| 
|
|
| Humanities |
![]() |
|
![]() |
The humanities study diverse aspects of human life in world cultures such as the arts, languages, literature, history, philosophy, and religion. The study of the Humanities encourages interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge, problem solving, communal life, research techniques and classroom dynamics. Through a wide variety of courses offered in many departments and programs, you will gain valuable skills in written communication and critical, analytical thinking.
Courses in the humanities also introduce you to current interdisciplinary work that enhances past and contemporary theoretical approaches. Beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines, interdisciplinary programs raise issues surrounding race, ethnicity, gender, class, ideology, and rhetoric. By emphasizing the importance of community, the Humanities extend our vision to encompass intellectual diversity and innovative thinking.
Studying the humanities is crucial even if the outcomes are difficult to measure. Success in life demands not only mastering the technical knowledge of a profession, but also acquiring the good judgment and wisdom to choose one's paths carefully, the capacity to relate sensitively and effectively to others, and the ability to respond imaginatively to the complex personal and professional situations we confront everyday. Sustained and vigorous engagement with the Humanities encourages the kind of self-reflection necessary to honing good judgment, developing well-examined values, and becoming a thoughtful person. |
|
Graduate Academic Programs
Our faculty in the humanities are known for their internationally recognized research and for creating opportunities for intellectual exchange. This excellence manifests itself in the classroom through lively discussion and a genuine concern for your pursuit of knowledge. Beyond the classroom setting, lectures, symposia, and other campus-wide events sponsored by the Humanities Council and departments and programs link the Humanities to other aspects of university and community life. |
| |
Graduate Programs in the Humanities |
| |
 Composition and Cultural Rhetoric (Ph.D.)
This program is offered through The College and the Writing Program. Its nationally-known undergraduate teaching program provides a laboratory for research and innovation. The independence of CCR's Ph.D. Program allows focused study of the pedagogy and cultural practices of the written language, yet facilitates multidisciplinary study and integrations. In additon to a core faculty and closely associated faculty affiliates, faculty consultants in other disciplines facilitate and advise on student's studies, a required element of the program.
|
| |
 Creative Writing (M.F.A.)
The M.F.A. program in Creative Writing gives promising fiction writers and poets an opportunity to study and practice their art with dedicated fellow writers. For three decades, one of the prime strengths of our program has been the excellence of our students. The strictly limited enrollment, with six poets and six fiction writers admitted each year, guarantees that students work closely together with a faculty that includes four fiction writers and four poets of national acclaim. Students are selected on the basis of academic credentials and writing samples. High admission standards and small class size insure that students' writing receives thorough, consistent attention from faculty and fellow students.
|
| |
 English (M.A. and Ph.D.)
The Department of English at Syracuse University offers three graduate programs: A Master's degree of Fine Arts in creative writing, and MA and Ph.D. degrees in English. Most of our graduate courses are workshops or seminars, giving students in all three programs an opportunity to work closely with internationally known creative writers, literary theorists, and cultural historians. Students interested in pursuing coursework in English as a second language should contact Syracuse University's English Language Institute. |
| |
 Fine Arts : Art History (M.A.)
The Master of Arts degree offers a broad education in art history, while also allowing students the freedom to pursue an area of specialization. The two-year program emphasizes the development of both oral and written communication skills and informed criticism. There is also a dual M.A. degree program in Art History and Museum Studies which shares 2 courses with the Museum Studies Program in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Students follow the general curricula for both M.A. programs, and earn two degrees in Art History and Museum Studies. |
|
 Languages, Literature, and Linguistics (M.A.)
M.A. graduate programs are offered in this department with specializations in French or Spanish Language and Culture and Linguistic Studies. Courses (but no majors) are also available in Japanese, Chinese, Hebrew, and Hindi.
|
| |
 Pan-African Studies (M.A.)
The M.A. in Pan African Studies is a 30-credit program offering students a comprehensive understanding of the global African experience. This interdisciplinary program is structured around four core courses, two electives, an external site experience, and a thesis. Courses explore the Pan African experience as reflected in multiple historical, social, and political contexts, most notably in Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States. With the approval of the Graduate Committee, students may participate in the Scholar Exchange Program, a cooperative relationship with the University of Rochester and Cornell University.
|
| |
 Philosophy (M.A. and Ph.D.)
The Department of Philosophy at Syracuse University offers programs leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy. Studies in the Ph.D. Program are designed to prepare students to make original contributions in philosophy and to teach at the college or university level. Studies in the M.A. Program are designed to enhance a student's understanding and expertise in some aspects of philosophy. The curriculum of the department provides opportunities for concentrations in metaphysics, epistemology, the philosophy of language, the philosophy of religion, the philosophy of mind, ethics, logic, aesthetics and the history of philosophy. The degree programs reflect the view that proper graduate education in philosophy includes both the study of the history of philosophy and the examination of current philosophical issues.
|
|
 Religion (M.A. and Ph.D.)
Distinctive to the Religion graduate programs are emphases on the interrelation of religion and culture, on methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of religion, and on religious dimensions of such domains as literature, art, history, psychology, and philosophy. Students are encouraged to investigate both the religious dimensions of secular culture (for example, film and art) and traditional religions as cultural phenomena.
|
|
|
