's Discovery Program and foreign language requirements, and students must complete 40 credits with a minimum grade of C in each course in the major.

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This is an approved program of study designed by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor. In addition to courses available on the Manchester campus, students may, with prior approval, use courses from area colleges and the University's Durham campus. The concentration is made up of two humanities courses (HUMA prefix) at the 600 or 700 level and three courses from any relevant discipline at any level.

For more information, contact Susanne Paterson, Associate Professor and program coordinator or the UNH Manchester Office of Admissions at (603) 641-4150.

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH Manchester undergraduate students will develop individual academic plans with their professional advisor during the first year at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence

• Demonstrate the ability to find and evaluate primary and secondary source material necessary for humanistic research.
• Demonstrate the ability to propose, conduct, and present interdisciplinary humanistic research in a written, oral, or other forms. Identify and interpret creative and cultural forms from a given historical period.
• Compare and contrast the meanings of major texts and other significant cultural productions.