Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Subject abbreviation: HASS College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Theda Shapiro, Ph.D., Chair Committee Office, 2417 Humanities and Social Sciences

• (951) 827-2743; hass.ucr.edu

Committee in Charge John Laursen, Ph.D. (Political Science) Erich Reck, Ph.D. (Philosophy) Erika Suderburg, Ph.D. (Art) Carole-Anne Tyler, Ph.D. (English) Stephen E. Cullenberg, Ph.D., Dean, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, ex officio

The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences major is an interdisciplinary major designed for students who have specific interests that can- not be accommodated within any one of the departments in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and who wish to construct a coherent program of their own. The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences major is not intended for students whose interests are undecided; students proposing a Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences major must propose a specifically focused interdisciplinary topic or a two-field area. Such students must have a faculty advisor who is a member of the UCR Academic Senate.

The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences major is fulfilled by a course of studies deter- mined in consultation with an advisor and with the full approval of the chair and three mem- bers of the committee overseeing the major. The student may construct either an interdisci- plinary option or a two-field option for the major as described below.

Admission Students who wish to select a Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences major must fill out a form and submit a carefully worded statement of purpose showing mean- ingful course interrelations. The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Committee considers each proposal in the con- text of the student’s topic and statement of pur- pose.

Students whose proposals are being approved should petition for a change in major only after they have been informed of the committee’s approval of their interdisciplinary program. Every subsequent change in the student’s ini- tial program must be approved by the advisor; a record of the program and of program changes is kept in the student’s files.

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences courses are supervised by the committee and are open to major as well as nonmajor students.

Interdisciplinary Option The interdisciplinary option is built around a central concept in humanities and social sciences. The concept might be a specific culture, country or ethnic group such as Italian civilization and culture; an age or period such as the Renaissance or the industrial revolution; a great social issue or human problem such as war, revolution, com- munication; or any other topic which receives significant attention from several disciplines.

Two-Field Option In special circumstances the committee sponsors a two-field option for the major designed to allow students to combine studies in two disciplines. Such majors are approved only if they cannot be accommodat- ed within a dual major or within the Liberal Studies Program.

See Undergraduate Studies section.

See College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Colleges and Programs section.

The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences are as follows: Students may choose either an inter- disciplinary or a two-field option. Interdisciplinary Option

• 1. Upper-division requirements (38-unit

minimum)

• a) A minimum of 32 units directly related to

the chosen central concept

• b) At least 6 units (but not more than

8 units) HASS 195 and/or HASS 196

• 2. The committee may require upper-division

courses beyond those indicated above if the topic of study requires specific language, quantitative, or methodological proficiency.

Note The senior thesis or research paper is the culmination of the major and represents an interdisciplinary approach to the central con- cept of the major. HASS 195 (Senior Thesis) and HASS 196 (Senior Research Paper) are supervised by a faculty advisor and designed to bring into focus a substantial portion of the major.

The following are sample interdisciplinary pro- grams:

Revolution ANTH 127, ECON 115A or ECON 115B, HIST 104, HISE 174, POSC 112, PHIL 163, PHIL 153, HASS 195 (8 units).

Renaissance AHS 161, CPLT 150J, ENGL 153, ENGL 154, HISE 131, MUS 101A, SPN 140 (E-Z), HASS 195 (8 units).

Two-field Option

• 1. Upper-division requirements (56 units)

Twenty-eight (28) units in each of two fields, supervised by a faculty advisor

• 2. The committee may require upper-division

courses beyond those indicated above if the topic of study requires specific language, quantitative, or methodological proficiency.