Department of Humanities

What are the Humanities?

The Department of Humanities offers classes in languages, writing, literature, history, philosophy, and religion. All of these are central to what it means to be human. Taking these classes can help you learn to better communicate with others, to better understand others, to better understand our past and present, and to take part in some of the central questions that humans have always asked (for example, Why did that happen? Is this ethical?)

If you are interested in learning the lessons of the past and applying them to the present and the future; writing novels or songs; learning about other cultures and your own through literature, history, and language, we have the classes for you! 

We offer majors in English (BA) and History (BA), and minors in English, History, and Philosophy & Religion. 

We also offer content courses for English Education majors and Social Studies Education majors. 

Do you want to write novels? Or, maybe you prefer to read and discuss with others what you’ve read? Maybe you enjoy writing and want to help others write more clearly? An English major or minor may be for you.   

Possible Careers for an English major or minor:​

• Creative Writing
• Technical Writing
• Editing
• Teaching
• Producing/Journalism
• Publishing
• Marketing

An English minor works well with many other majors and careers and after you have completed your English General Education requirements you only need 3 more English classes for a minor! 

You can find out more about the major by clicking on the course requirements. You can find out more about the minor by clicking on the course requirements.  You can always contact Dr. Gompf for information at mgompf@concord.edu.

The study of history can help us to better understand and navigate through the increasing complexity and uncertainty of the modern world in which we live. The skills that Concord's History program provides you to do this--the ability to analyze and interpret evidence, think critically, and synthesize trends in data--are valued by employers in many businesses as well.
Careers in History

• Teaching
• Work in Museums
• Work in Archives
• Government Careers

Philosophy, literally, the love of wisdom, is the rational exploration of fundamental questions about ourselves and the world in which we live. Is there a God or something like God? How do we know the truth? Is the moral life objective, relative, or entirely subjective? What does it mean to be a human person? What are our rights? Our responsibilities? And many, many more.

The Philosophy & Religion Program works closely with others to enable students to pursue a minor or a series of electives in support of a wide range of careers in the arts, humanities, law, science, social science, and professional degree programs.

The Philosophy & Religion Program is in full compliance with the current Policies, Statements, and Reports of the American Philosophical Association

Assessments

 English Program Assessments
English Program assessment data is collected at program-entry and program-exit levels:

• Program Entry Assessments:
  • Qualifying Writing Assessment
  • Diagnostic Linguistic and Literary Knowledge and Skills Exam (LLKSE)
• Program Exit Assessments:
  • Capstone Writing Assessment
  • Capstone Linguistic and Literary Knowledge and Skills Exam (LLKSE)

For information about English Program writing assessments, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Roth.
For information about the LLKSE assessments, please contact Dr. Michelle Gompf.
 

 

English Program Goals

Note:

The English Program Goals identified below represent the “common denominator” of objectives shared by all CU English Programs: the B.A. English Programs and the B.S. Education, English 5-Adult Program.

English Program Educational Goals / Learning Outcomes

1. Students in any English class will
   • Draw defensible inferences from close reading of texts
   • Apply critical thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, evaluation) to texts
   • Identify and explain interrelationships among textual elements within and across texts
   • Interpret texts within their historical and cultural contexts
   • Identify and evaluate ethical or moral values implied in texts.


2. Students in any English class will
   • Write critically, supporting inferences by citing and interpreting specific textual evidence
   • Compose texts at a level of “adequate” or above, as defined by the English Program’s criteria for evaluation.


3. English Program degree candidates will interpret texts spanning a wide range of historical and cultural contexts through a variety of critical lenses.


4. English Program degree candidates will be able to explain the history and ongoing evolution of the English language and the linguistic principles underlying traditional, structural, and transformational English grammars.


5. English Program degree candidates will be able to evaluate aesthetic principles, methods, materials, and media that empower texts to impact society.

History Program Goals

 

1. Synthesis
   Provide history majors with access to historical information in order to analyze important people, societies, trends, and developments across time.


2. Analysis
   Provide history majors with an opportunity to interpret historical evidence to reach accurate and thoughtful conclusions about historical figures, events, and/or trends.


3. Methodology
   Provide history majors with an opportunity to conduct historical research by using primary and secondary sources.


4. Communication
   Provide history majors with an opportunity to communicate historical analysis to their peers and program faculty.


5. Historical Thinking
   Provide history majors with an opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills when considering people, events, and trends in historical context.

External Resources for Current Students

Links to other Writing Labs and Sites for Writers

Numerous web sites are available to help you become a better writer. Some of the best include:

OWL Resources for Writers - Purdue University offers some of the best information available to improve your writing skills. You will find additional links as well as handouts, advice, practice sheets, and much more. Purdue Online Writing Lab

Topics are abundant at the University of Richmond Writer's Web. This site explores topics by the various stages of the writing process - First Draft, Focusing & Connecting Ideas, General Editing, Peer Editing, Sentence Structure, Using and Documenting Sources. You will also find hints for writing papers in other disciplines.

Need a Handbook? The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a handbook that explains and illustrates the basic grammatical rules concerning the parts of speech, phrases, clauses, sentences and sentence elements, and common problems of usage. The Writers' Workshop site is well worth your time. Grammar Handbook

Need a Dictionary, Thesaurus or Translator?

Dictionary.com includes "Ask Doctor Dictionary", Fun & Games, Other Dictionaries (German, Greek,Latin, Spanish, etc.), Roget's Thesaurus, Translator, Web Directory, Word of the Day and Writing Resources. Dictionary

Doing A Research Paper? 

Diana Hacker, author of A Writer's Reference, supplies you with information on writing all types of research papers. You will find documentation instructions using MLA (Humanities), APA (Social Sciences), Chicago (History) and CBE (Science) styles.

The Modern Language Association is a must for students needing help on citation. MLA ONLINE
 

Recent Alumni Publications

Some of our former students have went on to publish their own works, so we're showcasing them here!