About the Major

The Humanities Program offers the highly motivated and able student the opportunity to fashion his or her own course of study as a major for the B.A. degree. Each applicant to the program consults with the Humanities adviser to design a major consisting of forty-two credit hours beyond The University's basic education requirements.

Each course in the individual program of study must clearly contribute to a coherent major with a focus on a particular theme, idea, or question. As the model plans in this brochure show, that interdisciplinary subject may be as specific as Health Care Policy, or as comprehensive as Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Each humanities major writes a senior thesis that addresses a particular aspect, case, application, or interpretation of the chosen topic. On occasion the thesis may be an original creative work such as a novel, a drama, a collection of poems, or a piece of music. Humanities seniors present their thesis findings at a conference for the academic community each semester.

The Humanities Community at UT Austin

Students selected for the Humanities Program join a close-knit academic community. The Liberal Arts Honors office, with its own commons room and computer lab, provides a center on campus for humanities majors, who enjoy a tradition of collegial commitment. Humanities students work closely with the program's director and academic adviser at every stage of their studies, from designing the contract for the major to presenting the senior thesis.

Humanities graduates have found that the experience of designing their own majors and preparing a senior thesis greatly enhances the credentials they carry into advanced study and employment. The adviser takes an active role in helping students plan for and apply to graduate and professional school.