Humanities Minors

• American Studies Minor

  • American Studies Minor

    The Minor in American Studies provides an excellent complement to a wide variety of majors. Our students range from future engineers and business people to teachers and artists. Students take our most popular course, the full year introduction to "American Cultures," and then quickly progress into small seminars like "American Popular Culture," "The American
    Dream," and "Nature and World Cultures." If you are a transfer student from another college, there's an alternative option for completing the minor that is just as dynamic, and completely based on our upper division coursework.

    Humanities Advisors (All Majors & Minors)

    J. Todd Ormsbee Professor of American Studies
    todd.ormsbee@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 419F

    Kim Knight Associate Professor of Humanities
    kim.knight@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 420D

    Funie Hsu/Chhi Associate Professor of American Studies
    funie.hsu@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 439

• Comparative Religious Studies Minor

  • Comparative Religious Studies Minor

    The Minor in Comparative Religious Studies offers a basic understanding of religious beliefs and practices for those whose careers would benefit from familiarity with some religious traditions, such as those in teaching, business, journalism, social work, medicine, and law. The minor incorporates the study of religious traditions with reflection on what religion is and how we understand it. Students combine Humanities and Religious Studies courses along with an external elective in History, English, etc., in order to complete the minor.

    Humanities Advisors (All Majors & Minors)

    J. Todd Ormsbee Professor of American Studies
    todd.ormsbee@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 419F

    Kim Knight Associate Professor of Humanities
    kim.knight@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 420D

    Funie Hsu/Chhi Associate Professor of American Studies
    funie.hsu@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 439

• Creative Arts Minor

  • Creative Arts Minor

    The Minor in Creative Arts is highly individualized and flexible. Students take the required course in creativity studies, Creativity Matters, along with one arts studio/practice class and one arts history/theory course in English, Dance, Art, Design, Music, Film, Radio, or Dance. Students then select upper division core electives from courses such as The Arts in U.S. Society; Thinking About Contemporary Arts; Seminar in Creative Process; Creativity and Creative Leadership; Community Building through the Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts for Teaching; and Special Topics in Humanities.
    
    As of fall 2021, students may substitute HUM95 Introduction to Digital Humanities for the arts history/theory course. The flexibility of requirements makes the Creative Arts minor particularly friendly to transfer and re-entry students as well as for students who want to develop skills in creative problem-solving and the study of creativity across domains and across the human lifespan. Students majoring in Humanities, English, Design, Studio Art, Business, Nursing, Teacher Preparation majors like CHAD and LSTP, or Engineering may find the Creative Arts minor particularly useful.

    Creative Arts Program Advisor

    Shannon Rose Riley
    Professor & Coordinator (Creative Arts)
    408-924-1365
    shannonrose.riley@sjsu.edu
    Clark Hall 419D

• Humanities Minor

  • Humanities Minor

    The minor in Humanities is an interdisciplinary and globally focused course of study that integrates ways of knowing, literature, art, culture, ecology, and social institutions for students from majors across the University. The Humanities minor is especially recommended to students seeking a career in international law, business, economic development, justice studies, health care, education, genocide studies, or religious studies. 

    Humanities Advisors (All Majors & Minors)

    J. Todd Ormsbee Professor of American Studies
    todd.ormsbee@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 419F

    Kim Knight Associate Professor of Humanities
    kim.knight@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 420D

    Funie Hsu/Chhi Associate Professor of American Studies
    funie.hsu@sjsu.edu, Clark Hall 439

• Middle East Studies Minor

  • Middle East Studies Minor

    The Minor in Middle East Studies provides background for students whose professional goals include the promotion of mutual understanding, tolerance, and peace in the region as well as increased global understanding. The Middle East Studies minor is especially recommended to students seeking a career in global tech, international law, business, economic development, engineering, health care, education, research, public service, or government.

    Middle East Studies Advisor

    Arthur Zárate
    Lecturer
    arthur.zarate@sjsu.edu
    Clark Hall 414N