Humanities

The humanities is a multidisciplinary study of how people process and document the human experience. Topics include:

• How present-day ideas, beliefs, values and practices are grounded in the artistic, literary, philosophical and religious contributions to modern living from the most creative epochs and individuals of various cultures
• The effect that science and technology have on personal identity and culture both historically and present-day.
• The major economic, political and social forces which have influenced the interrelationships between the individual and society.
• The development of concepts of self and human values through film, drama, music, literature, painting, sculpture and architecture.
• How cultural history from the Greeks to the present has shaped personal identity and society.

By studying Humanities, you will better understand the ways in which art, religion, philosophy, science, and technology have shaped your concept of "self," your cultural values, and your societies. By understanding these forces, you can begin to cognize the extent to which personal traits and characteristics may have been acquired through propaganda and other external stimuli, versus biologically-determined causes. Additionally, you will learn concepts and reasoning skills that will help you become a better critical thinker in regards to politics, advertising, religion, media, and the use of technology.

Each semester we offer a variety of Humanities courses that can be taken individually or as part of a planned program leading to transfer or a degree. Use the links below to see full course descriptions and our current offerings.

• Go to Course Catalog
• View and Search Class Schedule (online)

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Humanities | Associate in Arts (AA) Degree

You can earn your AA degree at PCC with a specific emphasis in the Humanities . To earn an AA, with a Humanities emphasis, you will need to complete a minimum of 18 units in this area. 

View Degree Requirements

Studying Humanities opens a wide rage of career paths for you. Lawyer, Human Resources specialist, journalist, educator, genealogist, and linguist are just a few of the many options.

The Humanities major and its focus on reading, writing and critical thinking makes you well prepared for a number of careers. In fact, according to the University of Pennsylvania, students with a degree in the humanities/philosophy outperform all other disciplines in both the verbal reasoning and analytical writing portions of the GRE."

So, regardless of the career path you choose, with an Humanities education you will be academically well-rounded and prepared for future endeavors.