Arts & Ideas in the Humanities

Major Overview

In Arts and Ideas in the Humanities, students encounter global cultures through their distinctive artistic production and develop the interpretive and analytical skills to understand these works. Courses draw on interdisciplinary and comparative methodologies.

The Arts and Ideas in the Humanities Major is open to ALL LSA Students.

Courses & Requirements | Highlights | Faculty

Requirements for the Arts & Ideas Major

Minimum Credits: 33

Many courses—in art history, dance, literature, music, and visual arts—focus on specific historical moments or contexts, ranging from ancient times to the 21st century. To understand art at its deepest level, one must reflect on its material origins and have some experience in its production: the Arts & Ideas curriculum provides training in the actual practice of these art forms.

Students thus gain an understanding of global cultural production from three key perspectives: thoughtful analytic engagement; historical depth; and studio discovery.

Through intensive discussion, writing, and studio practice, students become more sophisticated analysts, critical historians, and well-informed producers of culture.

There are no pre-requisites for the Arts and Ideas in the Humanities Major.

Advising for RC Arts and Ideas in the Humanities

Any RC or LSA student can declare an A&I Major! Make an advising appointment to explore or declare the Arts and Ideas in the Humanities Major.

Declare the Major

LSA Honors Subplan & Thesis

To be eligible for an LSA Honors subplan in Arts & Ideas, students should have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.4, and a 3.5 grade point average in courses counting toward the major.

Students who elect an Honors degree will write an Honors Thesis during the final year of their course work. More information about electing an Honors Thesis can be found here.

I. How to Think in the Arts and Humanities: 6 Credits

II. Core Humanities: 6 credits

Must be fulfilled with the following courses primarily designed to treat at least two art forms.

RCHUMS 290: The Experience of Arts and Ideas of the 20th Century

RCHUMS 291: The Experience of Arts and Ideas of the 19th Century

RCHUMS 304: Time, History, Arts, and Culture

RCHUMS 305: Art & Resistance

RCHUMS 306: History of Writing

RCHUMS 309: Premodern Sources and Modern Culture

RCHUMS 312: Central European Cinema

RCHUMS 319: Topics in Film

RCHUMS 334: Topics in Humanities

RCHUMS/ENVIRON 337: Children Under Fire: Narratives of Sustainability

RCHUMS 338: Growing Up Near the Great Lakes: Reading and Writing Landscapes of Childhood

RCHUMS 342: Representing the Holocaust in Literature, Film and the Visual Arts

RCHUMS 387: Renaissance Drama

RCHUMS/ASIAN 373: The Performing Arts in South and Southeast Asia

RCHUMS 410: Advanced Arts and Ideas seminar

III. Core Arts: 6 credits

IV. Focus: 15 credits

Courses fulfilling this requirement converge around a single art form in deep historical and theoretical context, or two art forms in relation to each other. The rationale informing course selections in this section must be approved by the Arts & Ideas advisor.

Courses may be chosen from among offerings in RCARTS, RCHUMS, RCMUSIC, and across the university at the 300-level or above. RC Language Readings courses may be counted in this section. With advisor approval, courses taken abroad may also count. Make an advising appointment here.