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Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (AHSS)

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BECOME A PIONEER

 

 

For every student, there's a different reason to love DU.

 

Admission & Student Programs

Liberal Arts Advantage

The Liberal Arts Advantage (LAA) a program to support Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences students by enriching your intellectual life beyond the classroom.

The Liberal Arts: studies such as languages, philosophy, sociology and psychology, intended to provide general knowledge and to develop general intellectual capacities like critical  thinking and excellent writing, as well as life skills that enable students to adapt to many kinds of careers, as opposed to centering their education on job preparation.

Advantage: benefit or gain; any opportunity or state favorable to success or a desired aim.

What does LAA offer you?

The LAA program helps AHSS students discover and learn to articulate the meaning and value of a liberal arts education. We do this in three ways:

LAA invites you to academic and intellectual experiences outside of the classroom.

LAA has partnered with the office of career services to help you apply your liberal arts skills to your career.

LAA offers advising to AHSS students.

Incoming freshman and transfer students have FSEM advisors to provide you with guidance as you adjust to being a DU pioneer. Once you declare a major, you will be notified of your academic advisor. But if you need special advising, LAA is here for you.

Make an appointment with Ginni Ishimatsu, associate dean of undergraduate studies and director of the Liberal Arts Advantage program.

"A liberal arts education leaves you with many treasures - ideas grappled with, novels explored, art appreciated, history revealed - that enrich your life forever. I have benefitted immensely, both personally and professionally, from the legacy of my undergraduate studies at DU, and cannot imagine a better way to slip into the difficult world of adulthood."

-Thomas Kulik,
BA '71, psychology
Pediatric Cardiologist
 

 Why study within AHSS?

AHSS students share a common passion for human expression, understanding, identity, and activity as they evolve collectively and individually, across time and space. Our award-winning faculty members incorporate their national and international research and creative endeavors into the classroom to enhance your learning experience.

As an AHSS student, you will learn the theories and techniques of your field as well as the skills to:

Think critically

Alumna Annemarie Vaccaro (MA, sociology, and Ph.D., higher education, '05), assistant professor of human development and family studies at the University of Rhode Island, strives to practice what she teaches. She and two colleagues published Safe Spaces: Making Schools and Communities Welcoming to LGBT Youth, a nonfiction work that chronicles the lives of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth, weaving together her research, recent news stories, and public policy trends.

Communicate effectively

The Civil War was the largest, bloodiest conflict fought on American soil, but today its geography is often obscure. Susan Schulten, professor and chair in the history department, was chosen to curate the map section of a long-term project for the New York Times commemorating the 150th anniversary of the secession crisis. Schulten used maps to illuminate the crisis and the war it produced.

Gain knowledge to forge new ideas

Kristin Mallinger, graduate student in Electronic Media Arts and Design (eMAD), designs and constructs garments and then integrates electronics into the garment creating a wearable computing experience. Her designs are less a fashion statement than an artful social experiment.

Adapt to different cultures and increase intercultural skills

Jon Parker (BA '08) is a master's degree student in musicology and a graduate teaching assistant at DU. He also is the host and producer of Traveling the World With Music, a TV travel show that explores the connection between music and native foods in different cultures.

Contribute meaningfully

DU alumnus and communication studies Professor Roy Wood served as a founding member of Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission for an unpaid four-year appointment following a nomination from former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. The commission was created with the passage of Amendment 41 — now Article 29 of the Colorado constitution — in November 2007. The article deals with standards of conduct in government, and the amendment was a citizen initiative to clean up influence in state politics.