Humanities, B. A.

Student in the Humanities program delivers presentation about art

Shaping insightful thinkers through liberal arts exploration

Channel your curiosity about the human condition with our highly interdisciplinary Humanities program. With self-designed concentrations and faculty mentorship, you’ll develop the intellectual, analytical and communication skills that will set you apart in any industry.

As a humanities major, you’ll sharpen your abilities in analysis and critical thinking through exploration of diverse works of art, music, literature, history, philosophy and the sciences. Let your interests fuel your studies with self-designed concentrations, from the social and ethical implications of genetic engineering to the examination of a historical period through literature, arts and more.

With the personalization to tailor your degree to the future you want, the skills and knowledge you’ll gain will help you reach your career goals.

Program Coordinator

Program News

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To get your B.A. in Humanities you’ll complete 128 credits between courses for the UNH Discovery Program and your major. Below is an example of what your four-year course sequence might look like. Courses are subject to change, so visit courses.unh.edu and select "Courses at Manchester" to see the most up-to-date course schedules and descriptions.

  
FIRST YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
ENGL 401 – First Year Writing HUMA 412 – Humanities II
HUMA 411 – Humanities I HUMA 500-, 600- or 700-level Course
UMST 401 – First Year Seminar Quantitative Reasoning
Foreign Language I Foreign Language II
Discovery Course  

SECOND YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
HUMA 500-, 600- or 700-level Course HUMA 500-, 600- or 700-level Course
HIST 500 – Introduction to Historical Thinking or ENGL 419 – Introduction to Critical Analysis Discovery Course
Discovery Course Discovery Course
Elective Course Elective Course

THIRD YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
HUMA 500-, 600- or 700-level Course HUMA 600- or 700-level Course
Discovery Course Discovery Course
Discovery Course Discovery Course
Elective Course Elective Course

FOURTH YEAR

Fall Semester Spring Semester
HUMA 795 – Humanities: A Study of Creativity* HUMA 795 – Humanities: A Study of Creativity*
Elective Course Elective Course
Elective Course Elective Course
Elective Course Elective Course

* These courses are offered every other year, so they can be taken junior year.

If you have an interest in a particular area, your faculty advisor will help you select courses that tailor your degree to the future you want. Students in our Humanities program can focus their studies in the following areas:

  • Comparative Cultural Studies
  • Philosophical and Cultural Ideas
  • Western Culture and Art

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects positive growth in many careers that demand sharp skills in critical thinking, analytical and communication — skills that are central to the Humanities program.

Your humanities degree will open doors to careers in industries from business to technology to arts and beyond, or prepare you for graduate studies in law, education and more. Whatever you hope to achieve after graduation, you’ll be armed with the skills and experience for a bright future.

Job Title Job Growth Average Salary
Advertising, Promotions or Marketing Manager 9% $124,850
Archivist, Curator or Museum Worker 7% $46,710
High School Teacher 6% $57,200
Historian 2% $55,800
History Teacher, Postsecondary 13% $72,470
Human Resources Specialist 5% $58,350
Middle School Teacher 6% $55,860
Paralegal or Legal Assistant 8% $48,810

Internships

Our campus is in the heart of the region’s cultural, economic, entertainment and government activity — putting unlimited internship opportunities at your doorstep. We’ve partnered with local businesses to give you the real-world experience that sets you apart.

“Rather than thinking of education in a vacuum, as something to prepare you for something else after graduation, the internship actually bridges education with career.”

Jack Resch, Program Coordinator and Professor of Humanities

Humanities majors have interned at many high-profile organizations in the area, including:

  • Franco-American Centre
  • Green Alliance
  • Manchester Historic Association
  • Mariposa Museum of World Cultures
  • New Hampshire Historical Society

Humanities

Add a breadth of perspective to your degree with a Humanities minor, giving you a foundational understanding of the human condition through art, music, history, literature and more.

Philosophy

Complement any degree with a Philosophy minor, giving you the analytical, interpretive and critical reasoning skills that employers in any industry look for.

View all minors

Massachusetts does not offer a bachelor's-level ASL/English Interpreting program in their public universities, so students from Massachusetts pay reduced tuition rate for UNH Manchester's Humanities program through the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP). Learn more