Humanities Major (B.A.) Manchester

https://manchester.unh.edu/program/ba/humanities-major

The UNH Manchester Humanities program focuses on the world’s great cultures and how humans interact with the world. Students take an interdisciplinary approach in studying works from an array of regions and time periods, exploring how cultural productions emerge from a rich social environment. Drawing from history, literature, art, philosophy, politics, and the sciences, the Humanities program not only provides foundational skills in the true liberal arts tradition but also gives students the flexibility to design a program of study keyed to their own interests.

The program attracts highly motivated students who wish to assume significant responsibility for the content and direction of their studies. 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 a historical period through study of its literature, arts, history, philosophy, and sciences. Humanities students develop skills of analysis, critical assessment, and effective communication, completing their major with two capstone seminars. The first seminar, 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, explores current social and political issues with a focus on developments in public policy, science, and business, and their impact on social values.

A Humanities major or minor can complement work in other majors such as English Teaching, Business, Communication Arts, Psychology, or Computing Information Systems. Humanities majors find employment in a wide range of fields or pursue graduate study in subjects such as law or education.  The skills and knowledge developed through the major are important in virtually all social and career responsibilities.

For more information, contact Phillip Deen, program coordinator or the UNH Manchester Office of Admissions at (603) 641-4150.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

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.

Core Courses
HIST 500Introduction to Historical Thinking4
or ENGL 419 How to Read Anything
HUMA 411Humanities I4
HUMA 412Humanities II4
Self-Designed Concentration 120
Capstone Seminar Courses
HUMA 795Study of Creativity4
HUMA 796Study of Contemporary Issues4
Total Credits40
1

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.

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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
UMST 401
First Year Seminar
or Transfer Seminar
1-2
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
Elective 4
Elective 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits17-18
Spring
Quantative Reasoning 4
HUMA 411 Humanities I 4
Discovery Course 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
Foreign Language 4
HUMA 412 Humanities II 4
ENGL 419 How to Read Anything 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
Foreign Language 4
Major Concentration 4
Elective 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
Major Concentration 4
Discovery Course 4
Elective 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Spring
Major Concentration 4
Discovery Course 4
Elective 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
Major Concentration 4
HUMA 795 Study of Creativity 4
Discovery Course 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Spring
Major Concentration 4
HUMA 796 Study of Contemporary Issues 4
Discovery course 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits129-130

Students will be able to:

  • Think critically, and across disciplines, in analyzing and comparing works produced within given cultures or historical periods.
  • Conduct and present multidisciplinary research in written, oral, or other forms.
  • Identify and evaluate primary and secondary sources appropriate for research within the humanities.