Concordia College

Requirements for a Major or Minor in Humanities

Programs offered:

• Major in the Humanities (8.0 course credits)
• Minor in the Humanities (5.0 course credits)

Humanities Committee
Shawn Carruth, chair
Linda L. Johnson
Gordon Lell
Donald E. Rice

The program in the humanities is designed to introduce the student to the interdisciplinary study of the humanities and to permit specialization in a particular period or topic rather than in a particular academic field. To a large extent, the program utilizes courses offered by humanities departments and possibly select courses in the sciences and social sciences, bringing them to focus on a particular topic or period of study in the humanities. Either a major or minor may be pursued.
Students may count appropriate courses from International Education, May Seminars, Credo and other relevant programs toward the humanities major or minor. Students are encouraged to consult with the humanities chair and International Education director before enrolling in such programs.

The program is administered by a special faculty committee, which must approve all major and minor programs, including specifically the topic or period concentration. Interested students should consult the chair for further information. Students are urged to work with an adviser with competence in the focus area of the student’s proposal. Approved program proposals must be signed by the chair and filed with the registrar.

Department Course Descriptions

Major in the Humanities
The requirements for a major in the humanities are 8.0 course credits:
• 2.0 introductory credits for the chosen track
• 5.0 credits from at least three departments
• at least 2.0 credits from 300- or higher-level courses
• 1.0 credit in a capstone course at the 300 or 400 level

Following are suggested introductory courses normally taken for the tracks indicated. Students may substitute courses by petition to the committee and may also design their own tracks and topics by petition to the committee:

African Studies:
• HIST 352 — The Rise of Modern Africa, 1.0 credit AND
an approved elective
American Studies:
• HIST 111 — United States in Perspective to 1865, 1.0 credit
• HIST 112 — United States in Perspective since 1865, 1.0 credit
• ENG 150 — Literature, Self and Society, 1.0 credit

Peace Studies:
• Approved electives
Renaissance and Reformation Studies:
• HIST 339 — Renaissance and Reformation History, 1.0 credit ANDan approved elective

Studies in the Arts:
• MUS 101 — Introduction to the Art of Music, 1.0 credit
• THR 124 — Contemporary Drama: Literature and Criticism, 1.0 credit
• COM 139 — Appreciating Film, 1.0 credit
• ART 155 — History in Art I: Origins to the Early Renaissance, 1.0 credit
• ART 156 — History in Art II: The Renaissance to the Modern Age, 1.0 credit

United States Ethnic Studies:
• HIST 111 — United States in Perspective to 1865, 1.0 credit
• HIST 112 — United States in Perspective since 1865, 1.0 credit
• ENG 150 — Literature, Self and Society, 1.0 credit

Women’s Studies:
• WS 201 — Introduction to Women’s Studies, 1.0 credit, AND an approved elective

Capstone courses will be integrative study, based on courses taken and topics proposed. Students must work with a professor with expertise in the area of study selected. The student, the professor of the capstone course, and the Humanities Committee must approve a prospectus of the proposed study early in the semester the course is taken. A written description of the approved student project must be signed by the project director and the humanities chair and filed with the registrar for the major to be completed.
Minor in the Humanities

The requirements for a minor in the humanities are 5.0 course credits:
• 2.0 introductory credits for the chosen track
• 3.0 credits in supporting courses for the topic or period concentration from at least three departments; at least 2.0 credits must be from 300- or higher-level courses.