Learn from a faculty that includes MacArthur Genius Grant honorees, Pulitzer-Prize winners, bestselling authors and scholars of the highest caliber. As a humanities student, you'll draw from the university’s vast resources, and those of nearby institutions, to add a tangible element to your education.
humanities classes have fewer than 20 students
of recent humanities grads participated in research or creative endeavors
of humanities students studied abroad
museums and cultural institutions adjacent to campus
first-year students invited into the prestigious Baker-Nord Scholars program annually
in funding available for an unpaid internship
Programs
Majors and minors
- Art History
- Ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian Studies
- Asian Studies
- Chinese
- Classics
- English
- Environmental Studies
- French
- French and Francophone Studies
- German
- History
- History and Philosophy of Science
- International Studies
- Italian
- Japanese Studies
- Music Education
- Philosophy
- Pre-Architecture
- Religious Studies
- Spanish
- World Literature
Minor only
- African and African American Studies
- Art Studio
- Creative Writing
- Environmental Nutrition
- Ethics
- Ethnic Studies
- Film
- Japanese
- Judaic Studies
- Photography
- Russian
- Visual Design
Take the first step toward your future at Case Western Reserve. Apply today.
Research and internships
Hundreds of student internships and research projects are funded every year, such as:
JP Peralta
- An art history and theater major and French minor, JP was selected as an educator and interpreter at the American Pavilion of the 2019 Venice Biennale, where he worked with acclaimed sculptor Martin Puryear. He also served as the Warshawsky Fellow, awarded to only two undergraduate art history majors nationally each year, at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Jillian White
- A classics and cognitive science major, Jill spent a summer researching sexuality and gender in ancient Rome. She took part in a study abroad course while there with her mentor, Evelyn Adkins, PhD, assistant director of classics, and pursued her research project “The Real Housewives of Pompeii.”
Jasmine Cuenca
- A history and sociology major, Jasmine interned on Capitol Hill for Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. She drafted constituent letters and summarized briefing sessions she attended, including the impact of social media on the mental health of Black youth and college students affected by homelessness.
Agustín Torres
- Spanish major Agustín spent part of the summer in Mexico researching the contributions of Africans in the colonialism of Veracruz during the early 16th century and how their descendants are keeping their culture alive.
Each Case Western Reserve University student brings their own background and interests to our campus, creating a culture that’s dynamic, diverse and inclusive.
Clubs and organizations for humanities students
With clubs and organizations ranging from Acts of Random Kindness to IMPROVment to the Scuba Club, you’ll find all kinds of ways to pursue your academic goals and personal interests.
A few to check out
- Atlantis (classics club)
- Center for Inquiry
- African American Society
- Anthropology Student Association
- Art Forward (monthly art projects with youth at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center)
- Café Français (French conversation and culture)
- Case Reserve Review (literary magazine)
- Center for International Affairs
- Ceramic Art Club
- Cracking the Case Mystery Book Club
- Der Deutsche Verein/German Society
- Global Ethical Leaders Society
- International Club
- La Alianza (Hispanic/Latinx cultural club)
- La Dolce Vita (Italian club)
- Model United Nations
- Sustained Dialogue (diverse groups discuss campus, local and national issues of concern)
- The Film Society
- Writers Writing Words (creative writing workshops)
Our culture-packed neighborhood
Our campus is in the heart of University Circle, one of the top arts districts in America (USA Today), where you’ll have daily opportunities to interact with our nationally recognized neighbors.
Cleveland Museum of Art
- Widely recognized as having one of the best collections in the world
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Home to the Hamann-Todd Collection of 900 monkey and ape skeletons and 3,100+ human skeletons—including Lucy, the hominin skeleton that upended of our understanding of the process of evolution
Cleveland Institute of Art
- Where our students take classes and collaborate on innovative projects
Severance Music Center
- Home to the Cleveland Orchestra, one of the most celebrated in the country
Cleveland Institute of Music
- Our partner in providing top-tier conservatory training
Cleveland Botanical Garden
- Features the 18,000-square-foot Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse
University Hospitals
- A nationally ranked biomedical research center with top rankings in several specialties
Cleveland Clinic
- Ranked a top-5 hospital in the country (U.S. News & World Report)
Playhouse Square
- The country’s largest performing arts district outside of New York City is just 4 miles from campus
Outcomes
97% of recent humanities grads are employed, in grad school or pursuing their goals within six months of graduation.
Some recent job placements
- AmeriCorps
- City Year
- Cleveland Clinic
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- EY
- General Electric
- Keithley Instruments
- ScribeAmerica
- Teach for America
Some recent grad school acceptances
- Case Western Reserve University
- George Washington University
- New York Film Academy
- The Ohio State University
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Virginia
Events humanities students love
Think Forum: throughout the year
- Free to students, this lecture series brings preeminent writers, scholars and experts from around the world to the university’s Maltz Performing Arts Center. Recent speakers include Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner for his novel The Sympathizer, and activist Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement.
Classics Day: Late September/Early October
- Enjoy a scavenger hunt and insightful tours of the Greek and Roman collections in the Cleveland Museum of Art; catch a reading of a classic like The Iliad in the museum’s Armor Court; and make your own toga in a hands-on Roman clothing workshop.
36-hour Sci-Fi Marathon: January
- For more than 40 years, CWRU students have watched back-to-back sci-fi movies for 30+ hours. Viewing starts at 8 p.m. the first Friday of Spring semester. Snacks and free surprises are part of the fun!
Cleveland Humanities Festival: March and April
- Sponsored by the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities, this collaborative event celebrates the cultural institutions of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio and engages the public in addressing challenging societal issues and concerns. Past themes have included Nature, Truth and Identity.
The Baker-Nord Center is the hub of humanities activities at CWRU—from events and lectures to internships and creative endeavors.