Humanities (MA)

9_humanities

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

Concentration (see Concentration tab) 121-24
First Core Area (12-15 credit hours)
Second Core Area (9-12 credit hours)
Research Methods3
Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities
Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
Thesis/Directed Project 23-6
Directed Study Project
Thesis Guidance
Minimum Total Hours30

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.


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.

Interdisciplinary Humanities, Thesis
First Core Area 1,212
Second Core Area 1,29
HUM 609Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities3
or HUM 610 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 645Thesis Guidance6
Minimum Total Hours30
Interdisciplinary Humanities, Directed Study Project
First Core Area 1,215
Second Core Area 1,29
HUM 609Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities3
or HUM 610 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 655Directed Study Project3
Minimum Total Hours30

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.


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.

Public Humanities, Thesis
Public Humanities Core Area, including:12
Introduction to Public Humanities
Graduate Internship
Introduction to Public History
Second Core Area 19
Required HUM course (Theories and Methodologies)
HUM 609Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities3
or HUM 610 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 645Thesis Guidance6
Minimum Total Hours30
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. 

Public Humanities, Directed Study Project
Public Humanities Core Area, including:12-15
Introduction to Public Humanities
Graduate Internship
Introduction to Public History
Second Core Area 19-12
Required HUM course (Theories and Methodologies)
HUM 609Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities3
or HUM 610 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 655Directed Study Project3
Minimum Total Hours30

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. 


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.

Linguistics, Thesis
Linguistics Core Sequence 19
Syntax
Phonetics and Phonology
Language and Culture
Linguistic Anthropology
Six (6) additional credits from the following: 6
Sociocultural Linguistics
History of the English Language
History of the English Language
Language and Social Identity
Language and Social Identity
Sociolinguistics
Structural Linguistics
Structure of Modern English
Structure of Modern English
Historical and Comparative Linguistics
Special Topics in Linguistics
Language and Cognition
Recent Philosophy of Language
Other graduate-level Linguistics courses
Independent Study
Seminar in Linguistics
Second Area Core 39
HUM 609Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities3
or HUM 610 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 645Thesis Guidance6
Minimum Total Hours33
Linguistics, Directed Study Project
Linguistics Core Sequence 19
Syntax
Phonetics and Phonology
Language and Culture
Linguistic Anthropology
Six additional credits from the following:6
Sociocultural Linguistics
History of the English Language
Language and Social Identity
Sociolinguistics
Structural Linguistics
Structure of Modern English
Historical and Comparative Linguistics
Language and Cognition
Recent Philosophy of Language
Other graduate-level Linguistics courses
Independent Study 2
Special Topics in Linguistics
Seminar in Linguistics
Second Core Area 39
HUM 609Interdisciplinary Theory: Arts and Humanities3
or HUM 610 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion
HUM 655Directed Study Project3
Minimum Total Hours30

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.