Humanities and Multi-Disciplinary Studies
Gregory Dodds (Humanities & Multi-Disciplinary Studies), Chair, Cynthia Westerbeck (English), and Academic Advisors.
The major in humanities and multi-disciplinary studies is founded on the following three principles: multidisciplinary study, customization, and academic rigor. The major is specifically designed for students who are seeking to combine professional or technical training in another discipline with strong training in writing and the humanities.
Most majors focus on a specific discipline and type of academic study. This major fills a unique niche by providing a customizable course of study to meet the needs of students with a broad range of interests. The job market is increasingly seeking graduates who possess the critical thinking, writing, and knowledge skills of humanities graduates, but who also have the skills provided by training in STEM or professional areas of expertise. A student majoring in humanities and multi-disciplinary studies might be pursuing a career in medicine, dentistry, science, law, business, or a variety of pre-professional programs.
The majority of the HMDS program requirements are in the form of electives chosen from both the humanities and a variety of other programs. Students choose 20 credits from the humanities; 12 credits from science, social science, technology, engineering, math, or the professions; and 8 flexible elective credits that promote the student’s post-graduate goals. In designing their major, students could therefore choose half of their electives from humanities courses and half from non-humanities courses.
Alternatively, a student wishing for a greater emphasis on interdisciplinary coursework within the humanities could select up to 28 credits from the humanities. The specific mix of courses should be planned in consultation the director of Humanities and Multi-disciplinary Studies and their academic advisor. Selected courses will prepare the student for the interdisciplinary capstone project and their post-graduate career objectives.
The capstone research project and the experiential learning requirement (which often takes the form of an internship) build on the focused interdisciplinary program of courses taken by the student.
Humanities and Multi-Disciplinary Studies Major (Bachelor of Arts)
A student majoring in humanities and multi-disciplinary studies must complete 65 quarter hours made up of the core requirements, the required number of electives in the humanities and sciences, and the required number of additional electives pertaining to the student’s chosen focus of study and senior thesis project.