King’s New Humanities Major

The King’s College is pleased to announce the creation of the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, the eighth major at The King’s College, which was recently approved by the New York State Education Department.

“The King’s major in Humanities combines the study of what ought to be and what has been with the study of, imaginatively, what could be,” said Dr. David Innes, Associate Professor of Politics and Chair of the Program in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. “Students who want a literary, historical, and philosophical education will find a home in this major.”

The Humanities major brings together elements from two interdisciplinary majors at King’s: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) and Media, Culture, and the Arts (MCA). As an interdisciplinary, historically-oriented degree with a pre-modern focus, the B.A. in Humanities is centered on the history, philosophy, literature, and arts of Western civilization, preparing students to think carefully about the ideas that have shaped our culture for centuries and to understand how those ideas have impacted the history of Christian faith and practice.

The Humanities major has attracted several currently-enrolled students since its inception in September 2016. Koby Jackson (House of Churchill, ‘20) said, “Humanities is a combination of the two majors I was split between when I decided to come to King’s—PPE and MCA.” Jackson plans to pursue law school after he finishes his undergraduate degree, and is drawn to the major’s emphasis on literature and critical thinking. Savannah White (House of ten Boom, ‘20) loves the philosophical concerns of the PPE major, but is also passionate about creative writing. The broad scope of the Humanities engages both of these sides.

The Humanities major provides excellent preparation for a number of careers in which the ability to think, adapt, develop and apply new skills are at a premium, including teaching and leading in Classical and Christian schools and other educational initiatives. Study of the Humanities enhances opportunities for further professional preparation in areas such as academia, law, business and health care, as evidenced historically and nationally by Humanities students consistently attaining higher scores on standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Coupled with the PPE-focused core curriculum at King’s, this major develops students as they prepare to help shape and eventually to lead contemporary strategic institutions within and across the full spectrum of government, business, law, the media, civil society, education, the arts, and the church.

Jointly housed under the PPE and MCA programs, the Humanities major requires the following courses:

• Arts and Ideas of the Ancient World
• Ancient Philosophy
• Arts and Ideas of the Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
• Medieval Philosophy
• Arts and Ideas of the Modern World
• Modern Philosophy
• Classical Literature
• Principles of Biblical Interpretation
• Shakespeare

In addition, Humanities students choose five electives from a list of history, humanities, literature, philosophy, and politics courses, including two in history and one each in literature and philosophy.

“Study in the Humanities entails consideration of what it means to be human,” said Dr. Mark Hijleh, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty. “At King’s we see this as inextricably wedded to the Imago Dei—that being human means being created in the image of God: passionate about wisdom and excellence and creativity, always with the end of loving in mind. I am most delighted that we are able to offer this new major that brings together elements from our PPE and MCA programs in another grand interdisciplinary synergy, fully in keeping with our mission and our philosophy of education.”

“With PPE and MCA already on the books, it was only a matter of time before we offered a blended degree program of the two majors,” said Dr. Harry Bleattler, Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Program in Media, Culture, and the Arts. “With the humanities degree, students can combine the philosophical underpinnings of the PPE program with the cultural arts components of the MCA program. Throw in a little history and literature and you have wonderful blend of the interdisciplinary—a hallmark of a King’s degree.”