Humanities, M.A.
Program Director: Karen Hoffman, Ph.D.; hoffmank@hood.edu; 301-696-3433
The Master of Arts in Humanities is a 30-credit interdisciplinary program that appeals to students with a variety of professional and personal backgrounds. From educators and working professionals to retirees and lifelong learners, the program's students share a passion for the humanities and engage in exciting interdisciplinary exchange as they pursue their particular interests in the fields of history, literature, art, music, philosophy and/or religion.
Application Requirements
Students applying for the M.A. in Humanities program must complete a formal essay of no more than 500 words, discussing how this degree relates to previous academic experience and occupational or personal goals, and identifying a proposed area of study within the program. Given the importance of written work in the humanities, the quality of the essay’s content and structure carries considerable weight in determining admission to this program. Official transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted. While the cumulative GPA is a significant factor in the application review, a candidate’s record in humanities courses will be closely examined. Some students may be required to provide additional information, such as a recommendation letter and/or a phone interview with the program director.
For additional admission information, see Graduate Admission.
Program Requirements
Required Proseminars:
All students must successfully complete the following proseminars, offered on a two-year cycle with one course offered each semester. Substitutions for these courses are not permitted and transfer credit will not be accepted as exemptions.
| FA 501 | Art and Music Proseminar: Aesthetics, Culture, and History | 3.0 |
| HIST 501 | History Proseminar | 3.0 |
| LIT 501 | Literary Studies Proseminar: Tragedy, Ideology, and the Tradition of Literary Criticism | 3.0 |
| PLRL 501 | Philosophy and Religion Proseminar | 3.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Electives
Students must complete four or five 3-credit elective courses. Students completing the Thesis option will take four elective courses. Students completing the Portfolio option will complete five elective courses.
| AFPS 570/AFPS 470 | African American Feminist Thought | 3.0 |
| ENGL 501/ENGL 401 | Pop Culture & Theory | 3.0 |
| HIST 570 | Seminar: Topics in History | 3.0 |
| HIST 575 | Independent Study | 1.0 - 3.0 |
| HUM 550 | Directed Readings | 1.0 - 3.0 |
| HUM 560 | Humanities Colloquium | 3.0 |
| HUM 570 | Humanities Research Seminar | 3.0 |
| HUM 575 | Independent Study | 1.0 - 3.0 |
| HUM 597 | Humanities Internship | 1.0 - 3.0 |
| HUM 599 | Special Topics | 1.0 - 6.0 |
| PLRL 501 | Philosophy and Religion Proseminar | 3.0 |
| PLRL 570/PLRL 470 | Seminar in Religion and Philosophy | 3.0 |
| | Discipline-Specific 500-level course | 3.0 |
| | One graduate level course in a non-Humanities field | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12.0-15.0 |
Final Projects
In collaboration with their academic advisor(s), students will complete either a final portfolio project or a thesis. Substitutions for these courses are not permitted and transfer credit will not be accepted as exemptions. Students must submit the written proposal for either course to the MAHAC (Master of Arts in Humanities Advisory Committee). If the proposal is approved and signed by MAHAC, the student will then submit the Permission to Enroll form (www.hood.edu/gradforms) and the approved proposal to the Office of the Registrar for registration processing. Registration for these courses must be completed during the regular registration period, by the drop/add date (see Academic Calendar). If the written proposal is not approved, the student will be contacted by a member of MAHAC. A detailed statement of regulations and guidelines concerning the Humanities Portfolio and Thesis are available online (www.hood.edu/gradforms) and should be consulted before a student initially enrolls and before submission of final project. The Registrar will continue to re-register students in each of these courses each Fall and Spring semester as "IP" (In Progress) until a final grade is submitted. Students are responsible for paying the graduate comprehensive fee each semester until the project is completed.
They will complete one of the following courses:
Total Credit Hours: 30.0