Description: The Humanities are the branches of learning primarily concerned with the creation and understanding of meaning in human experience: the study of human culture and ideas. Humanities disciplines include history; languages; literature; philosophy; religious studies; and the theory, criticism, and history of the arts. Common to all our disciplines is a focus on texts of various kinds and on the history, geography, representation, and transmission of ideas.

Mission: Through our work as teachers, scholars, and colleagues, the Humanities Division fosters student development, promotes an understanding of the Humanities, and contributes to the intellectual vitality of the College community.

Objectives:

1. To offer courses in which:

• Students learn about the Humanities;
• Students learn subject matter and methods of specific disciplines within the Humanities;
• Students learn about the diversity of human experience and culture;
• Students gain practice in reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking.

2. To support the curricular needs of the College.

3. To promote interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship both within the Humanities and across division boundaries.

4. To organize and support co-curricular programming related to the Humanities.