The document defines the humanities as the study of language, linguistics, literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, religion, ethics, and the arts. It notes that the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act provides a definition of the humanities that includes these areas of study as well as aspects of the social sciences that use humanistic methods or content. The humanities also focus on reflecting diverse heritages and examining the relevance of these disciplines to contemporary society.

1. What are the humanities?

2. According to the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and
the Humanities Act:
"The term 'humanities' includes, but is not limited to, the
study of the following: language, both modern and classical;
linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy;
archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism
and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which
have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods;
and the study and application of the humanities to the human
environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse
heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the
humanities to the current conditions of national life."

3. Humanities include, but are not limited to:
language
linguistics
literature
history
jurisprudence
philosophy
archaeology
comparative religion
ethics
history, criticism and
theory of the arts

4. BSU College of Science and Humanities
Anthropology
(Biology)
(Chemistry)
(Computer Science)
Criminal Justice and
Criminology
Economics
English
Geography
(Geological Sciences)
History
(Mathematical
Sciences)
Modern Languages and
Classics
(Natural Resources and
Environmental
Management)
Philosophy and
Religious Studies
(Physics and
Astronomy)
(Physiology and Health)
Science
Political Science
Psychological Science
Social Work
Sociology
(Speech Pathology and
Audiology)

5. Ball State Colleges
College of Applied Sciences and Technology
College of Architecture and Planning
Miller College of Business
College of Communication, Information, and Media
College of Fine Arts
Honors College
College of Sciences and Humanities
Teachers College

6. Honors 202 Goals
1. Critically read texts from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Enlightenment, isolating elements
relevant to the study of major ideas, philosophies, and modes of thought of this period
2. Knowledgeably examine works of art of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Enlightenment,
recognizing their inherent form and their relevance to the study of major ideas, philosophies,
and modes of thought of this period
3. Critically analyze the impact of context, source, and theory in the development of new
information and insights
4. Synthesize elements from various sources to formulate new understandings of core ideas and
attitudes of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Enlightenment
5. Critically analyze competing hypotheses to form a judgment supported by a substantiated
rationale, and evaluate the judgments and rationales of others
6. Critically analyze the impact of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Enlightenment upon today’s
society
7. Solve problems and make decisions both independently and collaboratively
8. Demonstrate effective, refined writing skills
9. Further develop their lifelong learning skills in critical analysis and effective communication

7. Goals (English translation)
What we try to do
1. Understand texts in the contexts of their own times and places
(1 &2).
2. Connect texts to ourselves, to our time and place (6). Make
judgments (5).
How we work
1. Take texts apart to understand them better. Combine texts and
ideas to create new understanding. (3 & 4)
2. Work on your own. Collaborate with your peers. Focus on
student questions and projects. Value the process of exploring
ideas together. (7)
3. Discuss, write, present, create! (8 & 9)

8. “The value of an education in a liberal arts college
is the training of the mind to think something that
cannot be learned from textbooks.”
-Albert Einstein