Humanities

About the Master’s Program in Humanities

The Master’s Program in Humanities is designed to make available the wide range of graduate courses in the humanities that are offered by the various departments of the university. The intention of the program is, first, to give students the opportunity to pursue their interests in different fields without committing themselves to earning a degree in any one field alone and, second, to encourage the careful reading of a limited number of great works of Western thought. To promote both aims, those of flexibility and careful reading, students design their own curricula, in consultation with the director, around a core of three special courses. To this core students add courses, according to their interests, either in one or two concentrations, or in one or two historical periods. The program requires 36 units of credit and leads to either a Master of Arts in Humanities or a Master of Humanities. Specifically designated courses from the Teachers’ Academy at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture (DIHC) may be available as part of the Humanities program. Candidates may also earn Texas State Alternative Certification at the elementary or secondary level as part of this program.

Structure of the Program

The core of the program consists of a sequence of six special courses (each student must take three) that are called the Great Works Courses and are devoted to studying certain principal works in the tradition of Western thought. The Great Works Courses are: Great Works of the Ancient World, Great Works of the Middle Ages, Great Works of the Renaissance and Baroque, and Great Works of the Modern World.

In support of the core (a minimum of nine credit hours), the remainder of the program will be oriented around either one or two "concentrations" (15-18 credit hours), or one or two "periods" (15-18 credit hours) and "related courses" (6-9 credit hours).

The concentrations are: American Studies, Classics, History, Literature, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology and Theology. The periods are: Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance/Baroque, and Modern.

The related courses may be drawn from any of the above concentrations as well as from such fields as art history, drama, economics, education and foreign languages (Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian, Spanish).

Admission Requirements

Application for admission to the master’s programs in Humanities includes a completed application form, two letters of reference, a statement of purpose, an intellectual autobiography, a sample of academic writing and official transcripts of previous college work. Possession of a bachelor’s degree is prerequisite to matriculating but not necessarily one in the humanities. Non-degree seeking students are welcome to participate after consulting with the Director.

Programs in Humanities

Master of Humanities

Master of Arts in Humanities

Master of Arts in Humanities with Alternative Certification

Course Information

Courses in Humanities