Academics
Find your balance.
![art student working in studio](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/hero_full_desktop_xs/public/2023-02/2016_Art_Dept_Open_Studios_js_MG_9831.jpeg?h=16792fbc&itok=U6U5x_lY)
About
Today’s students are increasingly pressured to major in “practical” fields of study in order to improve their chances of finding a job after graduation. What could be more practical than strong writing and communication skills, keen critical abilities, a facility for language, and the ability to connect ideas to see the big picture?
Students in the College of Humanities & Fine Arts at UMass Amherst develop useful and durable skills while pursuing their passions. Striking this unique balance allows today’s students of humanities and fine arts to become tomorrow’s artists, teachers, pioneers, inventors, and leaders.
Study what inspires you. That passion will inform your professional life.
With dozens of majors and minors—from Afro-American studies to women, gender, sexuality studies, and everything in between—the College of Humanities & Fine Arts is the creative and cultural heart of UMass Amherst.
Featured Courses
Browse some of our featured course offerings for Spring 2024.
![Staff workers meeting together](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-09/2017_Grad_School_Students_js_MG_1236.jpeg?h=e24b58ec&itok=EslpkeT2)
Graduate Programs
Explore Our Programs
Afro-American Studies
Deepen your understanding of the history and culture of African and Afro-American communities and use your knowledge to work for a more socially just world.
![A page of James Williams book](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2017_Quaker_Collection_js_MG_0570.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=hIuS9nXo)
Architecture
UMass offers an interdisciplinary architecture and design program that embraces socially progressive, environmentally responsive, and sustainable design.
![Students working on a architecture design](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2018_Architecture_Student_Review_js_IMG_1071.jpg?h=b2818b43&itok=SwsEscub)
Art
Our interdisciplinary and flexible studio art program nurtures creative problem solvers, self-directed makers, and critical visual thinkers.
![A student doing ceramics art](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2019_Studio_Arts_Bldg_Ceramics_js_IMG_8350.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=Ah_VvvDX)
Art Education
Develop your skills as an artist and as an educator in an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and challenging creative environment.
![board with post-it notes on it](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2015_Music_Education_Workshop_js_MG_4016.jpg?h=c10384e0&itok=dZfGrLa0)
Chinese Language and Literature
Build expertise in Chinese language and culture through an interdisciplinary and transhistorical curriculum and prepare for an internationally focused career.
![Aerial view of the Forbidden City gate](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-04/beijing-forbidden-city.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=Dm3ZBy6o)
Classics
Gain insight into the ways ancient Greek and Roman culture and language have shaped our present while sharpening your abilities to think, reason, and write.
![ancient ruin](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/classics_about_2.jpeg?h=ba6ae691&itok=dvfb0u_D)
Comparative Literature
Expand your worldview and sharpen your analytical and writing skills by studying literature, film, and other arts across a diversity of languages and cultures.
![Page of a book](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2017_Quaker_Collection_js_MG_0424.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=gQrknL4K)
Dance
Grow as a dancer and scholar in a program combining a rich curriculum, broad extracurricular opportunities, and the diverse resources of the Five Colleges.
![Dance student at UMass](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2016_Summer_Programs_Dance_js_MG_7591.jpg?h=0d2dbf99&itok=wqmKaHxf)
East Asian Languages and Cultures
As the only program at the university that focuses solely on East Asia, we provide insight into one of the most rapidly developing areas in the world.
![Students at Lunar New Year](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-03/lunar-new-year.png?h=dc6fdcb1&itok=QoMzfh1Y)
English
Develop your capacity for empathy and critical thought in an English program noted for small classes, engaged faculty, and diverse educational opportunities.
![Stacks of open books](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-10/English.png?h=eb901320&itok=2nst3rEa)
Film Studies
Explore film theory, film criticism, the history of cinema, screenwriting, and cinematography with faculty from a wide range of disciplines and experiences.
![an empty theater auditorium with a camera](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/ilc.jpeg?h=71976bb4&itok=wB0J_JFm)
French and Francophone Studies
Our interdisciplinary program offers undergraduate and graduate level study in the language, literature, and culture of French-speaking countries.
![Aerial view of Paris](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2024-05/Paris.jpeg?h=fd920bc7&itok=eHxyVj7G)
German Studies
Study the language, culture, society, film, literature, history, and politics of Germany through its past and present.
![Three students sit at a table. All three of them are looking at a beaker.](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-02/istep-students.jpg?h=78cca142&itok=1c9UaLzF)
History
History students cultivate skills in historical methodologies, analytical writing, and critical thinking.
