Study: Majors, Minors and Concentrations

Why study the Humanities?

What does it mean to lead a good life? In the Humanities at Clark, you will seek to answer this question in a small supportive community of scholars and artists. Your explorations into history, literature, philosophy and languages will give you new access to the ongoing human story—past, present and future—and can inspire you as you find your own sense of meaning within it.

Chanchala Gunewardena

"Inside and outside the classroom at this University, a holistic perspective prevails. People at Clark are always revealing the integration of ideas like the art in politics, or the philosophy behind science." — Chanchala Gunawardena

STUDENT PROFILE »

Interested in the Humanities? Take a look.


  • First-Year Intensive Courses

    • Clark's First-year Intensive courses challenge the way you look at the world and introduce you to college-level academics. You can enroll in a special first-year student section of an introductory course or a course that focuses on a particular research project. Your First-Year Intensive course professor will also serve as your first-year adviser.

      A sample list of First-Year Intensives for students interested in the Humanities:

      • In the Shadow of World War II: Memory, Identity and Nation in Japanese Fiction and Film (AS 180)
      • Human Rights and Literature (CMLT 109)
      • The Witchcraze: The Witch Hunts in Early Modern Europe 1450-1750 (HIST 040)
      • Reconsidering the Harlem Renaissance (HIST 045)
      • Border Crossings: Narratives of Travel, Exile, and Immigration (ENGL 131)

  • Program of Liberal Studies

    • The foundation of a Clark undergraduate education is the Program of Liberal Studies. As you complete one class in each of the eight categories before you graduate, you will gain a more holistic understanding of how different thoughts and views can strengthen your expertise in your major.

      Program of Liberal Studies course suggestions for students interested in the Humanities:

      • Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism (HIST 233)
      • Sci-Fi & the Mind of the Other (ENG 233)
      • Readings in Hispanic Literature (SPAN 131)
      • History of Modern Middle East (HIST 162)
      • National Imagination (CMLT 130)
      • Existentialism (PHIL 135)

  • Clubs and Organizations

    • Don't wait until your second year to participate in experiences outside the classroom that can complement your academic work. Discover communities where you can develop leadership, teamwork and organizational skills, meet Clarkies with similar interests, and just have fun. If you can't find a club or organization you are passionate about, start your own!

      A sample list of relevant clubs for students interested in the Humanities:

      • Clark Historical Society
      • Clark Poetry Slam
      • Caesura Literary Magazine
      • The Scarlet (student newspaper)
      • Philosophy Club
      • Asian Culture Society
      • Latin American Student Association
      • Hillel

  • Showcase Your Work: Academic Spree Day and Fall Fest

    • You have the opportunity to present your own research and/or creative work at these two special events during the school year.

      A sample of research presented by students in the Humanities:

      • The Secret And The Super: How Superhero Comics Define Heroism in the Tension Between Identities
      • Jerusalem Besieged: Three Medieval Regimes in the Axis Mundi
      • Writers, Politics, Gender and Identity in Argentine and Chilean Literatures
      • The Anti-footbinding Movement in China, 1890-1920

  • Internships

    • At Clark, you can make a meaningful contribution to an organization, nonprofit or business while you gain valuable knowledge and experience. Here are a few samples of recent Clark students' internships in the Humanities.

      • Marvel Enterprises, intern
      • Vogue Magazine, editorial intern
      • American Antiquarian Society, Newspapers Division Intern
      • Tribune Entertainment Company, intern
      • Worcester Telegram & Gazette, intern
      • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, Education Center intern

  • Careers

    • Don't choose a school to get a job. Go where you'll be prepared for a life of purpose and a successful career. Planning for your future can begin the moment you step on Clark's campus. The Clark Career Exploration Program makes Clark one of the few universities that formally supports an innovative approach to your Humanities career planning process.

      A sample of careers in the Humanities pursued by Clark graduates:

      • Archivist/Librarian
      • Arts Management
      • Curator
      • Interpreter
      • Journalist
      • Nonprofit Administrator
      • Professor/Teacher
      • Translator
      • Writer/Poet/Playwright

Sarah Buie"At Clark, we create a culture of asking good questions, challenging assumptions and responding creatively to the world around us."

Sarah Buie
Director, Higgins School of Humanities