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Humanities (HUM)

Patricia E. Johnson, Ph.D. -- Graduate Program Coordinator

School of Humanities
Penn State Harrisburg - W-356 Olmsted Building
777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057
pej1@psu.edu - 717-948-6329
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Degree Conferred: M.A.

The Graduate Faculty

What is the focus of the program?

The Humanities graduate program is interdisciplinary. It emphasizes critical theories and interpretive approaches that transcend disciplinary boundaries, as well as providing advanced study within various humanities disciplines. The program offers graduate-level study in art history, communications, history, literature, music history, philosophy, and writing, along with interdisciplinary topics. Drawing on the perspectives of the various arts and disciplines and various theoretical approaches, the program’s faculty assists students in developing important analytical, synthetic, and interpretive skills.

Graduate students in this program acquire an ability to interpret several kinds of "texts" (both literary and non-literary works); investigate them using standard reference tools; situate them aesthetically, critically, and socially; and write about them in scholarly and sophisticated ways. They learn to relate works from different genres to one another, to a pertinent critical or theoretical perspective, or to a signifi cant issue. The program culminates in either a creative project or an essay project that combines materials from at least two and often more disciplines to answer some question pursued by the student’s independent interpretive creative analytical work.

Who are the students who pursue the Masters of Arts in Humanities?

Students come to the program from many backgrounds and for a range of purposes. Most are returning after spending some time in other pursuits since college; most attend part-time. Others arrive directly from undergraduate work. Many are teachers, taking classes toward permanent certification through an interdisciplinary degree that expands their pedagogical and personal repertoire. Some intend to begin or change careers; others wish to develop further expertise, prepare for doctoral study, or satisfy strong personal interests. Many program graduates have returned to their schools prepared to teach a wider range of courses and subjects; others have gone on to doctoral or professional programs; become faculty at universities and community colleges; worked as journalists, public relations specialists, and corporate art directors; practiced various fine and performing arts; become directors of colleges’ cultural programming; and followed still other pursuits.

Graduate study in the Humanities can prepare students for careers in teaching, communications, business, government, and the arts, and for further study in the liberal arts. The intellectual content and expressive skills it cultivates are advantageous in many professions.

The Curriculum

All students must complete 30 credits, 18 of which must be at the 500-level, achieve a 3.00 grade-point average, and successfully complete an interdisciplinary master’s production (academic thesis or creative production with academic essay). Students work with their faculty advisers and supervisory committees to select courses in accordance with their individual interests. The 30-credit program is distributed over three groups of courses: prescribed courses, supporting courses, and recommended elective courses.

Prescribed Courses – 9 credits

  • HUM 500 RESEARCH METHODS AND SCHOLARLY INQUIRY IN THE HUMANITIES (3)
  • HUM 560 A CAPSTONE COURSE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY THEORY AND RESEARCH (3). Prerequisite: HUM 500
  • HUM 580 THE MASTER’S PRODUCTION (1-6)

Supporting Courses – 9 credits

To acquire breadth in the humanities, students must take at least one course in each of three disciplines; single-discipline courses are available as HUM 515 Seminar (repeatable for credit). Academic areas of study in American and world history, art, communications, literature, music, philosophy, religious studies, theatre, women’s studies, and writing are examples of some of the various disciplines in which students study.

Recommended Elective Courses – 12 credits

  • HUM 525 STUDIES IN AESTHETICS (3)
  • HUM 535 TOPICS IN CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL HISTORY (3)

(HUM 525 and HUM 535 are multidisciplinary courses, covering the content of various disciplines from the perspective of one discipline.)

The topics of courses in the disciplinary and interdisciplinary seminars vary from semester to semester: recent examples are "Power and the Story," "1880’s–1890’s/1980’s/1990’s: Early Modernism and Postmodernism," "Shakespeare and Performativity," and "Critical Theory."

No more than 9 credits of HUM 596, Individual Studies, may be counted toward the degree.

Junior or Community College Internship

Students planning to teach in a junior or community college may arrange a teaching internship (HUM 550), subject to appropriate preparation and approval by the program and the community college. Internship credits are not counted toward the degree.

Other Courses

Other courses in particular disciplines are available at the 400-level. Other available 500-level courses are listed in this section.

  • HUM 515 SEMINAR (3 per semester, maximum of 9) May be repeated for credit.
    • Unit A. Art History (3) Study of sources and documents, style analysis, iconography, criticism, interpretation, and social context of art, within a selected chronological period.
    • Unit B. History. (3) Study of a particular historical period or theme, emphasizing critical use of sources, interpretive approaches, and theories.
    • Unit C. Literature (3) Study of a period, form, author, or idea and/or investigation of a fundamental problem in literary aesthetics or theory.
    • Unit D. Music History and Analysis (3) Study of a period, style, composer, or genre and/or investigation of problems in the aesthetics or history of music.
    • Unit E. Philosophy (3) Detailed investigation of a period of philosophy, e.g., ancient, contemporary, or of a fundamental problem, e.g., mind, language, ethics, logic.
    • Unit F. Communications (3) Study of an issue, genre, or development in media, their social/cultural context, or communications theory.
    • Unit G. Writing (3) Investigation and application of one or more genres or composition theory.
  • HUM 530 SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE ARTS (3)
  • HUM 550 JUNIOR COLLEGE TEACHING INTERNSHIP (3). (Credits not applicable toward graduation) Prerequisite: HUM 500, HUM 560, 12 additional graduate credits
  • HUM 590 COLLOQUIUM (1-3)
  • HUM 596 INDIVIDUAL STUDIES (1-9)
  • HUM 597 SPECIAL TOPICS (1-9)

Grade-Point Average and Time Limit

Students must achieve a 3.00 grade-point average. A full-time student can expect to complete the program in four semesters, a part-time student in six or more semesters. Students are expected to complete all requirements for the degree within six years, although the deadline may be extended at the discretion of the graduate coordinator in accordance with policies approved by the Graduate School.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; have earned at least a 3.00 grade-point average in their junior and senior years; and have studied in two humanities disciplines (usually a major in one area and some course work in another). Exceptions may be made for those with special backgrounds or abilities who are committed to advanced interdisciplinary study. All applicants must submit the following items, preferably by March of the year in which they wish to begin study:

  • an online Graduate School application with the application fee;
  • two copies of official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended;
  • two letters of reference attesting to the applicant’s suitability for the program (preferably from previous professors or others who are familiar with the applicant’s intellectual/creative work or interests);
  • a writing sample (preferably an academic paper; alternatively a brief review of a recent experience in the humanities–book, film, art exhibit, etc.);
  • a letter explaining personal or career goals and reasons for interest in the program

An application is available at www.hbg.psu.edu/admissions/gradapp.php.

Application Dates

Students applying for assistantships must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or similar examination by January 15.

An admissions committee often interviews applicants in person or by telephone. Applications must be received by: November 1 for spring semester admission; January 15 for applicants requesting financial aid for the following year; April 1 for summer and fall admission.

For a list of courses, visit the web at http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/whitebook/$programs.htm

Please note: This page is not a part of the official Penn State Graduate Bulletin.