![renaissance Center at the College of Humanities and Fine Arts](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2021_Renaissance_Center_IMG_8340_John_Solem.jpg?h=4362216e&itok=IvYi0nnk)
History of Art and Architecture
Prepare for a variety of careers while honing your critical thinking and communication skills and enriching your understanding of visual culture.
![Several old books are displayed on a table, open to elaborate line illustrations.](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-03/art-renaissance-book.jpg?h=0b8e1f21&itok=HYvVFeDO)
Italian Studies
Our approach to Italian studies is highly interdisciplinary, fun, and dynamic, and our students are the global leaders of the future.
![Reflecting water in the Prato della Valle Padua Italy](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-02/Prato_della_Valle_Padua_Italy.jpeg?h=bfa41935&itok=WyY9xX-k)
Japanese Language and Literature
Develop a sound command of the Japanese language and a thorough understanding of the significance and context of Japan’s literature, culture, and civilization.
![Chureito-pagoda-and-Mount-Fuji-Japan](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-02/12-Chureito-pagoda-and-Mount-Fuji-Japan_%2829677439878%29.jpeg?h=8f9cfe54&itok=78s9BWN1)
Judaic Studies
Expand your Hebrew language skills and develop a keen understanding of Jewish history and culture in a program closely allied with Middle Eastern studies.
![A view of Herter Hall on the UMass Amherst campus](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-02/herter-hall.jpg?h=5f3d6caa&itok=m8uCoCT2)
Linguistics
Explore the many complex facets of human language at one of the world’s top linguistics programs.
![in a lab a student uses eye movements to investigate the cognitive processes involved in reading and language processing.](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2016_Psycholinguistics_Lab_js_MG_5785.jpg?h=1116cd87&itok=ZD_lDSml)
Medical Humanities
Medical humanities brings the methods and concerns of humanities disciplines to bear on the study of health and health care.
![humanities students](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-03/2017_College_of_Nursing_js_IMG_9743.jpeg?h=1116cd87&itok=z9n44yfL)
Middle Eastern Studies
Build a foundation in the vibrant languages, cultures, and histories of the Middle East and North Africa.
![a page of a book with Arabic alphabet](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2019_Marjorie%20Rubright_beh_-40.jpg?h=9d951d0e&itok=xQYPtyiE)
Music
Amplify your love of music and intensify your technical skill as you pursue performance, composition, or music education.
![student performing outside](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-03/2020_Music_Dance_IMG_0721_John_Solem_.jpeg?h=1116cd87&itok=u-0x2RkN)
Philosophy
Our students and faculty engage with each other and the wider world to produce philosophy that is rigorous and meaningful.
![Philosophy students at a discussion](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2022_Summer_Philosophy_Program_IMG_2955_John_Solem.png?h=a1e1a043&itok=P-QWlXS7)
Russian, Eurasian, and Polish Studies
Develop a core understanding and appreciation of one of the largest and most significant regions of the world.
![a group of students](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2022_may_awards_group.jpeg?h=52d3fcb6&itok=Mg2Gr5bK)
Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan Studies
Broaden your understanding of the world by learning about language and culture through a wealth of research options and opportunities.
![Two women behind a desk pay attention to a group of small children in front of the desk.](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-03/michaela-zalendi-peru.jpg?h=74f478b6&itok=W1Tc412l)
Theater
Develop your craft and expand your capacity for artistic creation through a collaborative and hands-on study of theater.
![Student performing theater](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/188_2021_UMass_Theater_IMG_0151_John_Solem.jpg?h=1116cd87&itok=VFlC-NpP)
Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies
Examine our society through the lens of gender, class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, and ability.
![group of women around a desk](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-01/2015_Transnational_Feminisms_mkt_MG_0184.jpg?h=6f8e8448&itok=uCOlUGhL)
![Students smiling and working together](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-03/2016_Juniper_js_MG_6106.jpeg?h=1116cd87&itok=Q-GiCRiY)
Opportunity Scholars
The HFA Opportunity Scholars program is a multiyear college readiness and success program that promotes personal and collective empowerment, scholarship, leadership, community engagement, and connection among UMass students, alumni, and community cultural centers.
![Students at the pond](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-02/030_2021_UMass_Theater_L1010910_John_Solem_.jpeg?h=5c87dc81&itok=xhKRygfG)
Exploratory Track
First-year students who are undeclared or undecided on their major are placed in the exploratory track program. This program allows them to explore their options and enables them to take advantage of the advising and support programs embedded within the schools and colleges.
![Studying students](/humanities-arts/sites/g/files/ijdqth226/files/styles/4_3_l/public/2023-02/studying.jpeg?h=6c761a9f&itok=cKDAvNtw)
Financial Aid and Scholarships
We believe an education within the College of Humanities & Fine Arts is an investment in your future.