April 25, 2016
Kyle Guthrie
[email protected]
A master’s degree in humanities is going to be offered at UCCS.
The degree will differ from a history degree. History examines research methods and how they apply to history, while a humanities degree emphasizes a particular field and its own set of methodologies, according to humanities program director Teresa Meadows.
While the requirements of the degree are not complete, Meadows said she is hoping to see it offered by next year.
“We have aimed at an initial cohort of about 10 students, and building to a program that would have about
30 students in it at any given time and I would hope that we could see it in the academic year for 2017,” said Meadows.
The emphasis of the degree focuses on flexibility and community involvement.
One way the degree program hopes to accomplish this is to engage members of the community by creating a collaborative effort between the two, according to Meadows.
Students will learn how to apply theory to historical context, she said.
“One of the things that’s really exciting about the flexibility of this master’s is that it will allow for that interaction between theory and craft, so we can be looking at the social historical context of something, but we’re also looking at how that is performed,” said Meadows.
“We want to maximum flexibility in terms of the type of people this would benefit and in terms of how the degree is put together.”
Both traditional and nontraditional students are being considered, according to Meadows.
“We wanted to be flexible to include part-time students, who are working while obtaining their degree, along with students who are working to get their degree quickly, and even those who are doing the more traditional program,” said Meadows.
Freshman film studies major Erin Mitchler said she likes the idea of humanities degree.
“I’m surprised that it is not already a degree. I think it is a really well rounded subject area, so I think that people could fit a lot into it,” said Mitchell.
Sophomore film studies major Charles Moore also expressed support for the proposed degree.
“I think that it’s a very valid degree to get, and even though I wouldn’t personally go into (strictly) humanities, I think it’s important that people have the ability to get that degree if they want.”