Module 3

III. Humanities and Social Sciences

A. Humanities and Social Science Topics
B. Distinctive Features of Humanities
C. Distinctive Features of Social Sciences

Overview
This part of the discussion is focused on the differences between Humanities and Social
Sciences.
Activity 1. Engaged Participation. Assess the students’ knowledge on the differences between
Humanities and Social Sciences.

Learning Outcomes
1. Differentiate Humanities and Social Sciences in terms of topics associated in each
field and the features distinctive in both.
Content Discussion

Humanities vs. Social Science: How do They Differ?

The humanities and social sciences are two components that make up the liberal arts (along
with the arts and natural sciences). Although both disciplines investigate the human world
and society, each relies on different methods and poses different types of questions.
Whereas English and philosophy majors critically analyze literature and ethics, economics
and anthropology majors study society using more quantitative approaches. Unlike social
science majors, humanities majors rarely use mathematical or statistical data in their
analyses. Rather, they make interpretive and theoretical arguments about their subjects.
That said, some fields blur the line between the humanities and social sciences. History, for
example, is a core humanities discipline that often relies on quantitative research and
methods normally used in sociology and political science.
The humanities also boast a longer history than the social sciences. While social science
disciplines date back to the 19th century, the humanities were studied long before then by the
ancient Greeks and other classical-era scholars.
During the Renaissance, the studia humanitatis ("studies of humanity") became an integral
part of the European education system. With a focus on classics, philosophy, history, and
rhetoric, the humanities aimed to transform students into educated citizens.
 Multiple Humanities Courses in General Education Curriculum

Today, colleges use gen ed requirements to introduce students to a variety of disciplines and
strengthen their analytical and problem-solving skills.

Most universities in the Philippines and abroad require multiple humanities courses in their gen
ed curriculum. These gen ed requirements include classes in literary and cultural analysis,
philosophical and linguistic analysis, and historical analysis.

Other universities require at least three courses each in the humanities, social sciences, and
science/math, as well as two writing-intensive courses that often come from the humanities.

Humanities and Social Sciences

Both broad topics of the humanities and social sciences involve the study of human society
and social relationships. Within each discipline, however, the humanities and the social
sciences are distinct in their methodology and focus (although there is some overlap). The
humanities typically are considered more critical and analytical, dealing with the philosophical
question of what makes us human. The social sciences, on the other hand, use a more
scientific approach, essentially applying similar methodology as the natural sciences to the
study of humans in society.
Scholars consider the humanities to have developed first, starting in ancient Greece, and
evolving into a topic of study in the 15th century. The social sciences sprang from the
Enlightenment, an intellectual and philosophical movement prevalent in Europe during the
18th century that emphasized rationality, logic, and methodology as applied to the empirical
world.
Branches of the humanities include law, languages, philosophy, religion and mythology,
international relations, gender and women’s studies, multicultural and regional studies,
popular culture, and art and music, while branches of the social sciences include sociology,
anthropology, archeology, geography, political science (including politics and government),
psychology, communication studies, criminal justice, demographics, library and information
science, and economics.
 Humanities and Social Sciences Topics

Gale provides insights and useful resources for research supporting humanities and social
sciences across a variety of topics.
1. Art and Music 9. International Relations
2. Communication Studies 10. Language
3. Criminal Justice 11. Multicultural and Regional studies
4. Current Issues 12. Philosophy
5. Demographics 13. Politics and Government
6. Environmental Studies 14. Popular Culture
7. Gender and Women Studies 15. Religion and Mythology
8. Geography 16. Social Sciences

