Department of Humanities and Communication

Explore culture, media and society while gaining the tools to write, speak, and advocate for change. Connect your learning to the world around you.

Study Culture, Media and Society

The Humanities and Communication Department is more than a place to study. It’s a place to explore big questions about culture, identity, power and change. Our programs invite students to examine the world through literature, history, media, journalism and the arts while building the communication skills to share ideas and advocate for justice.

Through service learning, applied research and community partnerships, students connect their studies to real-world issues and career paths in law, media, education, nonprofits and beyond. It’s a place where critical thinking meets public engagement, where you learn not only how to analyze the world, but how to change it.

Program Highlights

Applied Learning Opportunities

Here, learning extends well beyond the classroom. You’ll gain experience through internships, service learning and applied research that connect studies to real-world challenges. Whether writing for local media, supporting nonprofits or working in education, these opportunities bridge academic knowledge with professional preparation.

Community Engagement

Our courses often integrate service projects and partnerships with local organizations, giving you the chance to contribute to meaningful social change while deepening your academic work. Through dialogue, collaboration and hands-on practice, you will see how ideas connect to issues that matter in the community.

Career Opportunities

Our graduates pursue careers in law, journalism, education, public service, nonprofit leadership and creative industries. Our program’s focus on communication, critical thinking and applied learning prepares you for roles that require strong analytical and interpersonal skills.

Programs

Ethnic and Gender Studies, B.A. and Minor

The Ethnic and Gender Studies program offers ideal preparation and training for any number of dynamic career paths, equipping you with an understanding of how racism and sexism shape life chances, the cultures and communities people create amidst these inequalities, and the histories of resistance and activism against oppression.

Students are engaged in study within a classroom setting.

Humanities and Communication, B.A. and Minor

The Humanities and Communication program offers a unique interdisciplinary academic journey that will deepen your understanding of these two distinctive fields and sharpen your communication, critical thinking and cultural competency skills while also positioning you to specialize your studies through any of the program’s eight areas of concentration.

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Additional Minors

We offer minors in Chicanx Studies, Creative Writing and Social Action, Peace Studies, and Writing and Rhetoric. You may also minor in Ethnic and Gender Studies or in Humanities and Communication.

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Department News

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Ready to Learn More?

Have questions about the Department of Humanities and Communications? Contact our department office for advising and program details.

The Department of Humanities and Communications is located within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Building 504. Reach us by email or call 831-582-3889.

Department Chair

Administrative Support Coordinator