Department of Humanities
The Department of Humanities supports the larger mission of Central State University; educates students in their B.A. and Minor fields and in General Education courses; stresses critical, independent thinking in its curricula; and supports the creative and professional growth of both students and faculty.
The department offers the B.A. degree in the disciplines of English (Literature, and Pre-Law), History, and Humanities-Interdisciplinary Studies. It also offer minors in Pre-Law, Philosophy & Religion, Africana Studies, Literature, Environmental Humanities, and Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Career Opportunities
People who have earned 4-year degrees in the humanities have developed the skills and abilities highly sought after by most employers as well as most graduate and professional programs. Indeed, there is a wide spectrum of career choices available to someone who has majored in a field within the humanities. Popular career pathways include management and marketing, healthcare fields, and careers involving the creation of cutting-edge technology.
Businesses need the skills that humanities courses excel at developing. Surveys consistently show that the top attribute employers look for in job candidates is written communication skills. 80% of employers want to see proof of these skills before they hire someone. The top ten attributes that come after that include problem solving, ability to work in a team, analytical skills, verbal communication skills, leadership, detail-oriented, and flexibility/adaptability, attributes that our curriculum is designed to foster.
Evidence shows that humanities majors do well in business: 15% of humanities graduates go on to management positions, 14% go into office and administrative positions, 13% are in sales, and another 10% are in business and finance. Among managers in the marketing, advertising, and PR industries, those who studied the liberal arts earn an average of $20,000 a year more than those who majored in advertising and PR.
Tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, and Google consistently express a need for college graduates to have a well-rounded education that includes a strong background in the humanities. A 2015 Forbes article offers an example: a marketing manager at Facebook, Bess Yount earned a Stanford bachelor's degree in communication and a master's in sociology. "‘I've always had a greater love for words than numbers,’ Yount says. That hasn't been a problem. When she joined Facebook in 2010, the social media company was evolving rapidly beyond its engineer-centric beginnings. Instead of envisioning a day when ads could be booked online without ever talking to a human being, Facebook's leaders began tapping into the benefits of a personal touch” (from “That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket”).
Data from places such as Google show how critical an education based in the humanities is for anyone who wants to go into the tech industry. In 2013, Google analyzed its own hiring, firing, and promotions data going back to 1998. Of the eight most important qualities of Google’s top employees, STEM expertise comes last. The seven traits above it are what are often referred to as soft skills: being a good coach, communicating and listening well, possessing insights into others (including others different values and points of view), having empathy toward and being supportive of one’s colleagues, being a good critical thinker and problem solver, and being able to make connections across complex ideas. These results led Google to change its hiring practices to include humanities majors and artists.
Medical school administrators have been saying for decades that they want applicants with liberal arts and humanities backgrounds, that they greatly value what such applicants bring to the study of medicine, and that the medical doctors they graduate need experience with the humanities. Information on the application requirements for medical schools is available in this course catalog in the College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture’s section: “Preparation for Healthcare Professions.” The high value that medical schools place on applicants with a broad undergraduate education based in the humanities shows strongly in whom those schools accept into their programs. A recent report by the American Association of Medical Colleges identifies humanities majors as having the highest acceptance rate into medical schools. Looking at these acceptance rates, more humanities majors are accepted than majors in biological sciences, math and statistics, physical sciences, and specialized health sciences. The data show that humanities majors have been the most likely to make it into medical school.
Additionally, a 2017 survey of more than 700 medical students found that the higher the students' exposure to the humanities, the higher the students scored on measures of empathy, wisdom, tolerance of ambiguity, resourcefulness, and emotional intelligence, and the lower they scored in signs of burnout. Majors in the humanities help students gain the necessary experience that can make them stronger applicants for medical school and better medical doctors.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs
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The English program provides a strong foundation in the study of the English language and literatures and offers the B.A. in English Literature or Pre-law focus, a Minor in English, and a Minor in English Creative Writing.
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The B.A. in English Pre-Law track requires additional coursework in Business, Communication, History, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology.
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The History program offers the B.A. degree and Minor in History, with emphases on American, African American, Asian, Middle East, Islamic, and global histories, and contributes courses to the Minor in African Studies. Students develop the following skill sets: critical thinking; multi-cultural and global perspectives; and application of historical and other social scientific research methods.
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The Bachelor of Arts in Humanities — Interdisciplinary Studies prepares students for a wide range of careers by fostering the adaptability, critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills necessary for personal and professional success in the 21st century.
Minors and Certificates
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The study of English literature helps students develop creative thinking, effective communication, critical reading, analysis, and research skills; all of which are highly sought after by employers now and in the future. We encourage students from every major to add a Minor in English Literature in order to better develop these skills while adding a crucial line to their résumé.
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The Philosophy & Religion program offers a minor in Philosophy & Religion and supports the university’s general education curriculum with introductory courses in philosophy, religion, ethics, and critical thinking. The program also offers upper-level courses that support a range of major and minor degree programs across the university. The program has special strengths in social, political, and moral philosophy, and its pluralistic curriculum offers students the opportunity to study thinkers and texts from diverse historical and geographical intellectual traditions. Analytical thinking, analytical writing, and creativity are the core skills students develop when taking courses in the Philosophy & Religion program. Students learn practical ways of applying philosophy in their majors, their professions, and their everyday lives.
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Minor in Africana Studies and unveil the vibrant tapestry of Africa and its diaspora with our captivating Minor in African Studies! Immerse yourself in a dynamic 19-21 credit journey that begins with the fascinating AFS 1200 and IDS 2100 courses. Unravel the rich arts and literature of the African Diaspora through two engrossing courses, while another pair delves into the enthralling history and philosophy of the diaspora. Expand your horizons with at least one course centered on Africa or non-U.S. African Diaspora regions like South/Central America and the Caribbean. Customize your learning experience further by selecting from a curated list of relevant university courses, all in close consultation with your advisor. Don't miss this chance to unlock the secrets of Africa and its global connections - enroll now!
Contact Us
Department of Humanities
Chair: Dr. Anne-Marie Walkowicz
1400 Brush Row Road | PO Box 1004 | Wilberforce, Ohio 45384
937-376-6202
awalkowicz@centralstate.edu
Administrative Assistant: Vacant
1400 Brush Row Road | PO Box 1004 | Wilberforce, Ohio 45384
937-376-6202