The Division of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a broad education in the liberal arts. It provides a wide range of introductory and advanced courses in traditional disciplines literature, history, philosophy, the social sciences and the arts. Study of the humanities and social sciences is aimed at the development of an open and inquiring mind. This requires cultural and historical literacy, a knowledge and appreciation of the rich intellectual, social and artistic heritage of humanity, and a thoughtful examination of its ethical and aesthetic values. Our programs emphasize the practical exercise and development of clear, analytical reasoning and effective communication, skills that are an essential part of the liberal education. Reflecting the traditional values of the liberal arts, each program is fully committed to the principle of free and unfettered intellectual inquiry.

Besides courses for business, computer science, engineering, management and science students, the department offers three special programs: a single B.A. degree, a double B.A. degree, and a minor.

Undergraduate Advisors

The B.A. Single Degree Program

You may earn the B.A. single degree in one of five fields of concentration: English and American literature, history, philosophy, or science and technology studies, or individualized major. Special features of the program include a secondary concentration in a professional, applied or scientific field, or in another area of the humanities or social sciences along with a senior thesis written under the close supervision of a humanities faculty member. If you want to pursue an advanced degree, the program serves as preparation for graduate level work in the major field or for professional programs in law, medicine or management.

During the first and second years you complete eight courses, four each in Groups A and B, including two courses in the major field of concentration. During the last two years you complete eight 300/400-level courses in the major field, a Seminar in Writing and Research Methods, and a Senior Thesis. This amounts to a total of ten courses in the major field. There are varying distribution requirements for these ten, depending on the field of concentration. They are as follows:

• English and American Literature. Required: two courses in pre-1798 English literature, one must be an intensive introduction to Chaucer or Shakespeare; two courses in post-1798 English literature; two courses in American literature and Senior Thesis (498). The other three courses are 300/400-level literature courses and are selected in consultation with your advisor. Recommended: a genre course; a course in literary or linguistic theory; a foreign language course (especially for future graduate work); and courses in fields related to the major, including philosophy, history, art and music.
  
  
• History. Required: one year of a freshman/sophomore history sequence -- History of European Society and Culture I & II (123, 124), or United States Social and Economic History I & II (125, 126) or History of Science I & II (129, 130); at least one course in American, European or History of Science; Seminar in Writing and Research Methods (301); Senior Thesis (498) and electives from among the history concentration (American, European, History of Science, World), selected in consultation with your faculty advisor.
  
  
• Philosophy. Required: Philosophy I: Theories of Human Nature Ethics and Political Philosophy (111), and Philosophy II: Logic, Knowledge, and Reality and Nature (112); Ethics (339), Social and Political Philosophy (340) or Aesthetics (348); Philosophy of Science (368) or Logic (442); Theories of Knowledge and Reality (347), Philosophy of Language (443) or Philosophy of Mind (444); and Senior Thesis (498). The other four are 300/400-level philosophy courses selected in consultation with your advisor.
  
  
• Science and Technology Studies. Please consult with your advisor.
  
  
• Individualized Major. Please consult with your advisor. Programs include:
  
  • Art and Technology
  • Music and Technology
  • American Studies
  • Women, Gay and Gender Studies
  • Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies

Additional Requirements

You are required to take a variety of other courses, including two in mathematics, two in science (non-laboratory courses), one in psychology or economics, one in Writing and Research Methods (Hum 301), five courses as a secondary concentration and ten courses at any level and in any field.

See the Stevens catalog for a typical semester-by-semester course sequence.

The B.A. Double Degree Program

In the double degree program you can earn a B.A. degree in humanities while also obtaining a B.E. or B.S. degree. There are five fields of concentration: English and American literature, history, philosophy, science and technology studies, and individualized major. You may complete the double degree in four years at no additional cost by maintaining a 2.80 GPA and taking two humanities or social science courses each semester for a total of sixteen. See the section entitled "Academic Procedures" in this catalog for more information.

You may also complete the additional requirements within four years by taking summer courses. Many double degree students are co-op students or in accelerated programs. The double degree program is designed for students who are academically strong.

You must complete the sequence and major concentration requirements for the single degree B.A. program, including the senior thesis. You may substitute HUM 301 for one of the major concentration courses. Most students complete the program by taking two humanities or social science courses each semester.

The Minor Program

You can minor in the humanities or social sciences if you have a GPA of at least 2.00 and want to concentrate your studies in one of the following five fields: literature, philosophy, history, social science or music. If you are enrolled in the computer science degree program you only need to satisfy the distribution and GPA requirements to receive a minor. Students who complete the minor receive a certificate upon graduation.

The minor requires a total of nine humanities courses. You must satisfy the requirements of the core humanities program for your degree and the following distribution and GPA requirements: five of the courses must be 300/400-level and five must be in the field of concentration; you must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 in the field of concentration; and the nine courses must cover three of the five fields of humanities or social sciences at Stevens.