Humanities
Two students discussing what they see on a laptop screen in front of them

Undergraduate Humanities Majors

Why humanities? Our increasingly technical and scientific world is transforming rapidly, requiring people who can adapt quickly, possess strong communication skills, and think creatively and critically. People fluent in a variety of media technologies who know how to use them effectively. People who understand diverse audiences and know how to engage, inform, and inspire them.

Collaborate with engineers, computer scientists, researchers and artists, the types of individuals you will be interacting with everyday in our technological world. You'll work together on projects addressing a number of important challenges facing our increasingly complex world, from health, climate, and sustainability to the ethical challenges of 21st-century technologies. Studying humanities at a technological university, you will be well-positioned to address these problems and create the future.

Bachelor's Degrees

Communication, Culture, and Media—BA

Learn the ways media, communication, and technology function in contemporary culture and daily life. Communication, culture, and media (CCM) students combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills in writing, speaking, and digital media to understand media and culture and to advocate for cultural diversity and social justice.

English—BA

Study Anglophone literature and creative writing in its many forms: textual, visual, cinematic, dramatic and theatrical, oral, digital, and multimedia. Our English bachelor's degree students read, interpret, communicate, and think critically with their knowledge of literary history, criticism, and theory.

Scientific and Technical Communication—BA, BS

Study communication in its various forms: oral, written, print, video, web, and digital. A core emphasis in a science, technical, or business field, prepares our scientific and technical communication (STC) graduates to communicate scientific and technical information for both specialized and general audiences.

A Minor Adds Value To Your Degree

Choose from nineminors to add to your degree. Among them is the Modern Languages minor encompassing French, Spanish, and German languages.

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Modern Languages Minor

Michigan Tech students study French, German, or Spanish language and culture to satisfy general education credit, as well as fulfill requirements for a minor or international minor. The Modern Languages Minor program also offers cultural events and opportunities for study abroad.

  • 1:1
    student-to-faculty ratio
  • 9
    minors to help you stand out

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about the Humanities Department undergraduate degree programs at Michigan's flagship technological university.

Minors

Specialize in a secondary discipline outside of or complementary to your major, expand your knowledge base, and boost your potential career options. Want a future career in law or medicine? A minor in a pre-professional program such as Law and Society or Pre-Health Professions prepares you for graduate school and future careers in law and medicine. Or choose any of 80+ other minors. Although you can declare a minor anytime, we recommend that you begin your minor studies as early as possible in your academic career. To learn more, speak to an academic advisor.

Humanities Minors 

  • Communication Studies
  • Diversity Studies
  • Ethics and Philosophy
  • Journalism
  • Media Production
  • Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish)
  • Writing

Undergraduate Advising

A positive and productive advising relationship is a key component of your success at Michigan Tech. You and your academic advisor will develop your academic plan and your advisor will help you follow and complete your plan to ensure your success at Michigan Tech. Advisors also help you to find internships and other applied learning opportunities on- or off-campus.

Humanities Advising

Full STEAM Ahead: Study Humanities at a Technological University

Combine your love of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM) into a career that requires creativity, critical-thinking, and communication skills. Strengthen your capability in another language and build a broad cultural base. Develop critical skills to become a life-long learner who adapts to an increasingly technical and scientific world that is transforming rapidly. Learn the skills central to solving real-world problems in sustainability, human health, social justice, technology, and globalization. Our programs and faculty engage students and enrich campus by involving scholars from diverse fields in ambitious and meaningful projects.

  • Get personalized attention: Our smaller department ensures your academic advisors and professors know you and understand your interests and needs. You can receive the guidance you need in a timely fashion.

  • Customize your humanities education: Take classes across any of our three major programs—communication, culture & media, English, and scientific and technical communication. That interdisciplinary approach gives you exposure to different areas of humanities. Tailor your degree to fit your individual pathway with minors in the department. You might choose communication studies, diversity studies, ethics and philosophy, journalism, media production, writing, or one of three modern languages (French, German, and Spanish). Or, enhance your humanities degree with a minor from outside the department, like psychology, computer science, public health, or pre-health professions. 

  • Connect to internships: Develop professional skills, locate internships, and be successful in gaining work experience. The Humanities Internship Program helps students connect with internships on and off campus. Our Professional Development in Humanities course helps you learn how to present yourself well to employers and land a job. Through our microinternship program, 100% of humanities majors complete an internship experience while at Michigan Tech.

  • Study Humanities in a STEM context: Benefit from being at a school with a strong STEM focus. Our students work, live, and play with engineers and scientists, developing the ability to work in diverse teams, to appreciate and seek out different perspectives, and to communicate effectively in the world of science and technology.

Tomorrow Needs You

Supercharge your human skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in tomorrow's academia, research, non-profit, and high-tech business landscapes.

"Even in technical fields you still need to be able to communicate in many different ways, whether it be in graphical design, writing, or speaking. I think it is a vital skill to have at any level. "Lena Lukowski '23, BS Scientific and Technical Communication