Liberal Arts Honors The Humanities Program

Liberal Arts HonorsThe Humanities ProgramCollege of Liberal Arts The University of Texas at Austin

He sent me to Troy, and often gave me thiscommand, to strive always for excellence .Glaucus, The Iliad

The Major in HumanitiesThe Humanities Program offers the highly motivated and ablestudent the opportunity to fashion his or her own course ofstudy as a major for the B.A. degree. Each applicant to theprogram consults with the Humanities adviser to design amajor consisting of 42 credit hours beyond the University’sbasic education requirements.Each course in the individual program of study mustclearly contribute to a coherent major with a focus on aparticular theme, idea, or question. As the model plans in thisbrochure show, that interdisciplinary subject may be as specificas Health Care Policy, or as comprehensive as Philosophy,Politics, and Economics.Each humanities major writes a senior thesis that addressesa particular aspect, case, application, or interpretation ofthe chosen topic. On occasion the thesis may be an originalcreative work such as a novel, a drama, a collection ofpoems, or a piece of music. Humanities seniors present theirthesis findings at a conference for the academic communityeach semester.The Humanities Community at UT AustinStudents selected for the Humanities Program join a close-knitacademic community. The Liberal Arts Honors office, with itsown commons room and computer lab, provides a centeron campus for humanities majors, who enjoy a tradition ofcollegial commitment. Humanities students work closely withthe program’s director and academic adviser at every stageof their studies, from designing the contract for the major topresenting the senior thesis.Humanities graduates have found that the experience ofdesigning their own majors and preparing a senior thesis greatlyenhances the credentials they carry into advanced studyand employment. In addition, the adviser takes an activerole in helping students plan for and apply to graduate andprofessional school.

Degree Requirements for the Major inHumanitiesThe humanities major comprises 42 credit hours,chosen by the student in consultation with theprogram adviser and then submitted to the programdirector for approval. No student should embarkupon a humanities major without prior approval ofthe proposed contract.The student should consider four important pointswhen working on the contract proposal: 30 hours of the 42 hours in the contract must bein upper-division courses.No course in the humanities contract can becounted towards the University Core or Collegeof Liberal Arts core requirements.Humanities students rarely have special accessto restricted courses. Check prerequisitescarefully before including a course on acontract.Each course on the contract should clearlycontribute to the chosen focus of the contract.

There are two contract formats:The original humanities contract 9 hours in a single College of Liberal Arts department.9 hours in one or more other Liberal Arts departments.9 hours in one or more departments outside the Collegeof Liberal Arts.9 additional hours in any appropriate courses in anydepartment or college.6 hours of upper-division Humanities courses, includingHMN 370 or the HMN 679H sequence.The alternative humanities contract 12 hours in a single College of Liberal Arts department.9 hours in one or more Liberal Arts departments.15 hours in any appropriate courses in any department orcollege.6 hours of upper-division Humanities courses, includingHMN 370 or the HMN 679H sequence.Some Model Humanities PlansFollowing are examples of six humanities contracts, usingboth the original and alternative formats and ranging froma plan with a highly structured core curriculum to a distinctlyindividualized plan aimed at a specific professional interest.

Model #1: Philosophy, Politics, and EconomicsThe PPE contract offers a cross-disciplinary corecurriculum based on a model developed at OxfordUniversity and now offered at several leadingAmerican universities. The PPE student may chooseto make philosophy, government, or economics thecore discipline and basis for the thesis. Note thatthis plan has unusually rigorous prerequisites.Economics Core:ECO 304LIntroduction to Macroeconomics(prerequisite: ECO 304K)ECO 420KMicroeconomic Theory (prerequisites:M 408C and M 408D or equivalent)ECO 320LMacroeconomic TheoryECO 3 hours Relevant upper-division coursePhilosophy core:PHL 329KHistory of Ancient PhilosophyPHL 329LEarly Modern Philosophy:Descartes to KantPHL 313Introductory Symbolic LogicPHL 318Introduction to Ethics (or an ap-proved upper-division ethics course)Government core:GOV 3 hours Course in Political TheoryGOV 3 hours Course in American Government,Public Law, or PolicyGOV 3 hours Course in Comparative Governmentor International RelationsGOV 3 hours Upper-division course relevant to thestudent’s thesisHumanities thesis sequence:HMN 679HA Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)HMN 679HB Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)

Model #2: Literature, History, and PhilosophyThe LHP contract allows the student to select an individualfocus, while studying the three core disciplines of the traditionalhumanities curriculum in some depth. The LHP contract is builtaround four courses in the student’s primary discipline, with atleast three related courses in each of the other two disciplines.The following example emphasizes modern European literatureand culture, but the LHP student may choose any period orarea or language as a concentration for the contract. LHPstudents are strongly encouraged to include a literature in alanguage other than English.Literature core:E 321Shakespeare: Selected PlaysE 363KClassic to RomanticSPN 326LIntroduction to Spanish Literature Since 1700SPN 376Golden Age Literature: Poetry / Drama / ProseHistory core:HIS 301FHIS 309LHIS 332GThe Premodern WorldWestern Civilization in Modern TimesEuropean Intellectual History: Enlightenment toNietzschePhilosophy core:PHL 329LEarly Modern Philosophy: Descartes to KantPHL 325KEthical TheoriesPHL 366KExistentialismRelated electives:ARH 303Survey of Renaissance through Modern ArtLAH 364HThe EnlightenmentHumanities thesis sequence:HMN 679HA Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)HMN 679HB Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)

