Certificates
The Humanities graduate program offers three certificate programs founded upon the three concentrations offered as part of the master’s in humanities — History, English and Cultural Studies.
These certificate programs provide students with both an introduction to, and an in-depth analysis of, the respective subject matter pursued. Certificates are a great alternative for those who may not feel ready to enroll in our full master’s program or who simply wish to complement their existing education and expand their knowledge base in an abbreviated timeframe.
All three certificate programs require 12 units for completion and can be pursued either in person or online. Students have a maximum of three years to complete the certificate. Students wishing to continue their studies are eligible to have up to six units of the certificate program applied towards the requirements of the Master of Arts in Humanities at Mount Saint Mary’s University. Please be advised that admission to a certificate program does not imply or guarantee admission to the master’s degree.
Please note: Not all states are authorized for students to enroll in our fully online programs. Please visit our State Authorization webpage to confirm if you are eligible to enroll based on your state of residency.
Certificate options
History
History, especially our type of courses, inarguably belong 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 interdisciplinary, embracing other fields of study such as literature, economics, art, philosophy, etc. Course examples include The Novel as History; The Western Esoteric Tradition; Gender and History; The History of Satan; and more.
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.
Cultural Studies
This certificate offers interdisciplinary courses that work across the boundaries of humanities and the social sciences, drawing on the methods, theories and approaches of many disciplines. Examining history, anthropology, sociology, literary theory and others, this program explores the ways in which culture shapes (and is shaped by) individual experience, as well as political, economic and social 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. .