University of Washington Seattle

Office of Admissions

• Majors
  • The Arts
  • Health Sciences
  • Humanities
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  • Math, Computing & Engineering
• First Year Programs
• Experiential Learning
• University Honors Program
• Making the Grade

HUMANITIES

Scott Brauer, Russian Language, Literature & Culture; Philosophy. Photo editor of the Daily, spring 2005; Bonderman “Wonder and Wander” Scholarship recipient, 2003. “I took this self-portrait while walking across a tundra field outside of Vorkuta, Russia, above the arctic circle, hoping the -40° temperatures wouldn’t break the film in my camera.”

Students in the humanities are experts on words from how our mouths make a syllable to how our minds make a book. They translate, converse, interpret, and write in tongues from all over the world. They examine the language that has been made into literature and they even make literature of their own. They look at the stories we craft for each other and why it is important to tell them. But language is not the only thing that distinguishes humans from other species. Humanities majors also explore the nuances and outer reaches of human thought, our philosophical dilemmas, our quandaries and convictions. They study how we live as individuals and how we collaborate to create a culture. Imagine translating a passage of Greek or Hebrew written thousands of years ago. Imagine studying abroad in Italy, Norway, Korea, or Jordan. Imagine internships with radio stations, international film series, and social service agencies. Imagine learning in a place where challenging thought and exhilarating discussion are part of every day’s education. Skilled thinkers and strong writers, humanities graduates go on to careers as linguists, film critics, and educators. They become interpreters, speech therapists, lawyers, diplomats, and poets. They bring invaluable human insight to the fields of government, publishing, technology, and commerce. They keep us connected to our past, to our experiences, and to ourselves.

Student Profile

“Three years after I came to the UW from Great Falls, Montana, as a pre-computer science major, I could hold a conversation or read Tolstoy in Russian. I still can’t believe that. Through World Civilization courses in the Honors program, I got interested in Russian literature, and Computer Science just fell away. Studying languages here is nothing like high school: it’s very quick out of the starting gate (a few days for the Russian alphabet!), it’s challenging, and you get into great literature right away.

When I think about how my UW education has changed me, I realize I’ve learned how to be interested in everything. I find myself a whole lot more curious, asking questions, opening up the closed doors. I used to hate rap music; now I find all these connections between rap music and Pushki’s poetry. After graduation, I have a great job in New York working with an international photojournalism agency. I’m more than ready.”