Humanities and Arts

• Art History/Architecture
• English
• German
• History
• Humanities
• Music
• Philosophy
• Religion
• Spanish

HUMANITIES COURSES

The courses listed here are general humanities courses and are intended to provide conceptual introductions to the major disciplines within the humanities. Students will encounter the basic methods of critical analysis and discussion required for the future investigation of the specific area they choose for their humanities Sufficiencies. These courses emphasize patterns of thought, methods of inquiry, appropriate vocabulary, and critical attitudes needed to appreciate most fully the various areas in the humanities; they are not intended as surveys or historical overviews. Consequently, in each course the subject matter used to develop and illustrate key concepts and approaches will change regularly. Practice in analytic thinking and writing will be a significant part of each course. The skills generated by these courses will greatly aid students in developing their themes and will be essential for the completion of the Sufficiency in the final IS/P seminar.

HU 1411. INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN STUDIES

Cat. II
This course introduces students to three or four basic American Studies methodologies. Emphasis will vary according to the instructor, but usually the course will cover the following: the particular historical, cultural context (at the community and/or national level) of a few literary texts; the relationship of American art to literature in a specific time period; analysis of popular culture entertainments in market-and-message terms of production and reception. This course provides a beginning for a Sufficiency in American Studies. For a description of the American Studies sequence and offerings, see the Sufficiency section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
Recommended background: an interest in American history and American expression.
This course will be offered in 1995-96 and in alternate years thereafter.

HU-AAS-50. AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SEMINAR

ISP
Each fall the American Antiquarian Society and five Worcester colleges sponsor a research seminar at the Antiquarian Society library. The seminar is conducted by a scholar familiar with the Society's holdings in early American history, and the seminar topic is related to his or her field of research.
Selection is highly competitive. The ten participating students are chosen by a screening committee made up of representatives of the five participating colleges: Assumption College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Worcester State College.
The seminar topic and research methods combine several disciplines, and students from a wide variety of majors have participated successfully in this unique undergraduate opportunity.