The Humanities Department fosters and maintains the history and practice of all aspects of humanistic endeavor in the College and the community. Through its curriculum, members of the College community and other members of the urban community explore, interpret, and apply the humanistic practices that lead to a better understanding of themselves, their environment, and their roles in the world.

The Humanities Department comprises the following: Africana Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Visual and Performing Arts, World Literature, and Humanities

Black Studies:

The Black Studies curriculum offers courses which trace the history and culture of African people on the continent as well as in the Diaspora. As a discipline, Black Studies insists on African centeredness, African agency, and an African frame of reference in research methodology, pedagogy, and intellectual production.

Latin American & Caribbean Studies:

Latin American and Caribbean Studies offer a program that introduces students to the various facets of Latina/o/x, Latin American and Caribbean cultures.

This program is designed to promote and further develop an understanding of Latina/o/x, Latin American and Caribbean realities and to motivate involvement with those communities. For the Latin American, Latina/o/x and Caribbean students, the curricular offerings foster a better understanding and appreciation of their culture and history. The program also introduces non-Hispanic students to the complexities of the Latin American and Caribbean societies and their cultural diversity.

The Latin American and Caribbean Studies curriculum provides an opportunity for intensive interdisciplinary exploration of the Caribbean, Latin American, and U.S. Latina/o/x histories and current issues and cultures. Interested students can pursue a liberal arts concentration with a focus on the literary, sociological, or historical aspects of the region.

A variety of courses dealing with the history, politics, economics, society, literature, performing and visual arts of Latin America and the Caribbean are offered in English and Spanish as determined by student need. To earn credit and achieve progress, the student must successfully complete the course requirements as outlined in the respective syllabi. In order to complete the Liberal Arts Latina/o, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies Option students must successfully complete three courses in the program.

Modern Languages:

The study of modern languages is designed to help students acquire elementary communication skills in French, Italian, or Spanish for daily social and professional purposes, and for career goals; to encourage students who wish to reinforce and develop their native language written and verbal comprehension skills; and to offer those students who already possess developed linguistic abilities the opportunity to pursue offerings in language and literature in French, Italian, and Spanish.

In the elementary offerings, the use of the vernacular will be limited to the minimum necessary to insure comprehension. Only the modern language itself will be used in composition and literature courses.

In the above offerings, credit is earned by the achievement of the course objectives through oral and written tests. To attain conversational skills in the 01 and 02 sequence, attendance is mandatory at each class meeting, reinforced by a minimum of one-hour-per-week oral practice in the language laboratory. We urge the student to arrange immediately for the 01-02 elementary sequence without interruption, in order to solidify those skills established initially.

In the advanced courses, credit is earned by the development of skills basic to the appreciation of literature. These include the identification of literary genres, analysis of texts, patterns reflected in a given work, comparison of stylistic modes, and the organization of ideas in writing techniques.

An integral part of Modern Languages course offerings is development in Spanish composition. A student placed in SPA 121 is required to complete the Spanish composition sequence. The skills developed in this sequence are fundamental for successful performance in content courses taught in Spanish. A diagnostic test will be administered during the first week of classes, in all language courses, to assess and assure accurate placement.

Students in Liberal Arts are encouraged to take six (6) credits in one, and the same, language.

Students interested in continuing the study of modern languages should be advised by members of the Modern Languages faculty.

Since 1980, the Modern Languages faculty has also granted the Dr. Raul Perez Award to the graduate with the highest grade point average in modern languages. To qualify, students must have completed at least nine (9) credits in language study.

Visual & Performing Arts

Visual and Performing Arts offers courses in art, commercial art, painting and drawing, photography, music, public speaking, theater, and the development of arts and civilization. Lecture courses are designed for those students who may choose to pursue advanced study in a senior college. Skill courses are designed for those students who may choose to seek career, or employment opportunities.

Students who elect to earn credits in the visual and performing arts will find a variety of approaches to learning which include lectures, workshops, reading assignments, tests, field trips, individual projects, and public performances. Students who complete courses successfully will find a background in the arts a useful and, in some situations, essential basis for study in other disciplines as well as a valuable source for personal development. Students interested in planning a concentration in the visual and performing arts are advised to consult with the Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator.

Department: Humanities