Art and Music

Art and music, which are branches of the humanities, are concerned with audio and visual
creative pursuits. Both are very broad categories that encompass a variety of formats. Art, for
example, can include painting, sculpting, animation, architecture, ceramics, drawing, graffiti,
photography, crafts, and textile weaving, as well as performing arts like dance and film.
Music includes a diversity of genres such as jazz, rock and roll, classical, rhythm and blues,
techno, country, hip-hop, Latin, and soul.
Art and music are universal features of all societies and are accessible both to those who
earn their living as artists and musicians as well as amateurs. Art and music are important
expressions of culture and fulfill a variety of purposes. For example, the capacity of art and
music to reflect and influence human emotion makes them ideal vehicles for entertainment
but also available for more serious pursuits, such as therapy. Musical and artistic expression
can unify people through patriotic songs or artwork, or they can challenge the status quo by
presenting a controversial perspective. Both music and art are important aspects of cultural
and religious rituals, from the wedding march tune that ushers a bride down the aisle to the
carved representations of gods.
 Communication Studies

The field of communication studies is a discipline that deals with human communication and
behavior. The term communication refers chiefly to three types of communication: verbal (the
sharing of information through speech), written (involving any type of message communicated
through the written word), and nonverbal (communication without words, such as body
language). Different types of communication include talking, typing an email, or smiling.

Communication studies stretches as far back as ancient Greece, when the study of rhetoric,
the art of persuading others through public speaking, was considered an essential part of
education. This classical tradition influenced the development of classes in rhetoric and
oratory in the United States in the early 19th century. It became a more scientific field of study
in the mid-20th century as scholars attempted to better understand the power of
communication to influence others.
Communication studies straddles the fields of the social sciences and the humanities in its
interest in both the methods of communicating as well as how messages are interpreted
through political, cultural, economic, semiotic, hermeneutic, and social contexts. Since
communication is ubiquitous in society, the application of communication studies is quite
broad. Communication studies is often incorporated in other fields of study, such as
journalism, film criticism, theater, public relations, and political science as well as a range of
media such as radio, television, and film. Intercultural communication, which is a form of
communication that aims to share information across different cultures and social groups, is
becoming increasingly important in a global society.
Major organizations associated with communication studies include the Association for
Business Communication, the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass
Communication, the International Communication Association, and the National Association
for Media Literacy Education.
 Criminal Justice

The field of criminal justice involves the investigation of criminal activity and the procedures
necessary to the prosecution and conviction of crimes. Criminal justice activities include
gathering evidence, arresting suspects, bringing charges, conducting trials, sentencing the
convicted, and carrying out punishment.
To this end, the criminal justice system involves law enforcement agencies charged with the
prevention of crime and the apprehension of criminal offenders; court bureaucracies charged
with determining the innocence or guilt of accused offenders and with the sentencing of
convicted criminals; and the network of corrections institutions charged with the control,
custody, supervision, and treatment of those convicted of a crime, including probation and
parole agencies for when a prisoner is released after serving a sentence. Other important
figures are the prosecutor, who makes the case to convict the defendant, and the defense
attorney, who makes the case to exonerate the defendant. Police officers are the most public
law-enforcement agents, responsible for crime prevention and investigation.
Crimes in the United States can be prosecuted in federal, state, or military criminal justice
systems. The U.S. Department of Justice is a federal executive department of the U.S.
government, responsible for enforcement of federal laws; the Federal Bureau of Investigation
is the principal federal law enforcement agency. At the state level, each state has separate
judicial systems for adults and juveniles. Some trials involve juries (a group of citizens
specially commissioned to render a verdict), and others are determined by a judge (known as
a bench trial). Those found guilty of committing a crime can receive a variety of sentences,
depending on the severity of the crime, ranging from fines and community service to prison
time or even the death penalty where it is legal. Some states do not allow for the death
penalty to be imposed.

