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.

“For those seeking wisdom, 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.

Jointly housed in the PPE and MCA program areas, 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. Opportunities for further professional preparation in areas such as academia, law, business and health care are enhanced, as evidenced historically and nationally by consistently higher scores on standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Exam, the Law School Admission Test, the Graduate Management Admissions Test, and the Medical College Admission Test among those who include studies in the Humanities fields.

Coupled with King’s PPE-focused Core curriculum, 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.

“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 mean 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.”