Humanities (MA)

Master of Arts in Humanities 
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Interdisciplinary and Public Humanities
Program Website  
Academic Plan Code(s): See Concentration Requirements tab.

Program Information

The MA in Humanities is an interdisciplinary, comparative, and globally-oriented master's program offered by the Department of Comparative Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences.  It is designed for students who seek to integrate two disciplines in the arts and humanities, and/or historical periods, with community enrichment. The MA in Humanities can be undertaken as an intensive two-year program, but there is the possibility of a part-time schedule for students with full-time jobs.

Degree Summary

A minimum of 15 credit hours must be at the 600 level, excluding HUM 655. In addition to the coursework requirements listed above, some students may need to satisfy the foreign language competency requirement. 

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Hours vary between concentrations and depending on whether students opt for a Thesis or a Directed Study Project option.

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Thesis option students take six (6) credit hours of HUM 645; Directed Study Project option students take three (3) credit hours of HUM 655.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Areas of Concentration

The MA in Humanities offers three areas of concentration: 

• Interdisciplinary Humanities
• Linguistics
• Public Humanities

Soaring Scholar Accelerated BA/MA in Humanities

Undergraduate students interested in the program's accelerated option should visit the catalog page for the BA in Humanities for more information.

Admission Requirements

Regular admission to the Master of Arts in Humanities occurs twice yearly, for entry during the fall and spring semesters.  The official deadline for Fall admission is January 15.  The official deadline for Spring admission is September 15.

All applicants must have completed a BA in an appropriate field of study prior to beginning the program.

Applications should consist of the following:

• Online Graduate Application for admission 
• Payment of Application fee
• A statement of intent (about 1000 words) focusing on the research interests or the applicant’s professional goals
• A scholarly or creative writing sample (5,000-10,000 words)
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate-level work
• Two letters of recommendation from former instructors/co-workers attesting to capability for graduate-level work and/or work ethic.
• If applicable, proof of English proficiency (for international students from countries where English is not the native language).

Program Requirements

In addition to the course work requirements listed above, students in two of the three concentrations need to satisfy a foreign language competency requirement. 

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Concentration credit hours vary depending on whether students opt for a Thesis or a Directed Study Project.

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Thesis option students take six (6) credit hours of HUM 645; Directed Study Project option students take three (3) credit hours of HUM 655.

Concentrations 

These concentrations are designed to provide students with a broad grasp of the Arts and Humanities with special strengths in selected areas such as Linguistics, Interdisciplinary Humanities, and Public Humanities.

In each track, students take a minimum of eight or nine classes and either write and defend a Thesis or a Directed Study Project at the end of the program.

Each concentration requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, with a minimum of 15 credit hours at the 600 level (excluding HUM 655 or HUM 645).

Beyond the course work requirements outlined below, students in two of the three concentrations need additional credits to satisfy the foreign language competency requirement.

Interdisciplinary Humanities (formerly "Traditional" track)

Academic Plan Code(s): HUM_MA_TRD, HUM_MA_TAC

Students in this track can combine the study of two disciplines or focus on the culture of a particular historical period. The cultural periods included are: Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance, Early Modern, and Modern/Contemporary.

In addition to the course work listed below, MA students in the Interdisciplinary Humanities concentration must satisfy a foreign language competency requirement and complete a final oral defense of a thesis or Directed Study Project.

A minimum of 15 credit hours for the degree must be at the 600 level (excluding HUM 655).  

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Core Areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: Art History, Classical and Modern Languages, Literature, Film, Jewish Studies, Music History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre Arts, Medieval/Renaissance Studies, Early Modern (17th and 18th Century Studies), Pan African Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies or Modern and Contemporary Cultural Studies. 

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Students without either Hum 590 or Hum 595 in their undergraduate coursework may be required to take one of these as part of their core area course work.

Public Humanities

Academic Plan Code(s): HUM_MA_PH

Students in this track are interested in bringing the ideas of academic debate into the public sphere, or are enrolled in the Joint JD/MA or MA/MBA Programs. They can combine the study of Public Humanities with a discipline or a focus on the culture of a particular historical period. The cultural periods included are: Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance, Early Modern, and Modern/Contemporary. 

In addition to the course work listed below, MA students in the Public Humanities concentration must complete one required internship, but have no foreign language competency requirement. They can choose between a final oral defense of a Directed Study Project or a Thesis.

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Core Areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: Art History, Classical and Modern Languages, Literature, Film, Jewish Studies, Music History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre Arts, Medieval/Renaissance Studies, Early Modern (17th and 18th Century Studies), Pan African Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies or Modern and Contemporary Cultural Studies. 

A minimum of 15 credit hours for the degree must be at the 600 level (excluding HUM 655 or HUM 645).   

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Core Areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: Art History, Classical and Modern Languages, Literature, Film, Jewish Studies, Music History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre Arts, Medieval/Renaissance Studies, Early Modern (17th and 18th Century Studies), Pan African Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies or Modern and Contemporary Cultural Studies. 

Linguistics

Academic Plan Code(s): HUM_MA_LIN, HUM_MA_LAC

Students in this track combine in a unique way the study of the interdisciplinary humanities with a specialized concentration in linguistics. Students take three core courses and then a minimum of two additional 600-level linguistics courses. Along with our Humanities faculty, students are able to study with linguists in the adjacent departments of Classical and Modern Languages, English, Philosophy, and Psychology.

In addition to the course work listed below, MA students in the Linguistics concentration must satisfy a foreign language competency requirement and complete a final oral defense of a Directed Study Project or a Thesis.

A minimum of 15 credit hours for the degree must be at the 600 level (excluding HUM 655 or HUM 645).   

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Students with no prior undergraduate linguistics coursework are encouraged to audit or enroll on a pass/fail (P/F) basis in LING 325. These credits will not apply to the hours needed to complete the MA degree.

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 Under direction of Linguistics-affiliated faculty

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Core Areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: Art History, Classical and Modern Languages, Literature, Film, Jewish Studies, Music History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre Arts, Medieval/Renaissance Studies, Early Modern (17th and 18th Century Studies), Pan African Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies or Modern and Contemporary Cultural Studies.