Current Issues

Take a close look at the current issues facing societies today. A current issue is something
happening right now that affects a specific group or society at large. These issues are often
controversial, with strong opinions on all sides.
A current issue does not necessarily mean that the question is new. Some topics, such as
abortion, have been discussed in society for decades. Other issues have surfaced with the
development of technology. For example, the problem of cyberbullying has emerged with
widespread use of the internet.
Numerous controversial issues face societies today. These include animal rights, civil rights,
capital punishment, domestic and sexual violence, climate change, gun violence, health care,
homelessness, immigration, privacy, pollution, poverty, racism, and terrorism. Global issues
also challenge the international community. China, India, the United Kingdom, and many
other countries are addressing controversies that impact the entire world.
 Demographics

Demographics is the study of statistical data relating to the population and particular groups
within it. Demographic data of current population surveys includes density, spatial
distribution, age, race, gender, income level, educational attainment, location, and
homeownership.
One of the major sources of data is the national census. For example, in the United States,
the Constitution mandates a survey be conducted every 10 years; the first federal census
occurred in 1790. Census information expanded in the 19th century to include an economic
census of manufactures and agriculture, eventually including wholesale, retail, and service
establishments. A third type of census is a census of governments.
Statistical data is valuable on many levels. In the Philippines, the Constitution mandated a
count of the population to determine the number of legislators for each district in the House of
Representatives, but the government also uses this information to develop policies and
determine how to distribute national monies to the local government units. Census data are
often used to forecast economic patterns and population growth to better manage
expenditures. Socioeconomic data are also important to businesses, which use the
information to learn more about their current and potential customers as part of their market
research.

Environmental Studies

Through Humanities and Social Science, the foundations of environmental studies and the
unique interdisciplinary methods used to address challenging environmental issues are
explored. As students, researchers, and educators take a close look at this field of study,
they learn how human actions can impact planet Earth, including plants, animals, and entire
ecosystems. While taking a global perspective, environmental studies also analyze what
occurs on local, regional, and international levels.
This broad field of study examines how human activity has affected the natural environment,
which many scientists have linked to complex environmental problems, including major
natural disasters such as typhoons/hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions as well
as long-term issues like climate change. Research has shown that human activities like
cutting down forests and damming rivers can significantly impact environmental health and
society.
Environmental studies focus on the scientific and humanitarian components of these issues.
Drawing from the principles of the physical sciences, economics, and social sciences,
researchers examine the complexities of contemporary environmental issues such as global
warming, pollution, sustainability, renewable energy, and more. This field of study also
considers how ecology and environmental science intersect with other subjects like ethics,
anthropology, politics, urban planning, and social justice.
 Gender and Women's Studies

The academic discipline of gender and women’s studies focuses on the experiences and
aspirations of women as well as the cultural construct of masculine and feminine identity.
Women’s studies began to be taught in the late 1960s and 1970s as women became more
numerous, visible, and vocal on college campuses as part of a larger culture of protest in the
1960s, which included the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement. The creation of
a unique discipline focusing on women stemmed from the belief that women were
underrepresented or misrepresented in more traditional academic disciplines. To correct this
discrepancy, women’s studies programs are interdisciplinary by design, with courses touching
on education, literature, history, political science, philosophy, psychology, ethnic studies,
biology, medicine, religious studies, and international relations, among others, centralizing
women, and the theoretical frameworks of feminism within those fields.
The connection between women’s studies and gender was a major shift in the 1990s.
Feminist scholarship on women had long grappled with the question of gender, including
relationships among men and women, masculinity and femininity, and social power. By 2000,
there were nearly 800 women’s studies programs, and most had added a concern with
gender to their curriculum. In the 21st century, gender and women’s studies increasingly
included studies related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) identities,
although LGBT studies is sometimes treated as a separate discipline.

