HUMANITIES (GRADUATE)

The graduate plan in Humanities leads to the Master of Arts (MA) degree. The plan combines interdisciplinary study in the humanities with a sub-plan in the study of Texts (Sub-Plan I) or Images (Sub-Plan II).  The Humanities disciplines include arts, communications, history, humanities, literature and philosophy.  The degree emphasizes the broad sweep of culture and students are exposed to concepts and achievements that are global in origin and scope.  Students may enroll with degrees from the humanities or from other fields, although some course preparation in the humanities is desirable. The plan emphasizes faculty advisement and mentoring. The capstone experience - thesis, project or internship - provides an opportunity to work closely with a faculty member or professional mentor. For additional information about the degree, contact the advising coordinator.

Degree Requirements

All master’s degree options must contain a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours.  The degree consists of a required core (9 hours), a sub-plan (minimum of 15 hours) and a master’s option (thesis, project, internship or additional course work).  With the approval of their faculty advisors, students pursuing a master’s degree in humanities may take up to six hours of credit outside the following rubrics:  ARTS, COMM, HIST, HUMN, LITR and PHIL.  Further exceptions are at the discretion of the Humanities and Fine Arts Division Chair in consultation with the faculty advisor.

Required Core (9 hours)

The core introduces students to significant texts and images in western and non-western civilizations:

• HUMN 5031 — Texts and Images I
• HUMN 5033 — Texts and Images II
• HUMN 5035 — Texts and Images III

Students select one of two sub-plans: Texts or Images. Sub-Plan I, Texts, focuses on literary, historical, philosophical, psychological and critical written works. Students select from courses in ARTS (Art History), COMM1, HIST, HUMN, LITR and PHIL. Sub-Plan II, Images, includes course work in studio art, lens media (photography and video), visual communication (graphic design) and art history. A minimum of 15 undergraduate hours in ARTS courses is required. Included in the 15 required hours must be courses in drawing, painting, sculpture and two additional foundation courses to be determined with an ARTS faculty advisor.

1. Students should note that many graduate COMM courses have prerequisites.

Master's Options

Students must select one of the following options for completing the MA in Humanities degree:

• Thesis Option: 24 hours of course work plus 6 hours of thesis research (30 hours total)
• Project Option:  30 hours of course work plus 6 hours of project research (36 hours total)
• Internship Option: 30 hours of course work plus 6 hours of internship (36 hours total)
• Course Work Option: 36 hours of course work plus a Humanities capstone requirement

The thesis, project or internship should be interdisciplinary in its orientation, concept and content.  Master’s projects, theses and internships require continuous registration during each fall and spring semester until completion, for a minimum of six hours.  If students do not maintain continuous registration in the master’s project, thesis or internship, previously accumulated master’s option credits will not count toward the master’s degree.

American Studies

Students concentrating in American Studies select Sub-Plan I, Texts, and complete a minimum of 15 hours of course work in the American Studies courses listed below.  Students who intend to write a thesis or complete a project or internship may elect no more than two courses from any one rubric.  Students in the course work option must select a balanced plan of study with the approval of their advisor.  All American Studies students must complete at least one course in a Human Sciences rubric. 

One from Fundamentals of Social/Cultural/Textual Analysis:

• ANTH 5032                                 
• ANTH 5032
• HIST 5035
• LITR 5132

Four with American (Western Hemisphere) Content:

• ANTH 5333
• HIST 5132
• HIST 5133
• HIST 5138
• HIST 5232
• HIST 5233
• HIST 5234
• HIST 5235
• HIST 5237
• LITR 5535
• LITR 5536
• LITR 5537
• LITR 5538
• LITR 5731
• SOCI 5333
• SOCI 5334
• SOCI 5336
• SOCI 5134

Other courses with more than 50% American content will also fulfill this requirement. Theses, projects or internships will deal with an Americanist subject.

Professional Writing/Applied Graphic Design

Students who wish to complete a concentration in Professional Writing/Applied Graphic Design will select Sub-Plan I, Texts.  A minimum of 15 hours is required for the concentration; 12 hours must come from Professional Writing or Applied Graphic Design courses.  (Note:  ARTS 4438, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite for Applied Graphics Design courses.)  Students may include courses from both areas to complete the concentration requirements.  Theses, projects or internships will deal with Professional Writing or Applied Graphic Design subjects.

Women's Studies

Students concentrating in Women's Studies select Sub-Plan I, Texts.  A minimum of 15 hours is required for the concentration; 12 hours must be in Women’s Studies courses. Theses, projects or internships will deal with a related subject.