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Humanities

Degree type:
MA
Mode of study:
On-campus, Hybrid, Online
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Humanities for the Modern World

Our two-year, 30-unit humanities program brings together students from all educational and professional backgrounds to talk, think and write about the timeless ideas that have animated history, culture and society, as well as the contemporary issues we face in Los Angeles, the Pacific Rim and our larger global environment.

How Our Online Humanities Degree Works

Our online, weekend-only format offers an innovative approach to adult learning that makes earning a graduate degree in Humanities possible for professionals who have complex work and personal schedules. Our Humanities program redistributes the weekly coursework for a traditional 16-week semester into six intensive weekends of online class instruction. The weekends are non-consecutive and are scheduled two to three weeks apart.

What can you do with a Humanities Degree?

Humanities career paths

With a humanities degree, there is no limit to where you can work and what positions you can hold. From human resources roles and government positions to for-profit start-ups and research, the humanities equip you to be a dynamic and innovative leader in any professional atmosphere.

Learn what opportunities await you.

Humanities Program Curriculum

Our Humanities program is supported by several Mount Saint Mary's University humanities-related departments. These include English, History and Cultural Studies. Students in the program may elect to have a primary concentration in one of these areas by completing a total of four courses (12 units) in their area of choice. These units are part of the 30-unit total.

HUM 298A: Introduction to the Humanities (3 units) is taken in the student's first semester, this seminar explores the nature of the Humanities tradition and provides an introduction to graduate-level research methods and academic writing.

At the heart of the program is a series of three required courses, each of which is an interdisciplinary research and writing seminar designed to prepare the student for his or her thesis or final project. Students may take these seminars in any order as long as they complete one in each of the three core areas - English, history, and cultural studies. Students also have the opportunity to earn credit for Travel Study courses to places such as Ireland, China, Hawaii, Ghana, El Salvador, etc. under the direction of one or more Humanities professors.

Students may choose from interdisciplinary classes that explore the interrelatedness of various disciplines of study. Or they may elect to concentrate in English, Creative Writing, History, or Cultural Studies by choosing a total of 12 units (4 courses) in their area of concentration.

To complete the Humanities degree, each student submits an original, graduate-level project, or thesis (3 units). This work is done under the supervision of a thesis advisor. If a student chooses to do a project instead of a traditional thesis, a written component (essay) is required that places the project in a context that reflects the student’s cumulative experience in the program.

Some students may opt for a traditional Master’s thesis. Others may be encouraged to consider a project or thesis that draws upon the resources of the community surrounding the Doheny campus.

Humanities Degree Concentrations

As part of their course of study, students elect to pursue one of three concentrations: English, History and Cultural Studies. A selection must be made by the start of a student’s second year.

English

At the heart of the humanities is literature. The literature classes in this program are interdisciplinary, adding depth and dimension to the study of literature by reading and interpreting it in conjunction with — or through the lens of — another discipline, such as science, art, music, architecture, etc. Course examples include Science and Victorian Literature; Poetry and the Visual Arts; and more. 

History

History inarguably belongs in the humanities. Our distinguished history instructors study not just the past, but also how the past impacts the present — and how the past can illuminate the present and offer lessons in solving today’s social, political and global problems. These courses are also interdisciplinary, reaching out to other fields of study such as literature, economics, art and philosophy. Course examples include The Novel as History; The Western Esoteric Tradition; Gender and History; The History of Satan; and more. 

Cultural Studies

Cultural Studies offers interdisciplinary courses that work across the boundaries of humanities and the social sciences, drawing on the methods, theories and approaches of many disciplines — including history, anthropology, sociology, literary theory and others — to explore the ways in which “culture” shapes (and is shaped by) individual experience, as well as social, political and economic forces. Students who are interested in making a difference are drawn to these classes that grapple with the questions and problems of today’s rapidly changing world. 

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Why choose Humanities at the Mount?

Flexibility 

Our innovative, weekend-only format redistributes the weekly coursework of a traditional 15-week semester into six non-consecutive weekends of class instruction — an ideal arrangement for busy professionals with multiple outside commitments. 

Personalization 

Our program allows students to design a course of study that is best suited for their goals. Students can choose an interdisciplinary course of study leading to the MA Humanities degree with a selected concentration in Creative Writing, Cultural Studies, English, or History. 

Quality 

Small class sizes, state-of-the-art classrooms, accomplished faculty, and an outstanding reputation make the Mount Saint Mary’s MA in Humanities program a clear choice for discerning individuals looking for a high-quality educational experience. 

Opportunity 

Humanities classes cultivate students鈥� oral and written communication, critical and analytical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills. A degree from the Mount can lead to a rewarding and fulfilling career in today鈥檚 increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. 


Integration of the liberal arts 

The Master of Arts in Humanities has at its core a commitment to the liberal arts. Our interdisciplinary courses explore the human experience as recorded in literature, history, art, music and other liberal studies from many cultures. 

Travel 

Every year, students have the opportunity to enroll in a travel study course that integrates a tailor-made course curriculum with travel to important cultural and historical landmarks around the world. 

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