Welcome Letter

If you are reading this page and exploring the Humanities website, you are probably someone who relishes a good book and who enjoys the chance to consider and debate big ideas. You are probably someone who appreciates different perspectives and cultures. Maybe you have a passion for the arts, for novels and poetry, for photography, or acting. Maybe you love history or languages. Maybe you are entranced by existentialism or eschatology. Almost certainly, you have experienced the power of words, images, and gestures.

The University’s core-curriculum and our 25 Humanities majors, minors, and interdisciplinary- studies programs offer you the chance to continue to read, write, speak, ponder, and act with passion and purpose in order to discover who you are, who we are, and how we got to where we are in the world today.  

National surveys of business and government leaders continue to show that employers want more than evidence of a college degree; they want critical and creative thinkers who can communicate clearly and effectively and who can work with others to help solve the complex problems of our time. In other words, they are seeking people with the aptitudes and abilities nurtured in our Humanities classrooms.

Studying any of the Humanities will prepare you for your future in the ever-changing workplaces of tomorrow, in your communities, and in the world. Our faculty are award-winning researchers, writers, and artists, but they are deeply committed to undergraduate teaching and to service on campus and in the Baltimore community. They are eager to guide you through the exciting worlds and essential questions that define the Humanities. Reach out to me or my colleagues in any of our eight departments if you have specific questions about our programs or opportunities. We look forward to seeing you in class. 

Matthew Mulcahy
Professor of History
Associate Dean of the Humanities