Humanities Index

What makes us human? In the Anthropology program at Whitman, you’ll travel across time and space to find your own answer to this universal question.

Not all Art majors in college let students explore and experiment across different forms. But at Whitman, Art majors gain advanced skills in one concentration while making art in a variety of media.

Are you fascinated by the stories and ideas behind the art and architecture of diverse cultures throughout history? The Art History program at Whitman will teach you to think deeply about the images, objects and built environments that capture our imagination and shape our lives.

As a student of Chinese at Whitman, you will explore a range of cultural, aesthetic, and analytical issues all while honing your language skills in a dynamic and supportive learning community.

With the Classics major at Whitman, you’ll unlock the riches of the past through the study of the ancient languages, literatures, histories, arts, cultures, and thought of Greek and Roman antiquity. Learn how these ancient cultures still influence the modern world.

Bring your ideas to life through poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and drama. At Whitman, you can publish in student newspapers and magazines, connect with visiting writers, throw down in the slam poetry club or write for Whitman’s One Act Play Festival.

As an English major at Whitman, you can give your curiosity free rein in a close-knit community of supportive faculty and fellow students. You’ll think deeply about a world of ideas in beautiful literary forms while honing your own writing and analytical skills.

Environmental Humanities invites students to ask one of the most high-stakes questions of our time: How can we live ethical, just lives on a precarious planet? To find your unique answer, you’ll turn to ideas from the arts, literature, rhetoric and philosophy.

The natural world undeniably shapes and is shaped by humans. To understand and influence this interaction for the better, you need the intellectual and practical tools to study environmental issues from multiple points of view.

The Film and Media Studies major at Whitman allows you to learn the basics of film editing and production, work with professional film equipment, and work closely with other students and faculty as you unpack the history and theory of global media communication.

When you major in French and Francophone Studies at Whitman, you don’t just learn a language. You discover the fascinating impact of the French-speaking world on global literature, history, technology, environment and culture.

What is gender? Explore the complex human experience of gender identity and sexuality with Whitman’s Gender Studies major. Informed by anthropology, history, language and literature, politics, psychology and more, you’ll learn to make sense of and positively influence the world we live in.

Discover the language, literature, culture and history of the German-speaking world. At Whitman, you’ll study canonical texts as well as diverse authors and thinkers often excluded from other German Studies programs.

In this minor, you’ll dive into the literatures of the Chinese-, French-, German-, Japanese- and Spanish-speaking worlds. From Japanese haiku to French films to Hispanic graphic novels, this is reading beyond boundaries.

This concentration allows you to place yourself and your community in webs of natural, economic, cultural and social connection that defy geopolitical borders. As you explore global themes, you’ll learn to engage with difference and challenge your own assumptions.

The Hispanic Studies program at Whitman goes well beyond the typical college major in Spanish. Hispanic Studies is an exciting exploration of language, culture, ethnicity, gender studies, visual culture and popular culture.

How we understand the meaning of the past has crucial implications for our present and our future. As a Whitman History major, you’ll learn how to think critically about human history and develop an appreciation for its complexity.

This concentration brings together diverse perspectives to help you understand how people interact with the designed world—and how to create solutions that put people first. It will supercharge your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

What do race and ethnicity mean? How do they intersect with gender, class, nation and religion? The Indigeneity, Race & Ethnicity Studies major at Whitman will give you the tools to understand social issues of the past and present—and to work toward a more just world.

As one of the only liberal arts colleges in the U.S. that offers a major in Japanese, Whitman is an ideal place for you to increase your understanding of Japanese language, literature and culture.

Study the language, literature, history, politics, economics, society and culture of Latin America. This fascinating minor offers rich insights into an influential area of the world stretching from Mexico to Chile.

At Whitman, the Music major can help you unlock your full potential through comprehensive courses in music composition, history, theory, performance and production. By exploring a variety of genres, honing your performance skills and collaborating on original works, you’ll develop a deep appreciation for the complexities of sound as an art form—and the skills to prepare you for a successful music career.

Studying Philosophy at Whitman College will guide you in a rewarding pursuit of knowledge, ethics and the meaning of life that will whet your curiosity. On your way to a Philosophy degree, you’ll explore the answers to life’s great questions, like: What is a good life? What are our obligations toward others? And how do we create a just society?

Whitman is an ideal place to explore religion and the way it filters into every aspect of life. Your coursework will push you to be a flexible thinker as you explore the diverse ways people worldwide make meaning of their lives. In Whitman’s tight-knit Religion Department, you’ll benefit from professors and peers who will challenge and support you.

The Rhetoric, Writing, and Public Discourse major at Whitman will sharpen your communication and critical thinking skills and give you tools for social change. You’ll learn to make persuasive arguments, speak confidently in public and understand power dynamics.

The Social Justice Concentration can be added to any major, allowing students to draw together social justice issues across disciplines like Psychology, Politics, Film and Media Studies, and more.

Immerse yourself in South Asian and Middle Eastern philosophy, history, politics, art and religion. If you’re considering a future in these influential parts of the world, the South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies major at Whitman will give you the cultural understanding to be successful.

Whitman’s Theater and Dance Program offers something for everyone. Whether your passion is performance, direction, choreography, theatrical design, technical production or theater history, you can explore it here in our supportive, tight-knit community.