Humanities, M.A.
Master of Arts
About this program
Welcome to the Humanities M.A. program. We are a small, friendly, dedicated group of scholar-teachers who offer a flexible M.A. degree program and a unique range of interdisciplinary courses in the global humanities.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
The Master of Arts in Humanities is a flexible, interdisciplinary program that explores literature, visual culture, philosophy and other forms of human expression from global and historical perspectives. The 30-unit curriculum combines core seminars in contemporary humanities scholarship with electives that allow students to pursue their individual intellectual interests across Humanities and related graduate programs. Students develop advanced skills in critical analysis, research, scholarly writing and interdisciplinary inquiry while working closely with faculty from diverse academic backgrounds. The program culminates in either a master’s thesis and oral defense or comprehensive written and oral examinations. Graduates pursue a range of goals, including doctoral study, teaching at the high school or community college level, professional advancement and continued intellectual development.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Understand the difference between humanistic ways of knowing and scientific, sociological or religious perspectives;
- Understand and apply the critical methods of at least two disciplines in the humanities;
- Appreciate diverse forms of human cultural expression and describe and compare them in a culturally sensitive way;
- Articulate a theoretically informed interdisciplinary question and find, organize, and present evidence to support a response to it.
Admissions Information
Applying for admission to the Humanities M.A. program is a two-part process, as applicants must meet University admissions standards before the Department of Humanities and Comparative World Literature can consider them for admission to the program.
Part 1
This part starts at the Division of Graduate Studies website. Any questions regarding admission to the University (Part 1) should be directed to the Division of Graduate Studies office.
As the Grad Division website instructs, you will first need to fill out the online CAL State Apply application form, which is for the entire CSU system.
Applicants should be as precise and clear as possible in the statement of purpose requested in the online application. It should be at least 500 words and give specific details about your intellectual interests, academic and other relevant experience and your reasons for applying to our program.
Part 2
This part covers additional materials required by the Department of Humanities and Comparative World Literature.
Applicants should submit PDF file of a writing sample on a humanities-related topic along with their online application. Ideally this writing sample will be 8-10 pages, though we will accept anything over 5 pages.
At the end of the writing sample, applicants should include the names and contact information of two faculty members with whom the applicant has studied who can serve as references. As of Fall 2023, we do not require recommendation letters, but we may contact your references with questions.
Admission to the Humanities M.A. Program
The Division of Graduate Studies does a preliminary evaluation of your application to see if you meet the minimum University standard: 3.0 GPA for your last 60 units of coursework. If you meet the minimum standard, the Division of Graduate Studies sends the application along with your official transcript to the Department of Humanities and Comparative World Literature to review and to make a recommendation to the Division of Graduate Studies on admission.
Depending on your level of preparation, successful applicants may be admitted either as classified or conditionally classified graduate students. Admission with classified status means that you have satisfied all the University and departmental conditions for admission, and may take any Humanities graduate seminar. Admission as a conditionally classified student means that you need an additional three to six units of preparatory coursework, which will be specified on your admissions documents. You may enroll in graduate seminars concurrently with this coursework and you may count it toward the degree, as a partial or complete substitution for your allotted three to six units of electives, but it must be successfully completed during your first year in the program with a grade of B+ or better.
Deadline for fall admission: July 1
Deadline for spring admission: December 1
Ready to apply? Visit the Graduate Students page to get started.
We’re Here to Help
Questions about the program or how to apply? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
S Khanmohamadi
- Professor/Chair
- Graduate Coordinator