Humanities
What are the Humanities?
The humanities are a group of disciplines that investigate human experience and beliefs, past and present, and how that might influence the future. The humanities explore human culture and
This deep examination of humankind falls in line with The University of Scranton’s mission as a Catholic and Jesuit university and our emphasis on
"Professors in the humanities at Scranton are not teaching you history or philosophy just so that you know certain facts and dates, but they're teaching it to you so you can see how humans have lived, and how you can develop.” – Sarah Laga ’18
High Demand Skills
Employer surveys confirm, year after year, that the skills they value most in the new graduates they hire are not technical, job-specific skills, but written and oral communication, problem solving, and critical thinking—exactly the sort of “soft skills” humanities majors tend to excel in. (Source: AACU.org)
91% of employers agree that for career success, “a candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than his or her undergraduate major,” according to a 2015 study by Hart Research Associates.
The Humanities at Scranton
We offer a variety of humanities programs, as well as a general education curriculum, that aim to generate opportunities for students to obtain and demonstrate broad knowledge of human cultures, social formations, and the physical and natural world.
The Humanities Initiative is a group of dedicated faculty who have been working to promote the humanities on campus and off. For more information on their work, please visit their webpage.
As a humanities major, you’ll gain the ability to reason critically, communicate effectively, and make connections across broad fields of knowledge.
Moreover, philosophy and theology enjoy a special place in the Jesuit and Catholic educational traditions; in tandem with other disciplines, they encourage students to reflect on fundamental questions of ethics and faith in their personal and professional development. As such, the transformation for which The University of Scranton strives builds on shared, formative educational opportunities.
“At The University of Scranton, we question who we are, to form who we will become.” – Hank Willenbrink, Theatre Program Director
English & Theatre
History
Latin American & Women’s Studies
Philosophy
Theology & Religious Studies
World Languages & Cultures
