Engaging Humanities is a gateway to the humanities. 100 entering UC Santa Barbara students (first year or transfer) will be named Mellon Engaging Humanities Fellows each year. These Fellows will enroll in one Engaging Humanities Learning Community course during the summer or fall of their first year at UCSB. Fellows will also have the option of enrolling in Engaging Humanities Discovery Courses that allow them to delve further into the humanities.
Engaging Humanities Fellows will:
- Get to know their professors and other students by enrolling in small, innovative courses
- Connect their passions and their UCSB courses
- Develop skills important for well-paying careers and graduate study
- Learn how to use humanities majors to make a difference in the world
- Receive mentoring from graduate students who can help Fellows navigate UCSB and the humanities
- Build electronic portfolios to showcase their work and learning at UCSB
Faculty and students in the humanities and arts explore how people make sense of the world. Humanists are like code-breakers. They learn to create messages through language, art, music, history, philosophy, or religion. They also learn to interpret these messages for themselves and others. The skills associated with humanities study are highly desired by employers and important for contributing to society.
Learning Communities
Each Engaging Humanities Learning Community is a small, 20-student course taught by two accomplished faculty members from UC Santa Barbara humanities disciplines.
Discovery Courses
Engaging Humanities Discovery courses highlight what the humanities have to offer to some of today’s most important questions.
Student Portfolios
Engaging Humanities Learning Community course participants create electronic portfolios to showcase their work.