Geography

The field of geography is the study of the physical features of the earth and how people
interact with them. Geographers explore where things are located on the earth, why they are
located there, how places differ from one another, and the ways people affect and are
affected by their location. The combination of “why” and “how” questions in geography
reflects the discipline’s foundation in both the social sciences and the natural sciences.
Related fields are anthropology, geology, and climatology.
Geography is often divided into two branches: physical geography and human geography.
Physical geography deals with the analysis of processes and patterns in the natural
environment, such as climates, landforms, vegetation, soils, and water. Human geography,
on the other hand, deals with the examination of people and their communities, cultures,
economies, and interactions with the environment by focusing on their relations with and
across space and place.
Geography is applied in any attempt to render the world in spatial terms, as is the case with
mapmaking, such as a physical map or the mapping systems Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). Cartographers create maps through
surveying, which involves the examination and recording of an area and its features.
Geography is also an important component of city planning, disaster response, and
environmental management, among other fields. Scholars also point to the importance of
geography in understanding historical events since geographic characteristics have affected
the outcomes of wars or vectors of disease.
 International Relations

The field of international relations is a branch of political science concerned with relations
between nations, primarily in terms of foreign policies. International relations, or international
affairs, also involves nonstate actors such as the United Nations (UN) and Amnesty
International.
This interdisciplinary field ties together political science, geography, history, economics, law,
sociology, psychology, and philosophy at the global level. Issues central to this discipline
include diplomatic relations, globalization, state sovereignty, ecological sustainability, nuclear
proliferation, nationalism, economic development, global finance, international security,
terrorism, and human rights.
There are two major approaches to international relations: realism and liberalism. Realism in
international relations is based on a belief that the desire for power over other states is the
motivating principle in a state’s foreign policy, with a strong focus on self-preservation.
Foreign policy is based on a state’s ability and willingness to use military force; morality is not
a guiding principle under this philosophy. Liberalism, on the other hand, focuses on the
interconnectedness of states and their interests, which must necessarily result in the
decreased use of military power to achieve foreign policy aims. Instead, international
cooperation is emphasized.
International relations scholars typically break down their analysis in one of four ways: (1)
system level, specifically how the international system affects the behavior of nation-states;
(2) state level, which examines how a state’s characteristics determine its foreign policy
behavior; (3) organizational level, or analysis of how organizations within a state influence the
state’s foreign policy behavior; and (4) individual level, which examines the impact of leaders
of states on their states’ foreign policy.
 Language

The topic of language is defined as communication using a set of symbols in a structured and
conventional way. Language refers both to the uniquely human way of communicating as
well as the manifestations of that ability (e.g., English, Russian, Japanese, Italian, Chinese,
Swahili, Spanish, French, Korean, German). Languages that are still commonly spoken by
people today are known as the modern languages, while languages that exist principally only
in written form (such as ancient Latin or Greek) are known as the classical languages. While
all living creatures communicate with each other, language is specific to human beings in its
seemingly infinite capacity to express thought and feeling; animals, by contrast, are tightly
circumscribed in how they communicate and what they communicate about.
Language can be expressed through speech, writing, gestures (as with sign language), and
code (as with computer languages). The science of language is known as linguistics, with its
major divisions of phonetics (the study of the anatomy, physiology, neurology, and acoustics
of speaking), grammar (concerned with the relations between words in sentences), semantics
(the study of meaning), and pragmatics (the study of language in use and the contexts in
which it is used). The study of language in relation to social factors, including differences of
regional, class, and occupational dialect; gender differences; and bilingualism, is known as
sociolinguistics. Applied linguistics focuses on finding solutions to language-related problems
in real life, taking an interdisciplinary approach that can encompass the fields of education,
psychology, communication research, anthropology, and sociology.
A language can have multiple dialects, which are variations of a language that are distinct
from each other but still mutually intelligible. Language that relies on specialized vocabulary
specific to a profession or group is known as jargon. Sometimes languages, known as
pidgins, are created to facilitate communication between speakers of different languages,
taking vocabulary from each language while scrapping grammatical rules; this occurs most
frequently in matters of trade. Creoles are pidgin languages that have supplanted the original
languages. Languages can also have informal words and phrases known as slang that are
not part of the formal lexicon; these are more common to the spoken rather than written form
and tend to be restricted to a particular context or group of people.
 Multicultural and Regional Studies

