Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Humanities (HUM)

HUM 204.  Introduction to the Humanities.  (3 Units)  

An examination of the interrelationships among the humanities (literature, art, music, and philosophy) in Western and global culture from the early modern period to the contemporary period.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

HUM 300.  Health Humanities.  (3 Units)  

Health Humanities bridges the arts, humanities, and sciences in studying representations of health and illness. Students will gain a multicultural understanding of perceptions of health practices and practitioners. Topics include self-mutilation (cutting), race and medicine, cancer, music therapy, cloning, aging, and poetry and healing.

Offered Fall, Summer

HUM 301.  Mind/Brain and the Arts.  (3 Units)  

Mind/Brain and the Arts bridges the arts, humanities, and the sciences in examining human creativity, embodied reception of the arts, and creative representations of mental states, including mental health disorders, in relation to the science of the mind/brain.

Offered Spring, Summer

HUM 302.  Lives of Faust: Deals with the Devil.  (3 Units)  

Deals with the devil exert an extraordinary grip on imagination, inspiring creativity and provocative social criticism. This cross-cultural approach to the magician Faust's devil bargain explores its deployment in critique of consumerism, racism, sexism, colonialism, nuclear weapons, and environmental issues.

Offered Spring, Summer

HUM 303.  All Creatures Great & Small: Animals from Sacred to Endangered.  (3 Units)  

Animals have inspired many works in the arts and humanities around the world. This cross-cultural course explores creative representations of species in relation to the sacred, social criticism and humor, commodification, and consumption, in visual culture, literature, music and dance.

Offered Fall

HUM 304.  Vampires.  (3 Units)  

Course takes a cross-cultural approach to the concept of the vampire around the world. Students get their teeth into representations of vampires in the arts and humanities examined from critical and scientific perspectives.

Offered Spring, Summer

HUM 305.  Never Lose Infinite Hope: Imagining Justice, Cultivating Mental Wellness.  (3 Units)  

"[N]ever lose infinite hope.": Martin Luther King, Jr.'s advice inspires this exploration of socially engaged works/practices (art, music, literature, theatre, media) from psychotherapeutic wellness perspectives applying critical race theory in addressing mental wellness of people of color in the US.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

HUM 310.  Key Concepts.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: HUM 200 or equivalent. Analysis of a major concept in humanistic thought and expression, e.g. the individual and society, success and values in the U.S., death and dying, war and society, global popular music, etc. Repeatable with different topics for credit.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

HUM 312.  Key Movements.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: HUM 200 or equivalent. Analysis of a major historical movement from a humanistic perspective, e.g. Harlem Renaissance, Modernism, the Jazz Age, African Literature and Culture, Medieval Japan and Europe, etc. Repeatable with different topics for credit.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

HUM 314.  Key Issues.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: HUM 200 or equivalent. Analysis of major contemporary issues from a humanities perspective. Examples include the role of the arts in society, literature and the rights of women, romantic love, visions of Los Angeles, etc. Repeatable with different topics for credit.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer, All terms

HUM 490.  Seminar In Humanities.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Completion of 9 units selected from 300 and 400 level Humanities courses. A multidisciplinary synthesis emphasizing cultural, historical, or aesthetic-perceptual insights in the humanities. Topics vary. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Infrequent

HUM 496.  Internship in Arts and Humanities.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Senior standing and/or approval of the student's major department is required; completion of a minimum of 27 upper division units in the major is recommended. Directed work experience in fields across the arts and humanities. Ideally, such work provides a practical bridge linking the student's academic studies with the world of work. A minimum of 8 hours per week of supervised work experience under the direction of a professionally-qualified mentor.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

HUM 500.  The Humanities in the City.  (3 Units)  

An introduction to graduate level study in the humanities using the theme of the humanities in the city. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

HUM 512.  Texts and Language.  (3 Units)  

Examination of contemporary issues addressing what we read, how we read, and why we read. Examples from literature and philosophy. Includes the refining of skills in research and writing. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

HUM 520.  Seminar In Art.  (3 Units)  

Analysis of visual culture with emphasis upon modern and contemporary models approached through a range of theoretical approaches including those relevant to the cohort theme.

Offered Fall

HUM 522.  Seminar In Literature.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Courses in literary interpretation and history are recommended. Advanced work in a variety of topics in literature; assumes a working knowledge of the basic concepts and vocabulary of the discipline. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

HUM 523.  Seminar In Music.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Courses in music history, theory, and appreciation are recommended. Advanced work in a variety of topics including study of a period, a cluster of composers, a movement, or music of a single country. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

HUM 524.  Seminar In Philosophy.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Previous courses in philosophy are recommended. Offers advanced work in a variety of topics such as the work of individual philosophers, or specific problems of epistemology or metaphysics. Assumes working knowledge of the basic vocabulary and concepts of the discipline. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

HUM 528.  Images and Artifacts.  (3 Units)  

Examination of art, artifacts, architecture, murals, masks and other objects that are carriers of social, cultural, and aesthetic values. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

HUM 535.  Seminar in Film.  (3 Units)  

Advanced work in a variety of topics in film studies; assumes a working knowledge of the basic concepts and vocabulary of the discipline.

Offered Spring

HUM 540.  Sem His: Moments Crisis.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Previous courses in history are recommended. The study of a period or theme in history through the lens of the humanities. Assumes a working knowledge of the basic concepts and vocabulary of the discipline. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

HUM 582.  Performance & Criticism.  (3 Units)  

A systematic examination of the theory, practice, and aesthetics of formal and informal criticism applied to performances in music, theatre, dance, and art films.

Offered Spring

HUM 594.  Independent Study.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Previous courses in the humanities are required. A special project involving research or creative work. Also extensive reading in consultation with a faculty member. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

HUM 595.  Special Topics in Humanaities.  (3 Units)  

An intensive study of selected issues in the arts and humanities. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

HUM 598.  Comprehensive Examination.  (3 Units)  

Comprehensive examination over coursework and set texts. The degree candidate taking the exam must have either completed all coursework or be planning to complete it in the semester the exam is taken. Preparatory session required.

Offered Fall, Spring

HUM 599.  Final Project.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy and consent of program coordinator. Thesis or creative project related to the student's particular combination of humanities studies. If creative project, extensive prior preparation required.

Offered Fall, Spring

HUM 600.  Grad Continuation.  (1 Units)  

Graduate students who have completed their course work but not their thesis, project, or comprehensive examination, or who have other requirements remaining for the completion of their degree, must maintain continuous attendance by enrolling in this course. Signature of graduate program coordinator required.

Offered Fall, Spring