Humanities (MA)

Master of Arts in Humanities 
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Comparative 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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Concentration (see tab) 1		21-24
Research Methods		3
Thesis/Directed Project 2		3-6
Minimum Total Hours		30-33

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. 

¹

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

²

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

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Accelerated BA/MA in Humanities

Students who wish to pursue an accelerated master's degree will be allowed to apply to the baccalaureate degree up to nine (9) credit hours of coursework taken for graduate credit. Twenty-one (21) credit hours of graduate coursework, in addition, will constitute the minimum number of credit hours for obtaining the MA. The guidelines for the accelerated BA/MA in Humanities are as follows:

• Students must apply for admission to the program no later than the end of their junior year to be eligible enroll in graduate coursework in their final year of the program.
• A minimum overall grade point average and major grade point average of 3.35 will be required for admission to and for retention in the program.
• Students must fill out the online graduate admissions application.
• Students may take a maximum of nine (9) credit hours for graduate credit, which will also apply to the requirements for the baccalaureate degree in Humanities.
• The Public Humanities concentration is not available for accelerated completion.
• Students who enroll in the accelerated BA/MA in Humanities may elect the thesis or non-thesis option, whichever is appropriate to the concentration and course of study.
• All students in the program will take either HUM 609 or HUM 610 to fulfill the Methodology requirement.
• All requirements remain the same, including the foreign language requirement.

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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Concentration (see Concentration tab) 1		21-24
First Core Area (12-15 credit hours)
Second Core Area (9-12 credit hours)
Research Methods		3
HUM 609	Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities
or HUM 610	Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
Thesis/Directed Project 2		3-6
HUM 655	Directed Study Project
or HUM 645	Thesis Guidance
Minimum Total Hours		30

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

¹

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

²

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.

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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.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Interdisciplinary Humanities, Thesis
First Core Area 1,2		12
Second Core Area 1,2		9
HUM 609	Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities	3
or HUM 610	Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 645	Thesis Guidance	6
Minimum Total Hours		30

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Interdisciplinary Humanities, Directed Study Project
First Core Area 1,2		15
Second Core Area 1,2		9
HUM 609	Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities	3
or HUM 610	Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 655	Directed Study Project	3
Minimum Total Hours		30

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

¹

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. 

²

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.

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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.

The Public Humanities concentration is not available for accelerated completion.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Public Humanities, Thesis
Public Humanities Core Area, including:		12
HUM 636	Introduction to Public Humanities
HUM 650	Graduate Internship
HUM 671	Introduction to Public History
Second Core Area 1		9
Required HUM course (Theories and Methodologies)
HUM 609	Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities	3
or HUM 610	Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 645	Thesis Guidance	6
Minimum Total Hours		30

¹

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. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Public Humanities, Directed Study Project
Public Humanities Core Area, including:		12-15
HUM 636	Introduction to Public Humanities
HUM 650	Graduate Internship
HUM 671	Introduction to Public History
Second Core Area 1		9-12
Required HUM course (Theories and Methodologies)
HUM 609	Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities	3
or HUM 610	Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 655	Directed Study Project	3
Minimum Total Hours		30

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

¹

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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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.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Linguistics, Thesis
Linguistics Core Sequence 1		9
LING 603	Syntax
LING 610	Phonetics and Phonology
or LING 630	Language and Culture
or LING 640	Linguistic Anthropology
Six (6) additional credits from the following:		6
Sociocultural Linguistics
LING 523	History of the English Language
or ENGL 523	History of the English Language
LING 570	Language and Social Identity
or ENGL 570	Language and Social Identity
LING 621	Sociolinguistics
Structural Linguistics
LING 522	Structure of Modern English
or ENGL 522	Structure of Modern English
LING 606	Historical and Comparative Linguistics
LING 620	Special Topics in Linguistics
LING 624	Language and Cognition
LING 641	Recent Philosophy of Language
Other graduate-level Linguistics courses
LING 600	Independent Study
LING 690	Seminar in Linguistics
Second Area Core 3		9
HUM 609	Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities	3
or HUM 610	Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 645	Thesis Guidance	6
Minimum Total Hours		33

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Linguistics, Directed Study Project
Linguistics Core Sequence 1		9
LING 603	Syntax
LING 610	Phonetics and Phonology
LING 630	Language and Culture
or LING 640	Linguistic Anthropology
Six additional credits from the following:		6
Sociocultural Linguistics
LING/ENGL 523	History of the English Language
LING/ENGL 570	Language and Social Identity
LING 621	Sociolinguistics
Structural Linguistics
LING/ENGL 522	Structure of Modern English
LING 606	Historical and Comparative Linguistics
LING 624	Language and Cognition
LING 641	Recent Philosophy of Language
Other graduate-level Linguistics courses
LING 600	Independent Study 2
LING 620	Special Topics in Linguistics
LING 690	Seminar in Linguistics
Second Core Area 3		9
HUM 609	Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities	3
or HUM 610	Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 655	Directed Study Project	3
Minimum Total Hours		30

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

¹

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.

²

 Under direction of Linguistics-affiliated faculty

³

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.