The academic discipline of multicultural and regional studies is a way of teaching and learning
that incorporates the histories, texts, values, beliefs, and perspectives of people from different
cultural and geographic backgrounds. Courses in this academic branch include African
Studies, Asian Studies, British Studies, Canadian Studies, European Studies, Judaic and
Holocaust Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, and
Native American Studies.
The push for greater representation of cultures and people groups beyond white Americans in
education began in the 1960s as various activism and protest movements drew attention to
underrepresented groups. In particular, the civil rights movement challenged discriminatory
practices against African Americans and other people of color in society, causing educational
institutions, including universities, to respond by offering more diverse and intercultural
perspectives in their curricula.
One of the major goals of multicultural and regional studies programs is to cultivate in
students the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to function in an ethnically and racially diverse
nation and world. Other goals include dispelling stereotypes, encouraging cultural pride and
awareness, and providing a broader spectrum of perspectives beyond the Eurocentric
perspective.

Additional Topics: African Studies, Asian Studies, Canadian Studies, European Studies, Latin
American and Caribbean Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Native American Studies
 Philosophy

The depths of the discipline of philosophy is the critical, normally systematic study of an
unlimited range of ideas and issues using rational arguments. Philosophy tackles weighty
issues such as the nature of existence, knowledge, language, mind, reason, and values.
Philosophy is traditionally broken down into five categories: epistemology, ethics, logic,
metaphysics, and the history of philosophy.
Epistemology concerns the nature and scope of knowledge and justification.
Ethics is the philosophical study of morality, particularly conceived as a set of standards of
right and wrong conduct.
Logic focuses on providing sound methods for distinguishing valid from invalid arguments.
Logic helps to assess how well premises support conclusions, to discover unknown
assumptions made, to formulate the minimum claims to establish if point is to be proven, and
to avoid adopting positions for which supporting reasons are lacking.
Metaphysics seeks basic criteria for determining what sorts of things are real. Central to
metaphysics is ontology, a branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
Metaphysics traditionally also includes cosmology, which is concerned with the nature of the
universe, tackling such issues as whether the universe is infinite and the nature of time.
The history of philosophy examines the major philosophers, including their influence on each
other, and major periods in the development of philosophy. The history of philosophy in a
single nation (e.g., American philosophy), major movements within a nation (e.g., German
idealism), and international movements with a substantial history (e.g., existentialism, logical
positivism, phenomenology) are also included in this branch.
 Politics and Government

Explore the politics and government of the United States, which was established after the 13
American colonies declared their independence from Britain in 1776. The United States is a
representative democracy, which means that power belongs to the people, who elect
representatives to make policy and pass laws. It is a federal system of government, which
means that the national government shares responsibilities with state and municipal
governments. It is also a constitutional government in that it operates according to the
principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
The U.S. Constitution established three branches of government: legislative, executive, and
judicial. Each branch has specific responsibilities and serves as a check on the power of the
other two branches. The legislative branch, known as Congress, is divided into the House of
Representatives and the Senate. Each state has two senators, while the number of
representatives a state has in the House is determined by the state’s population. Congress is
responsible for drafting and passing laws. The president is the leader of the executive
branch, which is responsible for executing the laws passed by Congress. The president is
also the commander-in-chief of the military, responsible for the nation’s defense. The
judiciary is made up of courts and judges who interpret the laws and ensure they do not
contradict the Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court has the highest authority in the court
system.
Since the 19th century, politics in the United States has been dominated by two political
parties: the Republican and Democratic parties. Political parties are responsible for choosing
candidates to run for office, helping to run and finance their candidates’ campaigns, and
outlining a platform of principles and ideas that are generally (though not always) adhered to
by their candidates.

