The humanities component of the Core Curriculum at the University of Nevada is comprised of three courses required for graduation of all undergraduate students. These courses have two important goals:
- As
the introductory humanities core courses, they provide students
the experience of working
with the basic tools of the humanities disciplines:
clear writing, close reading of primary texts, practice with oral
expression of serious ideas, awareness of modes of discourse, sensitivity
to cultural differences, understanding and evaluating the past,
and reflecting upon the cultural implications of arts, technologies,
and scientific discoveries.
- As
interdisciplinary courses in the traditions of the West, they expose
students to the cultural diversity that finds
expression in the modern West, and they also make students aware
of the great diversity of sources from which our cultural legacies
derive
and show the richness of the historical debate over the ideas that
continue to shape us as Americans.
The required courses are:
- Core Humanities 201: Ancient and Medieval Cultures. This interdisciplinary course critically surveys the cultures of th Near East, Greece, Rome and the European Middle Ages. The text-based course examines the cultural and historical origins of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and explores the roots of philosophy and science. Through texts and images, concepts like heroism, justice, and romantic love are treated.
- Core Humanities 202: The Modern World. Through texts, images, and music, this course traces Europe’s legacy in shaping world ideas, institutions, and cultures from the early modern era to the present. Cultural artifacts of the Renaissance, the reformation, the Enlightenment, the period of revolution and romanticism, and the twentieth century are examined and discussed. Students will study such topics as the development of science and industry, political revolutions, colonialism, postcolonialism, and globalization.
- Core Humanities 203: American Experiences and Constitutional Change. Identities, ideas, and institutions in America from initial European contact to the present inform the content of this interdisciplinary course. Students will critically explore such concepts as civil rights, liberty, individualism, federalism, environmentalism, urbanization, industrialization, and cultural diversity. Satisfies the U.S. and Nevada constitution requirements.
English 102, the Core Writing requirement, is a prerequisite of all Core Humanities courses. CH 203 satisfies the legislatively mandated U.S. and Nevada Constitution requirements.
_______________________________________ Neal Ferguson named Director of the Core Humanities Program

Neal Ferguson of UNR's History Department has been named Director of the Core Humanities Program for a period beginning July 1, 2008. He replaces Phil Boardman, director since 1994, who will return to the English Department after a year's research sabbatical.
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News and Events |
Kenneth G. Lucey, Sanford Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, will be giving a lecture on April 16th @ 2:30 in MIKC 124 on ......
IS HAPPINESS OVERRATED? AND WHAT PRCISESLY IS HAPPINESS ANYWAY?
In a recent book Raymond Belliotti of SUNY has argued that happiness is overrated. Richard Kraut in a classic article has argued contra Aristotle that a modern conception of happiness is essentially subjective. This talk will take on both of these thinkers and in the process offer a novel conception of happiness which is simultaneously both objective and subjective. While this may sound contradictory, it shal be argued that this is the only correct view of human happiness. |