Humanities (AA or BA)

The Humanities major includes those branches of learning that are concerned with human thought and experience in history, language and literature, philosophy, religious studies, fine arts and music. Its goal is to lead the student to appreciate those aspects of their own culture, as well as their relationship to the cultures of other times and places. Although the humanities major is not oriented toward a particular career, its emphasis on critical understanding and disciplined reflection prepares a student for later training in many fields of employment including law, government, journalism, teaching and human services.

Qualifications

Students must maintain an overall 2.0 cumulative average to graduate with a degree from Canisius.

Advisement

All students should have an advisor in the major and should contact the department directly to have an advisor assigned if they do not already have one.  Meetings with academic advisors are required prior to students receiving their PIN for course registration each semester. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences.

Students interested in pursuing this degree at either the Associate- or Bachelor-level should contact an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Curriculum

An Ignatian Foundation

All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.

Free Electives

Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).

Major Requirements

The associate of arts degree in humanities program requires the completion of 60 credit hours of coursework. The program has two basic purposes:

1. It offers an immediate goal for students seeking a general introduction to the humanities (history, languages, literature, philosophy, religious studies, and the fine arts).
2. It provides a basic foundation for those who wish to go on for a bachelor’s degree. If a student remains at Canisius University, all of the coursework in the associate degree program is transferable and applicable to the bachelor’s program.

Course Requirements

¹

This requirement cannot overlap with the core curriculum.

²

Select from RST (200-level or above), PHI (200-level or above), ENG (200-level or above), HIS, CLS, FAH, FAM, FAS, FRC, SPA.

Other Associate’s Degree Regulations

Core Curriculum:  Students must complete the four foundation courses, all fields, and two of the six attributes. AA students are exempt from the core capstone requirement.

The basic residency requirement for AA degrees is 30 credit hours, at least 15 of which must be completed in traditional classroom situations. No more than 30 credits may be transferred from another institution. Not all courses at other institutions are applicable to the associate degree, and transfer students are required to have a transfer evaluation completed by the college registrar.

For more information contact the Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Curriculum

An Ignatian Foundation

All undergraduate students must complete either the Canisius Core Curriculum or the All-College Honors Curriculum. Many schools refer to their college-wide undergraduate requirements as "general education" requirements. We believe that the core curriculum and the honors curriculum are more than a series of required classes; they provide the basis for a Jesuit education both with content and with required knowledge and skills attributes that are central to our mission.

Free Electives

Students may graduate with a bachelor's degree with more but not less than 120 credit hours. Free electives are courses in addition to the Canisius Core Curriculum or All-College Honors Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach the minimum number of credits required for graduation. The number of credits required to complete a bachelor's degree may vary depending on the student's major(s) and minor(s).

Major Requirements

The BA Humanities degree allows students to self-design a program of study or to complete their Bachelor’s degree outside the normal guidelines of more traditional majors. Students may choose this major as means of completing their degree, especially for those returning to college years after they first enrolled.

Required Courses