About the School of Humanities

Welcome from the School Director!

In order to cultivate global citizens who are responsible, ethical and innovative, the School of Humanities is committed to providing excellence in curricular and co-curricular programming. Our diverse, award-winning faculty work closely with students in the classroom, on creative projects, and on internships, ensuring that students receive the best educational experiences we can provide. The faculty strives to infuse curricula with content that is cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, intercultural, and intellectually/aesthetically stimulating.

Furthermore, the School is committed to the belief that students, who take our courses, and especially those who major in our programs, will embrace open world views as well as the skills necessary to transform those visions into ethical progress. Our undergraduate majors include American Studies, Communications, English, and Interdisciplinary Humanities. Our graduate programs include American Studies (M.A. and Ph.D.) and Humanities (M.A.). The M.A. in Communications is currently in the review process and, if successful, will accept students by Fall 2010. Within our programs are courses in African and African American studies, art, art history, communications, film and media studies, foreign languages, history, Jewish studies, journalism, literature, music, music history, philosophy, religious studies, speech, theatre, women's studies, and writing.

Penn State Harrisburg students learn compassion for human suffering as well as joy in human accomplishment. Through advanced proficiency in critical thinking, writing, and expression they are able to assimilate observations into retrievable, flexible models that can lead toward solutions for challenges and pathways to betterment. As the curricular center of any campus, the Humanities explore the intriguing interactions of observation, knowledge, comprehension, creation, and emotion, preparing carefully-chosen students to illuminate all aspects of contemporary life.

Welcome to Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Humanities’ website.
Kathryn D. Robinson, B.A., M.F.A., Ph.D.
Professor of Theatre
Director, School of Humanities

Mission

The School of Humanities Strategic Plan is intended to promote high-quality four-year undergraduate education, including numerous and crucial general education offerings for all students; electives for all students; and upper-division majors and graduate programs that are student-centered, embody interdisciplinary learning, and serve the needs of the region, the Commonwealth, and the nation. The overall goals of the School are to

offer innovative interdisciplinary curricula, building on current programs, for both undergraduate and graduate students;
seek excellent and appropriate physical facilities and technological support for our curricular and co-curricular activities, creative work, and outreach activities;
engage our community with creative programs in the arts and humanities; and
build collections and offer services that extend the School's mission to our larger community.

Vision

The School of Humanities is committed to providing interdisciplinary education at all levels of student learning. From general education courses (that set the stage for advanced critical thought, self-reflection, global perspective, and oral/written communication skills) and enhancement activities in the fine and performing arts to advanced study (that fosters cutting-edge discovery connecting the varied elements that define our society), the School of Humanities serves the entire college, its staff, students and communities beyond.