COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at California State University, Sacramento requires a total of 39 units and is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of global cultures, ideas, and intellectual traditions. The program combines foundational coursework, advanced seminars, and specialized study areas that allow students to explore historical and cultural developments across different civilizations and time periods.The required lower division courses total 12 units and introduce students to major cultural traditions in both Western and Asian contexts. These courses include HRS 10 Arts and Ideas of the West: Ancient to Medieval, HRS 11 Arts and Ideas of the West: Renaissance to Modern, HRS 70 Arts and Ideas of Asia: Ancient to Medieval, and HRS 71 Arts and Ideas of Asia: Medieval to Modern. Together, these courses provide students with a broad overview of philosophical ideas, artistic expressions, and cultural movements that have shaped societies from ancient times to the modern era.The required upper division courses total 9 units and focus on advanced interdisciplinary study and research. HRS 105 Approaches to the Humanities introduces students to major theoretical and methodological perspectives used in humanities research. Students must also complete one course from the HRS 190 Seminar in Humanities and Religious Studies series, which provides focused study on specific cultural or intellectual topics. In addition, HRS 195 Seminar in Humanities serves as a capstone-style course where students engage in deeper analysis, discussion, and research on selected humanities themes.Students must also complete at least 9 units in required areas of study, selecting courses from three categories: Ancient–Renaissance, Enlightenment–Postmodern, and Global or Non-Western traditions. Courses in the Ancient–Renaissance category explore classical and medieval cultures, including topics such as Greek, Roman, medieval, and Renaissance societies. The Enlightenment–Postmodern category focuses on cultural and intellectual developments from the early modern period to contemporary times. The Global or Non-Western category introduces students to cultures and traditions outside the Western world, including Islamic, East Asian, Chinese, and Japanese cultural studies.Finally, students may complete up to 9 units of supporting courses with the approval of a faculty advisor. These courses allow students to explore additional topics such as mythology, multicultural studies, film, American cultural identity, and contemporary cultural issues. Through this flexible curriculum, the Humanities program enables students to develop strong analytical, research, and communication skills while gaining a deeper understanding of diverse cultural traditions and historical developments.