COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Humanities teaches us to question the world around us in order to better understand our place within it, as we seek to understand the nuances of cultural issues, to interpret human experience, and to appreciate the power of words and ideas.
Studying humanities broadens our historical, ethical, social and international perspectives while enhancing ourselves intellectually and creatively.
HUMANITIES SCHOLARS
Humanities Scholars is a first-year learning community where students explore humanities in action and connect their interests to academic research and community engagement. Join a community of peers who share your passion and also qualify for special scholarships and benefits.
TANNER HUMANITIES CENTER
The Tanner Humanities Center advances humanities exploration and engagement through academic research, educational enrichment, and public outreach. The activities reflect a vision of the humanities as not only relevant, stimulating, and cutting-edge, but also essential for developing critical thinking, tolerance, and respect on campus and in the community.
HUMANITIES RADIO
Humanities Radio is the College of Humanities' Podcast. Our goal is to lead conversations about the humanities in the 21st century. We will talk with faculty, students and alumni to share information and ideas about the importance of the humanities in today's world.
HUMANITIES GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP HOUSE
A living learning community, Humanities residents explore the notion of citizenship on multiple levels and serve as an ambassador for the College of Humanities. Programs for Humanities House student residents are carefully crafted to provide maximized student contact with outstanding faculty, college leadership, guest lecturers, artists and scholars and provide residents a broad understanding of their role as citizens of the world and of the Humanities.
COMMUNICATION
Communication is much more than just the written word. Communication is also verbal or non-verbal, and it takes place at both an interpersonal and mass scale.
University of Utah Communication’s program is a diverse discipline and provides a variety of skills to prepare students for careers. Through a combination of theoretical and technical training, the Communication program allows students to develop a comprehensive portfolio to market themselves to the industry.
Students can also focus their studies on a particular area by pursuing an emphasis in one of the following:
- Communication Studies
- Journalism
- Science, Health, Environmental, and Risk Communication
- Strategic Communication
Student Experiences at the U
- internships
- part-time work in professional setting
- John R. Park Debate Society
- The Absolute Communication agency (student-run advertising/PR company that allows students to gain experience in the communications industry)
Career Opportunities
- Advertising
- Broadcaster, journalist, or reporter
- Civic leadership
- Communication directors
- Editors
- Government lobbyist
- Marketing and sales
- Nonprofit grant writer or program coordinator
- Publishing
- Radio and video producers
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Communication BA/BS
Media Studies Minor
Health Communication Certificate
Department of Communication
English
As an English major at the University of Utah, you will study literature, creative writing, and literary discourse and theories. The U’s English curriculum covers the vast range of literature written in English, from the 8th century AD until the present day. Students explore theory, film, graphic novels, video games, digital humanities, popular culture, and develop their skills as critical and creative writers.
Student Experiences at the U
- Publish your original creative or critical writing in the Canticle, an undergraduate literary journal.
- Play Middlemarch Madness, a literary version of an NCAA Tournament-style bracket.
- Participate in the English Student Advisory Committee
- Study abroad through the London Program
Career Opportunities
- Advertisers
- Artists
- Editors
- Educators
- Entrepreneurs
- Writers
- Journalists
Scholarships
Degrees offered
English BA
English Minor
English Creative Writing Minor
History
As a History major at the University of Utah, you will study cultures, events, and peoples of the past. Students not only learn about the past, but in appreciating the varieties of human experience, students understand the present and plan for the future.
History students develop the ability to write and interpret complex information, ensuring they can offer creative solutions to challenging problems, handle ambiguity, and work across cultures. Courses cover topics ranging from ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, to the modern Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Student Experiences at the U
- Internship
- Undergraduate research project
- Annual Department of History Essay Contest
- Phi Alpha Theta (a history honor society)
- H-SAC (the History Student Advisory Committee)
Career Opportunities
- Educator
- Grant writer
- Policy writer
- Program administrator
- Public relations expert
Scholarships
Degrees offered
History BA
History Minor
Department of History
Linguistics
Linguists explore all things to do with language, including its structure and mechanics, how language and the mind interact, and the tie between language and socio-cultural factors.
Linguistics is an ideal major for today’s world, providing the intellectual satisfaction of learning how human language works and developing the analytical skills necessary to enter a highly competitive job market.
Student Experiences at the U
- Linguistics Club for Undergrads
- Linguistics Undergraduate Student Scholar
- Speech Acquisition Lab experiment
- volunteer, tutor, and mentoring opportunities
Career Opportunities
- Creating language interfaces for computers
- Developing artificial intelligence
- Higher education
- Research
- Teaching
- Translation
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Linguistics BA
Linguistics Minor
Computational Linguistics Certificate
TESOL Certificate
Department of Linguistics
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of knowledge, reality, and existence. Philosophy helps you better understand yourself and the important issues surrounding life, knowledge, and values.
