Humanities Department Mission Statement

The Humanities department involves students in an intense, sophisticated, and comprehensive study of philosophy, literature, creative writing, communication, music, languages, and religion as part of a broader commitment to the fundamental value of the liberal arts.

Humanities faculty reject the crass commercialism, commodification of learning, and mercenary attitudes that have pervaded higher education. The study of the liberal arts serves human existence generally and leads to a life better lived than that of shallowly pursuing material wealth. While success in our majors does have direct career implications, the excellent student is prepared to engage in the study of the liberal arts for its inherent value.

Higher Education is not job training. Furthermore, the most important jobs in our society either do not yet exist or do not call for a particular set of pre-digested facts. Passionate engagement in a course of study found in the Humanities department will best prepare students for these opportunities because such engagement develops the ability to think critically, to read dense texts for understanding, to be facile with subtle and sophisticated concepts, and to present oneself clearly through language.