How F&M Does Humanities

When you hear us say “humanities,” we mean subjects that study aspects of human society and culture. Subjects as wide-ranging as art and art history, music, dance, philosophy, literature and more can be found under the humanities umbrella.

When you study humanities at F&M, you'll explore the ways people across different times and places make sense of their lives in diverse forms of artistic, cultural and intellectual expression. Through your courses and hands-on work, you'll examine the range of human experience through the study of languages, literatures, philosophies, religions and cultural and artistic productions.

Mia Gwirtzman '23 has a discussion with Nicholas Bonneau, adjunct professor of history. Gwirtzman recorded a podcast focus on research in art history and public health.

Out-of-the-Classroom Learning

We emphasize hands-on experiential work. When you study humanities at F&M, you’ll have opportunities to step out of the classroom and into the field to engage in different, dynamic forms of learning. With off-campus study and research opportunities, internships and more, you’ll collaborate with world-class humanities faculty, engage with the community, get practical, real-world experience and explore questions students elsewhere might only read about.

Explore experiential learning at F&M

Careers in Humanities

After graduating from F&M, many of our students pursue graduate studies in the humanities at leading programs around the world.  Other students leverage the skills they've gained from the humanities — writing, analysis, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and cultural knowledge and awareness among others — and find success in careers in education, law, medicine, business, the nonprofit sector, and more.

Explore success beyond F&M »

See Humanities at F&M in Action

March 6, 2025

Art History Student Explores Portraiture Through a New Lens

Mary Wade ’25 was interning with the Phillips Museum of Art when a particular set of photographs caught her eye. The photos, taken by 20th century photographer Mike Disfarmer, inspired an independent study researching the evolution of portraiture.

March 4, 2025

Humanizing Medicine by Embracing the Liberal Arts

Jocelyn Chow ’26 has challenged herself as an F&M student with sights set on medical school — and she is using the arts and student life as tools to get there.

February 19, 2025

Student Film Chronicles French Farm Living

Abby Metcalf ’25, a film and media studies major, found herself increasingly immersed in French culture and cinema during her time at F&M. That interest deepened when she studied abroad in France, where she produced her own documentary and participated in the work of a rural farm commune.