The Philosophy major at the University of Utah provides a broad understanding of the central problems and positions in philosophy, through coursework from the four central areas of philosophy: ethics and value theory, metaphysics and epistemology, the history of philosophy, and logic and formal methods. A major in philosophy offers a wide range of opportunities for intellectual growth and self-development to students with a variety of interests.
Student Experiences at the U
- Undergraduate research
- Philosophy focused events
- Department of Philosophy Annual Conference Series
- Intermountain West Student Philosophy Conference
- Philosophy Club
- Women in Philosophy
Career Opportunities
- Grant writing
- Journalism
- Policy analysis
- Public relations
- Writing
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Philosophy BA/BS
Philosophy of Science BA/BS
Philosophy Minor
Cognitive Science Minor
Department of Philosophy
World Languages & Cultures
The Department of World Languages & Cultures is the largest and most diverse in the Humanities College, culturally and programmatically. Our programs and courses offer multiple opportunities for undergraduate study in language, literature, culture, and language education. All foreign languages and their respective literatures at the University of Utah are taught in the Department, which provides students with a forum for research and education in more than 20 linguistic and literary traditions. The Religious Studies major housed in the Department of World Languages & Cultures draws from existing course offerings in approximately 13 departments and programs spread across five colleges.Student Experiences at the U
- Brazilian Club
- Confucius Institute
- German Club
- Italian Club
- Japanese Culture Association
- Korean Club
- Persian Club
- Russian Club
- Spanish Club
Career Opportunities
- Airline & Tourism
- Banking
- CIA, FBI, NSA
- Diplomacy & Foreign Relations
- Higher Education
- Higher Management
- Hospitality
- Interpretation & Translation
- Legal Services
- Local or Global Non-Profit Organizations
- Marketing & Advertising
- Medical & Health Care
- Museum Curation
- Social Work
- Teaching & Curriculum Development
- Video Game Consulting
Scholarships
Department ScholarshipsMajors offered
Chinese BA Classics BA Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies BA French BA German BA Japanese BA Religious Studies BA Russian BA Spanish Major BAMinors offered
Chinese Minor Classical Civilization Minor Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies Minor French Minor German Minor Italian Minor Japanese Minor Korean Studies Minor Portuguese & Brazilian Studies Minor Religious Studies Minor Russian Minor Spanish Minor Department of Languages
Writing & Rhetoric Studies
Rhetoric is the study of effective speaking and writing: it is the art of argument and persuasion.
Through the University of Utah’s Writing and Rhetoric Studies program, students become strong analytical thinkers and proficient writers, learning rhetorical analysis and the ways that culture and society shape what we define as “literacy”. This major also gives students critical thinking skills and social awareness that can be applied to a number of pursuits.
Student Experiences at the U
- Undergraduate research projects
- Internships
- Study abroad program
- Writing and Rhetoric Studies Student Advisory Committee
- WriteClub
Career Opportunities
- Editor
- Marketing
- Publisher/publishing industry
- Writer
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Writing & Rhetoric Studies BA/BS
Writing & Rhetoric Studies Minor
Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies
Special Programs
Asian Studies
The Asian Studies program is an interdisciplinary course of study that deepens and broadens the understanding of this crucial region of the world. As an Asian Studies student, you will learn the languages and countries of the core regions of East, South, Southeast, and Central Asia as well as Russia, the Pacific, and West Asia.
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Asian Studies BA
Asian Studies Minor
Department of Asian Studies
British Studies
British Studies provides students with the opportunity to obtain a broad, multi-faceted understanding of the culture and society of Great Britain and the former colonies of the British Empire. The program is interdisciplinary and draws on the core concepts of six different departments—English, Film, History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Theatre—providing students with a well-rounded learning experience.
Scholarships
Degrees offered
British Studies Minor
Department of British Studies
International Studies
This program give students descriptive, analytical, and methodological tools to help understand the world and the United States in a global context as they study cultures across the world.
Scholarships
Degrees offered
International Studies BA/BS
Department of International Studies
Latin American Studies
The Latin American Studies program provides students with the opportunity to explore interdisciplinary approaches to Latin America. Students have the chance to become literate in one of four Latin American languages— Spanish, Portuguese, Nahuatl, or Quechua, and explore the people, culture, and history of the region.
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Latin American Studies BA
Latin American Studies Minor
Department of Latin American Studies
Middle East Studies
Students of the Middle East Studies program learn basic instruction in one of two major languages of the Middle East—Arabic or Persian—and complete a wide spectrum of courses that approach the Middle East from many different perspectives as they gain an appreciation for another culture, and become an active participant in today’s global world.
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Middle East Studies BA
Department of Middle East Studies
Peace & Conflict Studies
The Peace & Conflict Studies program at the University of Utah is offered collaboratively by the College of Humanities, Department of Communication, and College of Social and Behavioral Science. Peace & Conflict Studies gives students the knowledge, skills, and values needed to be a peacemaker in the world.
Scholarships
Degrees offered
Peace & Conflict Studies BA/BS
Peace & Conflict Studies Minor
Department of Peace & Conflict Studies