Areas of Focus

For the humanities and arts requirement, students take courses in two of the following intellectual clusters:

Beyond this initial breadth, students must chose an area of focus to fulfill the depth component.  An area of focus is a specific field within one of these intellectual clusters. For example, music is an area of focus within the broader intellectual cluster of the arts.

Any of the areas within the department may serve as an excellent area of focus for a student who takes at least two courses and a concluding project in the area. Students are strongly encouraged to take more than two courses in the area before the concluding seminar or practicum. The areas of focus, listed below, might conclude with an inquiry seminar or a practicum.

Areas of Focus with an Inquiry Seminar or a Practicum

Courses in these areas might lead to an inquiry seminar in art, drama, or music, or a practicum in dramatic performance, musical performance, or an artistic or film production.   

Art/Art History/Architecture

Art, art history and the history of architecture provide a survey of human visual production and ways of studying it through the ages, with particular emphasis on the last two centuries. The concluding project may be done as an inquiry seminar or as a practicum in art, film, or multimedia.
Advisors: J. Farbrook, J. Rosenstock, M. D. Samson
Relevant Courses

Drama/Theatre

Drama/Theatre students study dramatic literature, theatre performance and production, or a combination of literature and performance. The Department sponsors at least four major productions a year (including a new play festival) that provides the laboratory environment for a concluding project as a practicum in production and performance. The Little Theatre offers a state-of-the-art performance space for many productions at WPI.
Advisors: J. Sands, S. Vick
Drama/Theatre Program

Music

Music projects be a seminar or a practicum with courses in music history, theory, performance, electronic music, and the history, theory, and performance of jazz. WPI has ensembles in all areas of instrumental and vocal performance that perform frequently on campus and overseas, for which students may receive academic credit. In recent years instrumental and choral groups have performed around the world. Alden Hall houses two computer music laboratories and practice rooms, and pianos and an organ are available for individual practice.
Advisors: F. Bianchi, J. Delorey, R. Falco, E. Shim, D. Weeks
Relevant Courses, Music Program

 

Areas of Focus with Inquiry Seminars

These disciplines offer a wide range of courses and inquiry seminars.

History

Inquiry seminars in history may be focused on topics in the history of America, Europe, or other parts of the world, the history of science and technology, or thematic areas such as cultural, diplomatic, imperial, social, or legal history. The department offers a wide range of courses across many times and places.
Advisors: W. Addison, W. Baller, S. Bullock, C. Clark, J. Forgeng, D. Gray, J. Hanlan, P. Hansen, E.M. Parkinson, D. Rawson, T. Robertson, J. Rudolph, D. Spanagel, J. Watters
Relevant Courses

Literature

Inquiry seminars in literature draw on courses in creative writing, drama, literature, and non-fiction prose. Strengths in this area include Shakespeare, nineteenth-century American and British literature, poetry, drama, comparative literature, rhetoric, and composition. Students may study classic or modern works, or they may develop their own writing portfolios.
Advisors: J. Brattin, J. Dempsey, M. Ephraim, L. Higgins, K. Ljungquist, W. Mott, S. Nikitina
Relevant Courses

Philosophy and Religion

Inquiry seminars in philosophy and religion may combine the two areas or pursue them separately. Strengths in this area include environmental philosophy, biomedical ethics, religious ethics, the philosophy of knowledge, and philosophy of religion. Courses address religious and philosophical ideas in themselves and a range of social issues.
Advisors: B. Eddy, R. Gottlieb, J. Sanbonmatsu, R. Smith
Courses in Philosophy, Religion

Writing and Rhetoric

Students who study writing and rhetoric may focus on creative writing (poetry, fiction, drama, literary nonfiction), science writing, public relations and advertising, visual communication, Web design, public service writing, rhetorical studies, mass media, or a combination of these fields.
Advisors: M. Ephraim, L. Higgins, R. Smith
Relevant Courses, Professional Writing Program

 

Interdisciplinary Areas of Focus with Inquiry Seminars

These interdisciplinary areas may offer inquiry seminars that combine courses from one discipline or from several closely related areas in several disciplines.  

American Studies

Inquiry seminars in American Studies enable students to combine courses in history, literature, and humanities on American society and culture. The annual undergraduate seminar at the American Antiquarian Society also offers unique access to the resources of this internationally-renowned library.
Advisors: W. Baller, S. Bullock, C. Clark, J. Hanlan, K. Ljungquist, W. Mott, T. Robertson, D. Spanagel 

Environmental Studies

Inquiry seminars in environmental studies enable students to build knowledge of the philosophical, religious, historical and literary aspects of humanity's relationship with nature. This knowledge is deepened by being connected to the social and political aspects of the state of the environment today. Seminars might be in environmental history or environmental philosophy.
Advisors: C. Clark, R. Gottlieb, T. Robertson, L. Schachterle, D. Spanagel 

Global Studies

Inquiry seminars in global studies may be primarily historical, or they may combine study global themes that cross geographical or temporal boundaries in several areas of the humanities and arts. Students in this area of study are well prepared for an International Studies minor or a project experience overseas.
Advisors: W. Addison, W. Baller, J. Forgeng, P. Hansen, T. Robertson, J. Rudolph 
Relevant Courses, International Studies Program

Humanities

WPI offers interdisciplinary courses in the humanities and arts that count toward the intellectual cluster of "history, humanities, philosophy, religion" for the breadth requirement.  Depending on the particular topic of an inquiry seminar, students might count HU courses toward a concluding project in a number of an areas.  
Advisors: Any Department member.
Relevant Courses

Science and Technology Studies

Humanities Studies of Science and Technology draw on departmental specialties within traditional disciplines such as history of science and technology, literature and science, and philosophy. Students studying in this area of focus typically concentrate their efforts in one of those disciplines.
Advisors: C. Clark, J. Forgeng, E.M. Parkinson, L. Schachterle, D. Spanagel

 

Foreign Languages and Cultures with a Seminar or Practicum 

A sequence of six courses in a foreign language will culminate with a course that fulfills the requirement for either a seminar or a practicum.  

German Language and Literature

Students may study German language, literature, civilization, and culture in German or in combination with related areas of the humanities and arts. Students may begin study of German without prior knowledge or may take a placement test into intermediate or advanced courses. Students in German are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities to do a project or exchange program in a German-speaking country.
Advisors: U. Brisson, D. Dollenmayer
Relevant Courses

Spanish Language and Literature

Students may Spanish language, literature, civilization, and culture through courses in Spanish or in combination with related areas of the humanities and arts. Students may begin at the introductory level or above, depending on their prior training. Students are encouraged to take advantage of Spanish courses in preparation for project centers in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico or Spain.
Advisors: A. Ameal-Pérez, M. Halpine, A. Rivera, I. Matos-Nin
Relevant Courses

 

Special Case

International Students (Basic Humanities and Arts Program)

International students, and other students whose native language is other than English, should consult with the Consultant on the Humanities for International Students. Students whose command of English is limited are strongly recommended to begin their program of study as described in the "Basic Humanities and Art Program for International Students."  Two courses for international student (ISE 1811 and ISE1812) are considered in the intellectual cluster of language and literature and one course (ISE 1813) in the cluster for history.  These courses are not, by themselves, an area of focus, but they provide the foundation for students to pursue two additional courses and an inquiry seminar or practicum in another area of focus.  
Advisors: B.L. McCarthy, J. Forgeng
Relevant Courses

 

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Last modified: February 14, 2008 17:17:05