Degrees & Certificates
Humanities
Associate in Arts
2022-2023
About the Program
Humanities is an interdisciplinary academic field that encourages students to critically examine a diverse, interconnected, and changing world and their own lives within it by exploring human creativity past and present. Courses in Humanities offer students a creative, historical, and philosophical immersion in a number of different but overlapping fields of study: painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater, literature, film, dance, etc. In addition to practicing critical skills for analyzing various forms of art, Humanities students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for the value of arts and ideas in their own lives and in society as a whole.
The Humanities Program at Las Positas College is in the Arts and Humanities Division and forms part of the Humanities Cluster along with Philosophy and Religious Studies. Humanities courses prepare those interested in majoring in Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, Cultural Studies, English, Art History, Film, Classical Studies, Philosophy, or Humanities for successful transfer to four-year institutions.
About the Degree
The Humanities AA degree is a program designed to offer students a broad introduction to the history and analysis of art forms, styles, and movements, as well as introducing them to important themes and aspects of human creativity seen in material culture, belief systems, and major ideas throughout time. Humanities courses prepare those interested majoring in fields, such as Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, Cultural Studies, English, Art History, Film, Classical Studies, Philosophy, or Humanities.
Program Outcomes
- Upon completion of the AA in Humanities, students are able to critically evaluate works of art using the elements and principles of art.
- Upon completion of the AA in Humanities, students are able to discuss important themes expressed in material culture, belief systems, and major ideas seen throughout history.
- Upon completion of the AA in Humanities, students are able to interpret and analyze aspects of culture and art by applying theoretical methods used in the humanities.
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| HUMN 3 Introduction to Humanities | 3 |
| HUMN 28 World Mythology | 3 |
| PHIL 1 God, Nature, Human Nature | 3 |
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| ENG 32 U.S. Women's Literature | 3 |
| ENG 41 Modern World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 42 Literature of the African Diaspora in America | 3 |
| HIST 32 U.S. Women's History | 3 |
| HUMN 6 Nature and Culture | 3 |
| HUMN 10 American Arts and Ideas | 3 |
| PHIL 2 Ethics | 3 |
| RELS 1 Religions of the World | 3 |
| WMST 2 Global Perspective of Women | 3 |
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| ARHS 7 Modern Art History | 3 |
| HUMN 4 Global Cinemas | 4 |
| MUS 3 World Music | 3 |
| PHTO 67 History of Photography | 3 |
| THEA 4 Modern American Theater | 3 |
| THEA 10 Introduction to Dramatic Arts | 3 |
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| ARHS 2 Art of the Ancient Americas | 3 |
| ARHS 5 Western Art History - Renaissance to Contemporary | 3 |
| HIST 1 Western Civilization to 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 2 Western Civilization Since 1600 | 3 |
| HUMN 11 Culture and the Arts I: Ancient World to the Renaissance | 3 |
| HUMN 12 Culture and the Arts II: The Modern World | 3 |
| Units Category | Units |
|---|---|
| Total Units in the Major | 18-19 |
The Associate Degree is conferred upon those students who complete the required 60 or more semester units of the degree pattern with a grade-point average of 2.0 or better, of which 12 units must be earned at Las Positas College. In addition, students must complete a General Education pattern in order to earn a degree: see the Las Positas College General Education Pattern for Associate of Arts (AA) Degree, California State University General Education-Breadth, or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (for CSU) patterns for listing of areas and courses. Double counting courses in GE and the major is permissible. The number of units that may be double counted will depend on the entry point to the degree program, the optional course(s) taken, and the GE pattern selected. Elective units are degree applicable. Consult with an adviser or a counselor to plan the courses necessary to achieve your academic goal.
Updated: July 2022