The Humanities Minor (HUMN) offers students ideas and concepts for being ethical, creative citizens equipped with tools for critical thinking in a globalized, multinational world. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, HUMN cultivates contemporary humanistic concepts through historically grounded texts and traditions. It teaches critical engagement with society’s most pressing issues by developing a human-oriented perspective in which creativity and critical/theoretical thinking frame ethical existence. Students gain important foundations in personal and community values by pursuing a concentration in one of three interdisciplinary pathways:
- Story-telling and Meaning: comprised of Humanities electives focused on how humans make ethical decisions and meaning in life through literature, philosophy, history, and religion.
- Picturing Humanity: comprising Humanities courses emphasizing the aesthetic role of art, history, film, and visual studies in the constitution of diverse cultural and social perspectives.
- Theorizing Humanity: comprised of coursework focusing on the public role of social theory, philosophy, ethnic studies, and social justice in the formation of culture and society
Students pursue course work in disciplines, such as Art History, Ethnic Studies, Film Theory, History, Literature, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Social Justice, and Women and Gender Studies. A HUMN Minor provides knowledge that transcends the limitations of individual disciplinary majors and minors, offering valuable skills demanded by today’s competitive global market.
Students who study Humanities have strong writing and communication skills that make them successful in a wide range of careers, like teaching, non-profits leadership, advertising, law, and medicine.
HUMN pathways tailor coursework within humanistic traditions and ideas that offer meaningful exploration of issues in contemporary life and society to aid students' learning of analytic thinking and reasoning demanded by careers, such as law, technology, marketing, and politics.
Pathways within the interdisciplinary Humanities Minor offer students the opportunity to bring together content and themes from diverse, but related disciplines within the framework of humanistic inquiry and critical analysis.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours from approved coursework.
- Students must complete a minimum of six upper-division (3000-level and above) credit hours from approved coursework.
- Students must earn a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all courses that apply to the minor and must achieve a minimum cumulative minor GPA of 2.0. Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to minor requirements.
- Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of approved courses with CU Denver faculty.
- Coursework must be approved by a Humanities Minor advisor.
- Of the four elective courses, at least one course must be taken at 3000-level and at least one must be at the 4000-level.
- If a student wants to deviate from these lists, they must have advisor approval prior to completing the substitute coursework.
- Complete the Introductory Course
- HUMN 1012 The Humanistic Tradition: Modes of Expression*
- Complete 12 elective credit hours in Humanities and Humanities-related disciplines.
Choose coursework from any of these interdisciplinary pathways:
(A minimum of one elective course must be taken at 3000-level and a minimum of one must be at the 4000-level.)
- Picturing Humanity
- Story-telling and Meaning
- Theorizing Humanity
*Students may opt to complete or transfer in a comparable HUMN 1000- or 2000-level course with prior advisor approval.
ENGL 2250 Introduction to Film
ENGL/HIST 3070 Studies in Film History (may be repeated with a different topic)
ENGL 3200 From Literature to Film
ETST 3036 American Indian Cultural Images
FINE 2600 Art History Survey I
FINE 4630 History of Latin American Art:1520-1820
FINE 4670 Greek and Roman Art
FINE 4680 Art of the Medieval Multiverse
FINE 4700 Italian Renaissance Art
FINE 4750 Arts of China
FINE 4990 Contemporary Art: 1960 to Present
FINE 5610 Pre-Columbian Art
HIST 4228 Western Art and Architecture
HIST 4231 History in Museums
HIST 4232 Historic Preservation
PHIL 1700 Philosophy and the Arts
PHIL 4220 Art, Beauty, and Aesthetic Criticism: Philosophy of Art
ENGL/HIST 3070 Studies in Film History (may be repeated with a different topic)
ENGL 3075 Film Genres
ENGL 4236 The American Short Story
ENGL 4510/RLST4730/WGST 4510 Whores and Saints: Medieval Women
HUMN 4984 Topics: Interdisciplinary Humanities (may be repeated with a different topic)
PHIL 3280 War and Morality
PHIL/RLST 3410 Asian Philosophies and Religions
PHIL 3550 Philosophy of Death and Dying
PHIL 4270 Philosophy of History
PHIL 4470/RLST 4440 Concepts of the Soul
PHIL/RLST 4480 Perspectives on Good and Evil
PHIL 4600/RLST 4060 Questioning Religious Belief and Practice: Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
PHIL/WGST 4933 Philosophy of Eros
RLST 4340 The Hero's Journey
RLST 4460 Death and Concepts of Afterlife
ETST 2024 Race and Ethnic Relations
ETST 3211 Hip Hop Music & Culture
ETST 3704 Culture, Racism and Alienation
HIST 3121 The World at War, 1914-1945
HIST 3230 The American Presidency
HIST/COMM 3231 Famous U.S. Trials
HIST 3235 U.S. Labor History, 1800 to the Present
HIST 3347 African-American History, 1619-Present
HIST 3364 Native Americans and Spaniards in North America
HIST 3366 Nature and Power in American History
HIST 3601 Colorado History
HIST 4027 Enlightenment and Revolution
HIST 4028 Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe
HIST 4055 The Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa, Caribbean and U.S.
HIST 4076 History of Modern Science
HUMN/SSCI 4251 Introduction to Legal Studies
HUMN 4984 Topics: Interdisciplinary Humanities (may be repeated with a different topic)
SJUS 2000 Foundations in Social Justice
SJUS 2010 Social Justice: Theories, Narratives, and Technologies
Who is this Minor For?
Everyone! Humanistic studies serve as an excellent addition to science-based and liberal arts curricula, as well as a stand-alone program that addresses contemporary issues and interests.
How can a minor in Humanities complement my major?
An interdisciplinary Humanities Minor pairs well with many majors.
Below are some examples* of how this minor might pair well with your major:
*not a comprehensive list
- Journalism / Communication: Enhances research, writing, critical thinking, and cultural literacy for media-related careers.
- Political Science / Public Policy: Provides historical and ethical context for governance, law, and policy-making.
- Psychology / Sociology / Anthropology: Enhances understanding of human behavior, culture, and ethics through critical thinking and analysis.
- Economics: Helps analyze economic policies from ethical and historical viewpoints.
- Develop crucial skills, such as critical thinking, effective communication, analysis of complex texts, cultural understanding, and the ability to engage with diverse perspectives
- Equips future educators with skills to meaningfully engage students, foster their own critical skills, and create a culturally sensitive learning environment
- Fine Arts / Performing Arts: Provides historical and philosophical insights into artistic expression, and the ability to critcially evaluate works.
- Graphic Design: Strengthens storytelling and cultural context in visual communication.
- Strengthens storytelling, critical thinking, branding, and ethical decision-making in business.
- Biology / Pre-Med / Nursing: Enhances ethical reasoning, patient communication, and medical humanities perspectives.
- Computer Science / Data Science: Strengthens ethical considerations in AI, human-centered design, and digital humanities.
- Engineering: Improves problem-solving through historical, philosophical, and ethical perspectives.
- Public Health: Helps address health disparities, medical ethics, and cultural influences on healthcare.
- Develop a deeper understanding of social, cultural, historical, and political contexts that contribute to criminal behavior
- Embrace critcial thinking skills that contribute to ethical criminial/victim advocacy and justice, as well as understanding victim perspectives