Minor in Public Humanities

The Public Humanities minor seeks to build knowledge democratically and respond critically to twenty-first-century challenges, ranging from social inequalities to climate change. In this minor, you will work collaboratively and creatively to develop original research and programming with local communities, public-interest groups, and other publics, which actively engage the public in meaningful dialogue and knowledge production. Central to this work is meeting people where they are to create engaging narratives based on critical analysis and writing, cultural documentation, fieldwork interviews, participant observation, and media production. Through your coursework, you will use the methods of the humanities to develop a public-facing project and a portfolio of work, which may include podcasts, films, exhibitions, public events, zines, performances, and other programming.

The Public Humanities minor is open to all majors and is housed in the Department of American Studies’ Orser Center for the Study of Place, Community, and Culture.

(17 credits total)

CORE: (7 credits)

  1. PUBH 200: Introduction to Public Humanities (NEW course – offered in fall semester)

  2. AMST 300: Approaches/Methods courses in American Studies and Public History + PUBH 301: Project Development Lab 1 credit lab (4 credits total)

ELECTIVES: (6 credits)

2 courses from the same or related fields from partnering programs and departments

AMST, ANTH, ART, ENGL, GES, GWST, HAPP, HIST, LLC, MCS, PHIL, SOCY, THTR, VART…

Click here to view an evolving list of approved PubHum minor electives.

PORTFOLIO: (4 credits total)

1 400-level research, capstone, or applied experience course (3 credits) + lab/portfolio

PUBH 401: Lab/Portfolio: 1 credit

Note: UMBC’s interdisciplinary Summer CoLab Program and AMST’s 4-week Baltimore summer field school count towards the minor as electives.

For more information or to sign up for the minor, please email publichumanities@umbc.edu.