Popular Culture

Have fun with the topic of popular culture, which is defined as culture that is consumed by a
majority of a society’s population rather than just an educated elite. Often shortened to “pop
culture,” this cultural expression is ubiquitous in various societies, dominating the fields of
entertainment (including movies, music, television, and video games), sports, news, politics,
fashion, technology, and slang. It is often contrasted with folk culture (the traditions practiced
primarily by small, homogenous rural groups) and high culture (culture enjoyed by the elite,
such as classical works, theater, and fine arts).
Media and marketing heavily influence popular culture in their use of psychology to create an
emotional response to a product or experience and their skill in distributing their message to a
wide audience. For that reason, it’s sometimes associated with media culture or commercial
culture.
Popular culture is also constantly evolving, as trends, or fads, come and go. Its other
elements are enduring, remaining a fixture of societies over decades. For example,
professional sports have not waned in popularity since their ascendancy in the 20th century.
Sports also demonstrate the unifying nature of popular culture, as people bond over their
identification with a specific team.
 Religion and Mythology

Examine the topic of religion and mythology, both of which focus on belief and a way to
explain the world. The difference between religion and mythology is subtle. The
term religion defines a system of formally organized beliefs and practices typically centered
around the worship of supernatural forces or beings, whereas mythology is a collection of
myths, or stories, belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition used to explain a
practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. While myths are frequently associated with a
religious tradition, they can also have purely cultural associations, such as the folklore of
Johnny Appleseed.
The association of myths with persons or things that have only an imaginary or unverifiable
existence (e.g., Bigfoot) or ancient belief systems that no longer have adherents (such as
classical Greek and Roman mythology based on a pantheon of gods and goddesses) can
lead to the erroneous belief that myths are inherently fictional. For this reason, many
religious adherents object to having the stories associated with their religion described
as myths.
There are over 4,000 religions that are currently practiced in the world. Some of the most
prominent include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. These religions are
further divided into denominations and sects that differ from each other in doctrine, theology,
and/or style of worship while retaining core beliefs. Religions that are based on belief in a
single God are known as monotheistic; religions that are based on belief in many gods are
known as polytheistic.

Social Sciences

Investigate the discipline of social sciences, which is the scientific study of human society and
social relationships. This broad discipline links multiple academic fields, including sociology,
anthropology, archaeology, geography, political science, psychology, and economics, with
some arguing that history and linguistics should also be included. While social sciences use
the scientific method to examine human behavior, the lack of predictability and universal laws
in human behavior differs from the application of the scientific method to the natural, or so-
called “hard sciences,” leading some to refer to the social sciences as the “soft sciences.”
The social sciences sprang from the Age of Enlightenment, an intellectual and philosophical
movement prevalent in Europe during the 18th century that emphasized rationality, logic, and
methodology as applied to the empirical world. The philosophical system of positivism, which
holds that every rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified, spurred an interest
in describing, explaining, and predicting human behavior.
While social sciences attempt an objective evaluation of human and social behavior, by its
very nature it must grapple with questions of equality, fairness, cohesion, and happiness, and
thus, with moral issues. It’s this ethical and moral dimension that, to a degree, sets apart the
social sciences from the natural sciences.
Additional Topics: Anthropology, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
 ‘Humanities Class’ Definition

The humanities are the study of humans. It is the study of:

● The history of humans;

● How humans interact;

● All the various human cultures around the world;

● All the various human societies around the world; and

● How cultures and societies develop.

Two definitions of the humanities from two Universities:

● Stanford University defines the humanities this way: “The humanities can be described
as the study of how people process and document the human experience.”
● Curtin University defines the humanities similarly: “The humanities refer to a range of
disciplines that analyze the human experience and the natural world, and that
encourage creativity, communication and critical thinking.”

Notice that the central part of these definitions is about simply studying what humans are and
what it means to be human.

Humanities classes are distinct from all other major forms of analysis in universities.
Namely, Humanities is not:
● Social Sciences

● Natural Sciences

● Performing Arts

Often, humanities and social sciences are conflated, and in many ways, they tackle similar
issues. However, humanities have their own distinct ways of thinking and observing.

Distinctive Features of Social Sciences

● Use of empirical methodologies (e.g. direct observation and analysis of the world)
● Explanations of observable phenomena

These distinctions certainly blur. There are many social scientists, for example, who engage
in humanistic interpretive analysis to discuss observable phenomena. These social scientists
might label themselves humanistic social scientists. Many of them considered themselves as
one of these.

