HUMANISTIC STUDIES
Interdisciplinary Major or Minor - www.uwgb.edu/humstudy
OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM:
Studies in the Humanities will help students develop a greater understanding of what it means to be human through the study of history, literature, philosophy, religion, languages and world civilizations. Humanistic Studies explores some of the central questions in life, such as the meaning of beauty, justice, and the “good life,” as well as the importance of language, culture and artistic expression.
At the core of the curriculum in Humanistic Studies is a set of courses called "Perspectives on Human Values" which explore works reflecting the nature, sources and results of human values in various historical periods. These interdisciplinary courses stress connections among history, philosophy, religion, music, literature, language, and art.
In Humanistic Studies, students will learn how to: 1) Recognize the value implications of human activity, 2) Have the ability to reflect critically on human values; 3) Understand the historical and cultural contexts for human values; 4) Have the ability to recognize and appreciate nuance and complexity of meaning; and 5) Express your ideas in a clear, organized, and well-reasoned manner.
WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS MAJOR:
- Students who are interested in investigating human values by studying and discussing their expressions in history, literature, art, and philosophy should consider Humanistic Studies. Also, those who have a passion for ideas and culture, and who enjoy reading would be ideal for this program. If you are looking for a well-rounded education that will prepare you for a variety of careers, then this program is right for you!
- Humanistic Studies is a natural accompaniment to majors or minors in First Nations Studies, History, Philosophy, English, French, German or Spanish as well as to minors in Global Studies and Women's Studies. Humanistic Studies also complements such areas of study as Business, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, and the natural sciences.
WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS MINOR:
For the same reasons as above, Humanistic Studies is a nice complement to any major. Because of the emphasis on good communication skills (writing and speaking), critical thinking, and the ability to learn new material easily, Humanistic Studies is an especially good complement to those planning careers in the business world.
WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS MAJOR AT UWGB:
- VARIETY. A program in Humanistic Studies complements other courses of study. It is a natural accompaniment to majors or minors in history, philosophy, English, French, German or Spanish, as well as to minors in American Indian studies and women's studies. Humanistic Studies also complements such areas of study as business, psychology, sociology, political science, and the natural sciences.
- APPRECIATION. As a Humanities major (or minor), you will learn to appreciate the greatest works that human beings have produced, and set yourself on a road to a fulfilling and satisfying life.
- INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE. Humanistic Studies has an internship program that will place you in a good learning situation in a local business or agency. Here, you can build your experiences and your resume, all the while earning course credits.
- OPPORTUNITY. The Humanities Department sponsor s most of UWGB’s trips abroad. You can have the exciting opportunity to visit other countries while you earn credits toward your major!
- CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE. The interdisciplinary aspects of the Humanistic Studies major, gives students a bigger "toolbox" of skills and abilities, leading to greater flexibility in their choices for the future. Unlike majors such as Computer Science, Accounting, etc., students in Humanistic Studies can branch out into many careers.
SKILLS & ABILITIES GAINED WITH THIS MAJOR:
- Effective Reading Skills
- Oral and Written Communication Skills
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Research and Analysis Skills
- Understanding of Diversity and Appreciation of Other Cultures
- Value of Thought and Analysis
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS MAJOR :
The program in Humanistic Studies offers the liberal education background that recruiters often seek for positions in business and industry. Employers have found that people with degrees in the Humanities are among the most flexible and best able to learn how to do a job. People with degrees in the Humanities tend to climb higher and faster in whatever career track they choose than do people trained in particular fields.
The following list represents a few of the kinds of career titles for Humanistic Studies majors:
Advertising, Anthropologist, Archivist, Archaeologist, Artist, Attorney, Community Activist, Community College Instructor, Editor, Geographer, Grant Writer, Historian, Human Resource Manager, Journalist, Lecturer, Librarian, Library Technician, Marketing Research, Museum Archive Management, Museum Collection Management, Museum Curator, Museum Exhibit Design, Museum Management, Museum Tour Guide, Musician, Playwright, Philosopher, Political Scientist, Professor, Public Relations, Researcher, Screenwriter, Paralegal, Radio/Television announcer, Secondary Ed. Teacher, Sociologist, Special Education Teacher…
The following list represents a few of the businesses and institutions that employ Humanistic Studies majors:
Museums, Academia (Higher Education), Community College s Technical College s Law, Libraries, Government, Education, Religion, Human Services, Journalism, Media, Writing, Business, Editing...
Want to know more about the nature of the work, working conditions, earnings, training, and job outlook? Then check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook @ http://www.bls.gov/oco/ooh_index.htm
LINKS TO GRAD PROGRAMS:
- Graduate School Guide. The comprehensive on-line guide to doctoral, masters, and professional programs. http://www.schoolguides.com
- Gradschools.com. The most comprehensive online source of Graduate School Information. http://www.gradschools.com/
- Gradschool.about.com Some great tips and advice on writing graduate school application essays. http://gradschool.about.com
- Peterson’s.com. The most comprehensive and heavily traveled education resource on the web. http://www.petersons.com/
- Or you can try any of the following search engine sites for information on the graduate school program of your choice! http://www.yahoo.com, http://www.infoseek.com, or http://www.snap.com
LINKS TO WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- National Endowment for the Humanities. Catalogues the work of the agency in promoting the humanities, and includes links to projects funded by the NEH across the US, on-line resources, directories of libraries. http://www.neh.gov/
- Wisconsin Humanities Council. Supports public programs that engage the people of Wisconsin in the exploration of human cultures, ideas, and values. Homepage @ http://www.wisconsinhumanities.org/
- The Library of Congress. Offers access to the Library's catalogues, powerful research tools, and LOC exhibitions. Homepage @ http://lcweb.loc.gov/
- Perseus Project. An evolving digital library of resources for the study of the ancient world and beyond. Homepage @ http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/
- American Council of Learned Societies. Their mission is to "advance humanistic studies in all fields of learning in the Humanities and the related social sciences and to maintain and strengthen relations among the national societies devoted to such studies." Homepage @ http://www.acls.org/
- American Philosophical Society . Promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and community outreach. Homepage @ http://www.amphilsoc.org/
- H-Net . An interdisciplinary organization of scholars dedicated to developing the enormous educational potential of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Homepage @ http://www.h-net.org/
LINKS FOR MORE HELP:
- Check out the HUMANISTIC STUDIES department homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/humstudy/
- For course listings and descriptions for HUMANISTIC STUDIES and other disciplines, check out UW-Green Bay’s Programs of Study page @ http://www.uwgb.edu/catalog/undrgrad/programs.htm
- More help is available on-campus at the Career Services Office at SS 1600, 465-2163. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/careers
- Contact Academic Advising at SS 1600, 465-2362. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/advising
- Another service for UW System students on the Web is UW HELP On-Line. This service provides in-depth information on the programs of the UW System. You can find them at @ http://www.uwhelp.wisconsin.edu
Revised 8/08
