Introduction to the Humanities

"Less is more" is the philosophy behind these one-year course sequences, which complete the university's Introduction to the Humanities (also known as "IHUM") graduation requirement. By closely examining a set of influential texts, ranging from Plato's Republic to the Koran to Toni Morrison's Beloved, these courses -- required of all students -- focus on the fundamental questions of the humanities.

Freshmen can choose from courses in anthropology, history or comparative literature, among other humanities disciplines. Fall quarter courses provide students with an introduction to researching and studying the humanities, while the two-quarter winter/spring courses offer an opportunity to delve deeper into topics of interest. These 5-unit classes generally are composed of two lectures per week with two supplementary sections of 12-16 students each, led by specialized IHUM Teaching Fellows. Students gain experience preparing papers and participating in discussions.

Author and playwright Tom Stoppard, whose play Arcadia was distributed to all members of the Class of 2003 as a complement to the Introduction to the Humanities program, gave a guest lecture and participated in a question-and-answer session with students. Photo: L.A. Cicero

Recent IHUM classes:

Freedom, Equality, Difference

The Fate of Reason

Thinking with Nature

The Literature of Crisis

Related information:

Introduction to the Humanities Website

Warm November weather permits this freshman IHUM class to be held outdoors. Photo: L.A. Cicero