An American university in the heart of Rome
Bachelor of Arts in Humanistic Studies | Study in Italy
John Cabot University: the Academic Experience
Bachelor of Arts in Humanistic Studies | Study in Italy

Bachelor of Arts in Humanistic Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Humanistic Studies offers a wide range of choices in the Humanities to students who wish to pursue a focused program of study that encourages inquiry into the human condition beyond the confines of a single discipline.  The Core Curriculum provides a synthetic introduction to the extraordinarily rich traditions of the liberal arts within and beyond Western civilization. 

The major prepares students to read, study, think, write, and articulate their ideas in the traditions of broad life-long learning and ethically responsible public service inherited from such exemplars as Socrates, Cicero, Petrarch, Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, and Simone de Beauvoir.  Building upon this foundation, students choose major electives from a wide range of disciplines to further their understandings of the areas within the Humanities that interest them most.  In both individual courses and the major as a whole, this program takes special advantage of the unique access John Cabot students have to the cultural, aesthetic, philosophical, and historical legacy of Rome and the Mediterranean—the ancient birthplace and Renaissance progenitor of our modern academic humanities.

Learning Outcomes for the Humanistic Studies Major  

Requirements for the Degree (pre-spring 2018)

A. The Proficiency Requirements of the University in English, Mathematics, and Foreign Language.

B. The General Distribution Requirements of the University in English, Mathematics and Science, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Fine Arts.

C. Core Curriculum (11 courses)

  • HS 120 Introduction to Western Civilization I    
  • HS 121 Introduction to Western Civilization II    
  • One of the following: AH 141 World Art I, AH 142 World Art II, AH 143 World Art III
         or AH  144 World Art IV    
  • PH 101 Introduction to Philosophical Thinking  
  • CL/HS 231 History of Ancient Rome and Italy
        or CL 278 Roman Literature and Society
  • HS/PH 223 Historical and Philosophical Aspects of the Italian Renaissance    
  • EN 278 Classical Influences on English Literature 
        or EN 245 Shakespeare    
  • PH 304 Philosophy of Art and Beauty    
  • RL/PH 224 Living the Good Life: Religious and Philosophical Ethics  
  • HM 460 Research and Writing in the Humanities    
  • HM 480 Senior Thesis

The University requires an overall minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses taken at the University with no more than two grades lower than C- in core courses required for the major.

D. Major Electives 
Six courses, at least four of which are at the 300-level, from the following options.  Students are strongly encouraged to choose their major electives according to a coherent plan addressing their academic interests.  This program should be worked out by the students and their advisors.

  • Any 200 or 300 level Art History    
  • Any 200 or 300 level Studio Art    
  • Any 200 or 300 level Classics    
  • Any 200 or 300 level English Literature
  • Any 300 level Italian Literature or Italian Studies    
  • Any 200 or 300 level History    
  • Any 200 or 300 level Philosophy  
  • Any 200 or 300 level Religious Studies  
  • Relevant courses from other disciplines may be considered, but require approval of student’s advisor and the Humanities Department Chair.

E. General Electives sufficient to give a total of 120 credits.