Distinctive Features of Humanities

● Use of interpretive methodologies. While in social sciences and natural sciences

classes, learners do a lot of talking about things that happen in the world, in
humanities, they do a lot of contemplating the meaning of things.
Questions ask:
● What does a text, speech or play reveal about the nature of humanity?

● How can religion be applied to life in the 21st Century?

● What do new media texts reveal about changes in the human condition?

● What are the advantages of new media for political change?

● Seeking meaning and wisdom in life. The second feature and perhaps the most
important one is humanities aim to find wisdom. The goal is a loftier one than the
sciences. Indeed, the goal is to look inwardly at the very fundamentals of what it
means to be human,
Questions ask and issues are:
● How can we live a meaningful life?

● How can we seek to be more ethical people?

● What does it mean to be human?

A quote that really sums up the spirit of the humanities:

“What the humanities offer us are the fundamental building blocks of approaching life as a
human being, using the full capacities that set us aside from other creatures: the ability to
reason logically and independently about our circumstances, the capacity to care and to feel
compassion for others, the imagination to dream up alternative futures, and the moral
compass to move us in the direction we want to go.” (Caeton, 2012, p. 21)

What Counts as Humanities Classes?

The following nine courses are considered humanities courses.

These are the major ones listed under ‘humanities’ in most universities and colleges. Some
universities may make the decision to merge humanities and social sciences courses. So, this
is not a rock-solid rule:

A. Philosophy and Religion

Philosophy and religion might be considered as the ‘original’ humanities. These two pillars of
scholarship have been fundamental to human thought since Ancient Greek times, over 6000
years ago.
Philosophy and Religion are so intertwined that at times in history they were one and the
same. Philosophers like Spinoza who dared use logic to stray from religious dogma were
ostracized by society. Indeed, many were killed.
Now, they are two branches of the same tree.
Philosophy and religion aim to use history, tradition, logic and critical reasoning to find
meaning in life.
They explore issues of ethics, morality and spirituality.

B. Art and Music History

Looking at the history of music and art gives a greater appreciation of the products of human
endeavor. It can be seen in art and music motifs about what it means to be human, the
beauty and terror seen in humanity, and the common threads that bind people.
Note that art and music courses primarily associated with design and composition are
generally considered performing arts rather than humanities because their focus strays from
the interpretation of art to its creation (see: Humanities Indicators).

C. Archaeology
Archaeology involves the analysis and exploration of past cultures. By looking at past cultures
(Western, Asian, Indigenous, etc.), we can learn about how they lived and how they
understood the meaning of life.
The interesting parts about archaeology are the parts that reveal insights about humans.
For example, archaeologists examine:
● How past cultures have influenced the present;

● How past cultures might have lessons for us to learn;

● How past cultures prioritized different aspects of life than us

D. Communication and Media Studies

Communication and media studies by and large tend to examine the present day impact of
media on our lives (although there certainly are media scholars who look at the media of the
past).
Media studies has enjoyed booming interest in recent decades. The rapid changes in the
ways media have impacted our lives has opened up rich scholarly avenues of enquiry.
For example, many media scholars now study:
● How social media like twitter and Facebook have changed the ways we interact;

● How media holds up a mirror to ourselves and reveals things about is;

● How media has changed, influenced and reflected culture over the years.

It must be noted that communications and media studies also sit quite well within the social
sciences. This one would sit well within the overlap of a Venn Diagram between social
sciences and the humanities.

E. Cultural, Race, and Gender Studies

Cultural, race, and gender studies have also enjoyed growing popularity in recent years.
Gender studies, in particular, has had a very heavy influence within academia, although race,
ethnic, Black, Indigenous and disability studies have also had strong influences in the past.
Cultural, race, and gender studies asks questions like:
● What does it mean to be a woman in contemporary western societies?

