DIVISION OF
ARTS & HUMANITIES
The arts and humanities are studies of human values, capacities, and achievements focusing on the evolution of linguistic and artistic expression, religion, and philosophy. Courses in the humanities help you develop analytical skills, critical reasoning, language proficiency, and aesthetic appreciation.
‘Red Dead’ Innovation
Students in Associate Professor Tore Olsson’s spring 2024 “Red Dead History” course were already highly engaged in its unique topic: viewing American history through the lens of the popular video game series Red Dead Redemption.
They were in for a surprising new connection, though, when they showed up to class on March 7 expecting a pre-spring-break quiz and group discussion. There was no quiz, and they quickly learned that the group discussion would feature two special “outside experts.”
Departments
School of Art
School of Art
Join a vibrant community of artists, filmmakers, and scholars in studio art, cinema studies, and art history.
Classics
Classics
Study the ancient Greek and Roman world through languages, literature, history, culture, archaeology, and art.
English
English
Contribute to the rich tradition of English literature and break new ground with programs in Literature, Criticism & Textual Studies; Rhetoric, Writing & Linguistics; and Creative Writing.
History
History
Tap into the deep well of human experience from the past and use critical thinking to understand how it impacts the present.
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Religious Studies
Engage in a critical and comparative study of relgion through historical, anthropological, textual, and theoretical lenses.
Theatre
World Languages & Cultures
“The visual, written, and performing arts enliven and foster empathy and positive change, just as scholarship in the humanities provides deeper contexts for understanding our diverse heritage, traditions, history, and culture. Together, these are key to the education of our students, preparing them to lead purposeful lives as engaged citizens.”
Beauvais Lyons
Divisional Dean for Arts and Humanities
Featured Courses
THEA 205
Presence and Storytelling
Your work is not going to matter if you do not know how to present it. We will work toward understanding why the behavioral elements of presence (voice, body language, and breathing) are crucial for communicating to an audience. We will study what a story is, how it works, and how to use it to create an impactful presentation.
REST 360
Witchcraft, Magic, and Religion
This course examines both historical and contemporary witchcraft. It looks at various beliefs and accusations and the contested terms of “magic” and “religion” in a variety of social and cultural settings.
Photo credit: The Magic Circle (1886) by John William Waterhouse
HIST 150
History through Video Games
In the twenty-first century, video games have exploded in popularity, eclipsing older pop culture formats like film and television. But if the medium is new, many of the most popular games today look backward to the past, such as history-intensive franchises like Red Dead Redemption, Assassin’s Creed, Ghost of Tsushima, or Civilization. This course uses the fictional content of select video games to explore major social, cultural, economic, and political dilemmas in the human past, while pondering how games can both reveal and conceal historical truths.
News
- 21st-Century Storytelling
Vols learn to steer 21st century narratives through Visual and Interactive Storytelling. Storytelling traditions drive the heartbeat of the shared… Read more: 21st-Century Storytelling - WGS Adds Women’s Health DegreesWomen, Gender, and Sexuality program keeps the interdisciplinary pace and launches new major and minor in women’s health. The Women,… Read more: WGS Adds Women’s Health Degrees
- Collins Takes the Vol Spirit to the Second MileAlumna Hannah Collins built her successful business on language and communications skills honed in the College of Arts and Sciences.… Read more: Collins Takes the Vol Spirit to the Second Mile
Events
