Humanities & Arts Requirement

At the heart of WPI's innovative curriculum is a distinctive requirement in the humanities and arts. To provide intellectual breadth and a better understanding of themselves and the diversity and creativity of human experience, every WPI student must complete a Humanities and Arts Requirement

The Humanities and Arts Requirement empowers students to meet the broad educational goals of WPI. The balance between technological and humanistic education and the emphasis on inquiry-based approaches to student learning have been and remain hallmarks of a WPI education. In concert with WPI’s other degree requirements, the humanities and arts requirement embodies the institute’s definition of an educated person. The humanities and arts requirement engages students with theory and practice—Lehr und Kunst—through the following educational goals.

Goals of the Humanities and Arts Requirement

to introduce students to the breadth, diversity, and creativity of human experience as expressed in the humanities and arts
to develop students’ ability to think critically and independently about the world
to enhance students’ ability to communicate effectively with others in a spirit of openness and cooperation
to enrich students’ understanding of themselves
to deepen students’ ability to apply concepts and skills in a focused thematic area through sustained critical inquiry
to encourage students to reflect on their responsibilities to others in local, national and global communities
to kindle in students a life-long interest in the humanities and arts

See Breadth and Depth for more information on meeting the new Humanities and Arts Requirement…

Note for 2007-08

Effective with the class entering in the fall of 2007, the graduation requirements in the Humanities and Arts have changed. The set of requirements previously referred to as the “Sufficiency” has been modified, and this new Humanities and Arts Requirement will no longer be referred to as the Sufficiency. Students entering prior to A term of 2007 may elect to follow either the previous (“Sufficiency”) or new Humanities and Arts Requirements. Students entering for A term, 2007 or later must follow the new requirements. Please see the 2006-07 Undergraduate Catalog for the old requirements and the 2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog or this website for the new requirements.

During 2007-08, special rules apply as WPI makes the transition to the new requirements. Students enrolled before A term 2007 may complete their Humanities and Arts Requirement with either an Inquiry Seminar/Practicum or a Sufficiency Project. Consult the list of Inquiry Seminars/Praticums and the list of Sufficiency Project Advisors to see the range of possibilities in 2007-8. Students in foreign languages should consult a language instructor for more information about that area.

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Last modified: April 24, 2008 10:20:28