● How can we define gender identity? Is it fluid or fixed?

● Has the nature of life changed with post-modernity?

● How can racial justice and equality be achieved in contemporary western societies?

F. Language and Literature

The examination of literature and rhetoric has a long history in academia.
Indeed, all of us will have at some time in our lives examined one of the great pieces of
historical literature that has examined the human condition.
Examples might include:
● Shakespearian plays;

● American Literature (e.g. Huckleberry Finn, The Grapes of Wrath);

● Classics (e.g. Homer’s Illyad)

● British Literature (e.g. Pride & Prejudice)

English language and literature may look at the ways different genres of written texts have
shaped the world, influenced the ways we see ourselves, our cultures and our societies, and
are evolving with cultural change.

G. History and Anthropology

History classes can span the ages. Students can study modern, ancient, western and new
world histories to explore fundamental questions about:
● Where do we come from?

● What shaped the 20th Century?

● How did decisions and events of the 20th Century bring us to where we are today?

● How can we learn from the mistakes of history?

● What caused the major conflicts of the past 500 years?

These questions ask us to deeply and critically examine how we should live our lives in order
to hand a better world to our own descendants.

H. Classics
The ancient Mediterranean world – including Greek and Roman societies – were great
wonders of their eras. These were great (and in many ways advanced, even enlightened)
societies that that were rich in cultural significance.
What an ancient Greek and Roman literature, philosophy, politics and culture teach us about
democracy, what it means to be human, and the faults that lie within each of us?
Even more interestingly, I am fascinated by how relatively advanced democratic societies
managed to shake at their very foundations, crumble, and fall away. War, politics and
concentration of wealth and power overcame some of the greatest civilizations in history and
saw them fall to dust.
What lessons can we learn from these doomed societies, and how can we prevent a similar
slide away from liberalism and democracy?
Related: Are Liberal Arts Degrees Worth It?

I. Linguistics
Linguistics is the study of language and its structure.
It is believed that the structure of language shapes human thought. By learning a new
language, you learn an entirely new way of thinking about the world.
Furthermore, languages can have a fundamental impact on the ways societies are structured.
The gendering of objects, the ways we issue commands and requests, and the ways we go
about written communication all reveal fundamental messages about who we are and how we
got here.

Recommended Humanities Classes Electives

● Ethics Classes: Learn how to critically reason. Ethics is not a clear-cut issue. You will
often be asked to choose the best of a bunch of bad options, and defend the ethical
 stance you took behind your decisions. Do you base your ethics on religion, reason, or do
you not see a distinction between the two?

● Philosophy: It’ll change your life. Learn how Socrates and Aristotle progressed human
thought. Laugh at the hilarious ideas ancient Philosophers had about the nature of matter,
and think deeply about what you believe makes a meaningful life.

● Art Appreciation: Stop feeling stupid walking around an art museum. This may seem to
be an indulgent subject, but art history might also give you a greater appreciation for how
some of the greatest artists who ever lived chose to represent the human condition.

● World Religion: Whether you’re a devout believer or militant atheist, it’s worth learning
about religions of the world. You’ll learn to empathize with and understand people of other
cultures, which will be useful for people you interact in your future multicultural workplace.

● Non-Western Culture: It doesn’t matter which culture you choose to zoom in on. But if it
were me, I’d choose ancient South American cultures. Those dudes were incredible, and
we don’t talk about them enough. You’ll learn to get out of your Western bubble see the
world with new eyes.

Evaluation
Activity 2. Infographics. Discuss the distinction of Humanities from Social Sciences
through an infographic.
Rubrics for assessment:
Design = 25%
Organization of Thought = 25%
Content/Idea = 50%
Total = 100%

Activity 3. Infographics. Discuss the distinction of Social Sciences from Humanities

through an infographic.
Rubrics for assessment:
Design = 25%
Organization of Thought = 25%
Content/Idea = 50%
Total = 100%

References