Interdisciplinary Studies: Humanities, Women’s Studies and University Studies

Professor Jeffrey Elwell, Head

Humanities

Associate Professor Bryan Hampton, Coordinator

Humanities: Women’s Studies

Professor Marcia Noe, Coordinator

The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies coordinates a number of programs leading to baccalaureate degrees as well as several other non-degree programs. Because of their interdisciplinary nature, these programs draw upon the varied resources of a number of departments.

Degree program: Humanities (B.A.). The Humanities Program encourages students to pursue sustained study in those disciplines that treat human culture, experience, and perception as an object of study, while simultaneously treating the person as a knowing subject, and which pierce to the core of culture and the human condition. Majors choose one of three concentrations: Humanities: Liberal Arts, Humanities: International Studies, or Humanities: Women’s Studies. Under the direction of Prof. Bryan Hampton, students in Humanities: Liberal Arts will pursue substantial coursework in the traditional liberal arts, while students interested in Humanities: International Studies will pursue substantial coursework with a global emphasis. By the sophomore year, students will submit a Program Rationale which articulates the student’s individual course of study, and before graduation the student will be required to submit a research-oriented essay written for an upper-level course that will be evaluated by a committee of professors. Under the direction of Prof. Marcia Noe, students in Women’s Studies study how gender, ethnicity, and class intersect in society and culture from multiple perspectives across the arts and sciences.