Humanities: Culture, Text, and Language in World Societies

How do culture, society, and history shape what people do, think, make, and believe? How do people in the United States and around the world shape their cultures and societies? How do humans create webs of meaning to make sense of the world through language, philosophy, literature, music, art, and community? 

In programs on this Path, you’ll learn to examine societies through the lenses of the humanities, the social sciences, and the arts. You can learn a new language, study abroad, dive deep into literary traditions, and much more.

Learn your way

This Path covers many disciplines that you can mix and match to fit what you’re most passionate about. Most programs will cover more than one of these subjects at a time. 

On this Path, you can study:

• American studies
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Art history
• Classical studies
• Cultural studies
• Environmental humanities
• Ethnic studies 
• Gender and sexuality studies
• History
• Languages
• Literature
• Music
• Philosophy
• Poetry and poetics
• Religion
• Sociology
• Theater

Read, watch, and listen

You’ll learn to interpret literature, philosophy, visual art, historical documents, music, and popular media to become a more critical and creative person in your day-to-day life.

Dig deep into context

You’ll study the historical, environmental, and political contexts for how societies operate and how people resist oppression, particularly in regard to race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality.

Become more culturally competent

You’ll learn about cultures around the world through sociology, anthropology, and the arts to explore how social patterns and artistic practices create meaning in our daily lives.

Learn a language

You can learn different languages to explore how societies communicate around the world and add a new dimension to your own voice.

Highlights of this Path

Flexible learning 

This Path has a good mix of daytime, evening, and weekend programs at different credit levels so you can learn around your schedule. 

An interdisciplinary experience

Programs on this Path often include more than one subject at a time. You’ll learn different approaches to the same topic, letting you make connections you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. 

Chart your future

Because you’ll gain advanced research, writing, communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills, studying the humanities is great preparation for almost any career. Learning to view the world in a critical and creative way will help you determine what success means for you and how you can achieve it. 

Students studying in programs on this Path have gone on to successful careers as journalists, lawyers, teachers, researchers, performing artists, and more.

Languages 

Learning a language at Evergreen is a comprehensive and inspiring experience. In addition to learning the language itself, you’ll explore the history and culture behind it. 

You’ll also have lots of interdisciplinary, hands-on experiences that will bring it all to life. Many of these programs include a study abroad option.

You can learn: 

• Chinese
• French
• Irish
• Japanese
• Latin
• Spanish

Study abroad

The study abroad options on this Path are world-class learning opportunities. Travel with a tight-knit community of fellow students and your faculty to explore the cultures and history of people around the world. 

Programs on this Path have traveled to: 

• China
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• Mexico
• Mongolia
• Nicaragua
• Spain
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Internships and independent learning contracts

Faculty on this Path are passionate about helping you study what you’re most interested in. Sometimes that means letting you take your learning outside the classroom for an experience such as an internship at a museum or volunteering with a community organization.

With an ILC, you’ll get space to work independently on a project you’re passionate about. This could be writing a piece of music, studying the remains of an ancient city, doing research in an archive, or traveling to study a cultural practice. 

You can also get connected with a local organization like a historical society or production company and gain career skills while earning credit. Flexibility and support for your learning is what it’s all about.

Capstone projects

You’ll have the support and freedom to dive deep into a topic and pursue what you’re most passionate about. With the guidance of faculty, you’ll get to do your own scholarly research and learn what it takes to complete ambitious projects that will look great in your portfolio.

Daniel J. Evans Library and the Writing Center

Whatever your research or writing project, a friendly librarian can help you gain the research skills to track down what you’re looking for. With a rare books room, access to streaming services, and connections with other libraries, everything you need will be in reach. 

Whether you’re working on academic, creative, or personal writing, peer tutors at the Writing Center can help you develop your craft from brainstorming to proofreading.