Model #3: Comparative Foreign AffairsIn today’s global political climate, depth of knowledge inthe fields of history, languages, government, economics andcultural studies is an ideal preparation for students interestedin International Relations or foreign service. This is an exampleof an alternative-format Humanities contract with a focusin U.S. Relations with Asia and Europe. Students interestedin international affairs are strongly encouraged to include aforeign language, though this is not required.Asian Studies core:ANS 302JIntro to JapanANS 340MModern ChinaCHI 320KReadings in Modern ChineseCHI 330Business ChineseGovernment core:GOV 360N U.S.-China Relations (Maymester)EUS 301Germany and GlobalizationGOV 360N International Political EconomyRelevant Liberal Arts courses:FR 322EAdvanced French I: Oral EmphasisGOV 360N Globalization and TradeHIS 333MU.S. Foreign Relations since 1914FR 324CFrench for BusinessFR 340PMaking and Identity of FranceHumanities thesis sequence:HMN 679HA Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)HMN 679HB Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)

Model #4: Bioethical Concerns in MedicineThis plan is adapted from the contract of a recent humanitiesgraduate who completed the course sequence forpre-medical education along with the humanities degree.Some of the pre-medical requirements have been includedin the contract, as is often the case for humanities pre-medstudents.The student’s thesis on ethical issues and neo-natal carewas directed by a professor in the School of Nursing and aprofessor in the Department of Philosophy.Philosophy core:PHL 318Introduction to EthicsPHL 322Science and the Modern WorldPHL 325MMedicine, Ethics, and SocietySocial Sciences core:ANT 324LHealth and IllnessSOC 354KSociology of Health and IllnessPSY 341KHealth Psychology (prerequisite: PSY 301 andan approved statistics course)Natural Sciences core:BIO 325GeneticsBIO 365Vertebrate PhysiologyCH 310NOrganic Chemistry IILiberal Arts core:ANS 372Body in Indian Medicine and MythCC 348Humanism in the Ancient WorldHIS 350LMedicine, Disease, and the Body in the 19thCenturyHumanities thesis sequence:HMN 679HA Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)HMN 679HB Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)

Model #5: Leadership, Ethics, and BusinessWhat constitutes ethical choices? In what ways do leadersshape society? This model takes an interdisciplinary approachto exploring these issues, using Government and Philosophyas core areas, with additional courses relating to a focuson Social Justice. When designing a Leadership and Ethicscontract, students are encouraged to emphasize one of thefollowing areas: Business Ethics, Health Care, Public Policy,Race/Ethics, or Social Justice, Politics, and Law.Liberal Arts Honors core:LAH 350 Leadership and EthicsLAH 350 Face of JusticeLAH 350 Boundaries and DilemmasBusiness core:LEB 320F Business LawMAN 320F Foundations of ManagementFIN 320F Foundations of FinanceRelevant coursework:GOV 335M Morality and PoliticsGOV 370L Social Movements: Thoery/PracticePHL 318 Intro to EthicsPHL 325L Business, Ethics, and Public PolicyPA 325 Advanced Seminar in Ethics and LeadershipSOC 321K Entrepreneurship and InnovationHumanities thesis sequence:HMN 679HA Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)HMN 679HB Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)

Model #6: Human Rights in the FrancophoneWorldThis plan is based on a recent contract by a studentinterested in expanding the coursework from theProgram for Core Texts and Ideas into a major. Inthis contract, the student combines an interest inhuman rights, political philosophy, Western Europe,Africa, and French language. As part of her studies,this student participated in the Normandy Scholarsprogram and spent the summer in Lyon, France.Core Texts and Ideas core:CTI 335Classical Quest for JusticeCTI 310Early Modern PhilosophyCTI 310Ancient PhilosophyCTI 320Morality and PoliticsFrench core:FR 320EAdvanced French IFR 322EAdvanced French IIFR 358Advanced Francophone LiteratureRelevant coursework:HIS 350LImperialism: Empire to GlobalizationE 360LColonial Education and GlobalEnglish LiteratureGOV 335M Global JusticeGOV 365N Politics in Contemporary AfricaBDP 319Human Rights: Theories and PracticesHumanities thesis sequence:HMN 679HA Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)HMN 679HB Honors Tutorial Course (thesis)

Applying to The Humanities ProgramStudents with 30 or more credit hours earned at UT Austinand a GPA of 3.5 or better may apply for admission to theprogram. Students should generally apply before they haveaccumulated 70 hours of credit. Applicants who already havemore than 90 of hours of credit will probably not be admittedto the program. Freshmen are particularly encouraged toinitiate the advising consultations that precede admission,though no one can be admitted to the program beforeearning 30 hours at UT Austin.The first step to admission is the preparation of a proposalin consultation with the adviser. The proposal includes aprogram of courses in the form of a contract, and a letter tothe program director defining the goals of the proposed planof study and defending the coherence of the plan. Severalrevisions of the proposed contract may be needed to bringthe student’s intentions and interests into focus.This major is not appropriate for the student who hopes simplyto sample many interesting courses with no particular direction.Nor is it appropriate for the student who has a strong interest ina subject taught by a given department, but hopes to avoidcertain parts of the major in that department. Proposals thatfall into either of those categories will not be approved.Interested students should make an advising appointment withthe humanities adviser in GEB 1.206, or by calling 471-3458.