Exposure to the humanities—engagement with texts, languages, history, culture, and civilization—is essential preparation for students to become informed citizens and productive members of society. It not only provides them the skills and knowledge to obtain gainful employment, but also the ability to adapt, grow, and learn throughout their lives. Through the humanities, students learn to navigate cultural similarities and differences; to read, digest, and interpret many different kinds of information; and to respond to the challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.
Interested in Studying the Humanities?
Brian Reed, Divisional Dean of Humanities
Departments
- Department of Asian Languages and Literature | Fact Sheet
- Department of Cinema and Media Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department of Classics | Fact Sheet
- Department of Comparative History of Ideas | Fact Sheet
- Department of English | Fact Sheet
- Department of French and Italian Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department of German Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department of Linguistics | Fact Sheet
- Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures | Fact Sheet
- Department of Scandinavian Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department Slavic Languages and Literatures | Fact Sheet
- Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies | Fact Sheet
Humanities News
Before Med School, A Year in Paris
Graduating with bachelor's degrees in neuroscience and French, Hunter Jung is heading to France for a cognitive neuroscience program that reflects both interests.
Supporting a Threatened Language
For his UW master's in Scandinavian Studies, Estonian student Greg Rahuoja addressed political and practical challenges for Khanty, an Indigenous language spoken in parts of Siberia.
AI in the Classroom? For Faculty, It's Complicated
Three College of Arts & Sciences professors discuss the impact of AI on their teaching and on student learning. The consensus? It’s complicated.