Exposure to the humanities—engagement with texts, languages, history, culture, and civilization—is essential preparation for students to become informed citizens and productive members of society. It not only provides them the skills and knowledge to obtain gainful employment, but also the ability to adapt, grow, and learn throughout their lives. Through the humanities, students learn to navigate cultural similarities and differences; to read, digest, and interpret many different kinds of information; and to respond to the challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.
Interested in Studying the Humanities?
Brian Reed, Divisional Dean of Humanities
Departments
- Department of Asian Languages and Literature | Fact Sheet
- Department of Cinema and Media Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department of Classics | Fact Sheet
- Department of Comparative History of Ideas | Fact Sheet
- Department of English | Fact Sheet
- Department of French and Italian Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department of German Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department of Linguistics | Fact Sheet
- Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures | Fact Sheet
- Department of Scandinavian Studies | Fact Sheet
- Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures | Fact Sheet
- Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies | Fact Sheet
Humanities News
Exploring Connections Through Global Literary Studies
The UW's new Global Literary Studies major encourages students to explore literary traditions from around the globe and all eras of human history.
Lifting Marginalized Voices — from Ancient Rome
"Interesting, frustrating, and necessary,” is how Sarah Levin-Richardson, professor of Classics, describes her research into the lives of enslaved individuals in the ancient world.
Building Connections Through Opera
Lokela Alexander Minami (BA, 2010; MA, 2012) turned a lifelong passion for opera into a career that introduces others to the art form.