Humanities

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. And you don’t have to wait until November: Take a look at everything still happening in October. Go directly to the week you’d like to view: Week 1: November 2 – 8 Week 2: November 9 – 15...

Across campus, first-year students beginning their college art classes face new and familiar scenes: the scratching of charcoal against thick, white paper; the tap-tap of dance shoes taking flight; and images flickering across a projector screen. College introduces plenty of unfamiliar routines, from finding classrooms to deciding how to spend free time. For some first-year students, though, the transition brings a chance to return to the familiar process of creating art. 

This summer, undergraduate students participating in the Summer Institute in the Arts and Humanities had the opportunity to experience the World Cup firsthand, from conducting fieldwork in downtown Seattle to playing pickup soccer games. Arts & Sciences students take us through their research projects and explain some of the broader political and cultural questions that swirled around the tournament.

UW alumni and renowned poets Derek Sheffield and Erin Malone have been recognized for their work in poetry.

Elias Plaster, Zahra Hassan and Leo Freedman are three graduates from the class of 2026 who have been honored for their contributions to the UW.

UW English major Piper Sorensen ('27) shares why the humanities matter, particularly in our polarized society, and how studying the humanities has shaped her world view. 

Come curious. Leave inspired. Wherever you are, the University of Washington offers opportunities to learn and connect with the ideas, people, and research shaping our world. This summer, visit campus for the latest exhibitions at the Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, or join us from anywhere through recorded lectures, podcasts, virtual experiences, and more. As a public university, we’re proud to share the knowledge, creativity, and discoveries of the UW with communities near and...

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The University of Washington has produced its share of poet laureates, but Mateo Quispe, a queer and trans Peruvian American poet and senior in the Comparative History of Ideas program, may be the only student ever to hold a laureateship while at the UW. University of Washington Magazine shares this profile of Quispe, who is studying the comparative history of ideas at the UW while completing his tenure as Auburn Poet Laureate.

Graduating with bachelor's degrees in neuroscience and French, Hunter Jung is heading to France for a cognitive neuroscience program that reflects both interests.

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. 

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. And you don’t have to wait until June: Take a look at everything still happening in May. Sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On Your Own Time: Through July...

Humanities 103, part of the Humanities First program for first-year students, emphasizes place-based learning through thoughtfully designed field trips. 

“[Castalia is] a wonderful space for us to celebrate the hard work that we're all doing,” Em Beckert, a second-year MFA student, said. “On the first level, it was really hard to get into this program, and on the second level, it's really hard to be here and to keep writing and to move your life, in some cases across the country, and to find your voice and just to celebrate all of that.”

Anis Bawarshi, professor of English, was recently honored by the Conference on College Composition and Communication for representing “the highest ideals of scholarship, teaching, and service to the entire profession."

The benefits of learning more languages go far beyond the positive classroom experience; there are substantial advantages in your career and personal life. Previous scholarship has demonstrated that bilingual job candidates have up to a 35% increase in job opportunities.