Humanities and Social Sciences

Humanities

To understand the world in which you live, you must first comprehend the ideologies which have shaped our civilization. By becoming a Humanities student at CF, you will:

• Develop critical thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills enabling you to grow both personally and professionally
• Develop an intellectual appreciation for cultural disciplines
• Gain a deeper understanding of global values

Humanities courses offered at CF include those listed below and will explore many topics.

• Comparative Religions: What is religion? What can religious traditions tell me about human dreams and goals? What do the many world religions have in common, and how do they differ, in terms of beliefs and practices? How is deity conceived around the world?
• Art History: What can I learn from a work of art? How do I know what an artist is trying to say? How does human expression differ among cultures? To what extent is art influenced by social currents and vice versa? Can I learn to enjoy art that is strange to me? What is the difference between art and other sorts of human achievement? How do movements or genres of art reflect social realities of their day — if at all? Does art history have something to teach us, especially if we have no grounding or special interest in art? Are there objective criteria available that help determine what constitutes good art as opposed to that which is mediocre or undistinguished?
• Literature: Why do authors write? Does literature give me insights into my own life? What makes something a poem instead of, say, a story? How do I decide if a novel is good or not? Do writers from around the world write about the same things?
• Mythology: What can I learn from the stories of ancient people? Did ancient people really believe that they were true? Why are myths often so bizarre and filled with monsters and violent gods? Do all myths have “a moral to the story”? Do we still create myths today? If so, how do they function in today’s world?
• Philosophy: What is the meaning of life? Is the world really as I perceive it, or are my perceptions deceptive? Does God exist? Do I freely choose my actions, or are they determined by forces beyond my control? Do I have an immaterial mind in addition to my brain?

Social Sciences

Learn about the contributions of the civilizations that have preceded today’s global society. By becoming a Social Sciences student at CF, you will:

• Develop critical thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills enabling you to grow both personally and professionally
• Develop an intellectual appreciation for interdisciplinary social sciences
• Gain a deeper understanding of global politics and socio-cultural dynamics

The Social Sciences courses offered at CF include those listed below and will explore many topics.

• Anthropology: What is the influence of evolution of the natural environment on the physical characteristics of humans? How have modern homosapiens evolved from earlier species? What are the characteristics of subcultures within contemporary society? What can be learned from the remains of extinct civilizations that left no written record?
• Geography: How do spatial interactions of individuals influence social and cultural development? What are the effects of topography, climates, soil, and resources on physical geography? How do religion, language, and culture shape human geography? What are the economic, political, and social patterns that shape an area’s organization?
• History: What is the focus of research to historians? What tools, techniques, and sources do historians use to understand the past and how societies and people have changed over time? Why is this information essential in the decision-making process for individuals and societies?
• Political Science: What do political scientists study? Why is the study of governments, public policies, and political processes, systems, and political behavior important? Why do political scientists use both humanistic and scientific perspectives and tools and a variety of methodological approaches to examine the process, systems, and political dynamics of all countries and regions of the world? How are power and resources allocated in society? What is the importance of international affairs? What skills can be learned and applied to a variety of careers in government, law, business, international organizations, nonprofit associations, campaign management, journalism, education, politics, and research?
• Psychology: How does the brain work and what is its relationship to behavior? What is the importance of sleep and dreams? How do we learn? Why do we sometimes forget? What is intelligence? What are the major sources of human motivation? How do our unique personalities develop? How can we best manage stress? What does it mean to be normal or abnormal? How are we affected by the behavior and attitudes of others?
• Sociology: How do societies form and evolve over time? What do all societies have in common? Why are some cultures so different from other cultures? How can studying my society give me insights into my own identity and life experiences? What makes societies function smoothly and what are some of the problems many societies face? What creates inequality and conflict among various groups within a society? How are everyday interactions between individuals and groups symbolic of larger social patterns?