What IS Humanities? Humanities is a course that studies how we, as human beings, relate to our world. We are perpetually seeking to answer ‘why?’ – a question that humans crave to have answered endlessly so that they better understand their world and how ‘we’ ended up ‘here’, the ‘here’ being any number of political, social, religious (and so on) contexts today. Knowing where, when, and how particular attitudes and beliefs were born helps us to better understand our own codes through self-examination. Understanding the history of peoples, tenets, and resulting art forms also helps us to realize how very human we all are, regardless of continent or place in time. We begin to understand that we are a part of something larger. This leads to compassion, and more importantly, appreciation for those who are different from us. SO, the goal? Identify deeply with humanness; appreciate the beauty and power of diversity; gain greater self-awareness.

“By taking Ms. Rehrig’s [now Paulson’s] Humanities class, not only have I discovered what I have a passion for, but I have had the advantage of realizing this with the guidance of somebody who really cares and shares the same passion . . . My favorite thing is delving into these ancient, faraway cultures and getting lost in discussion of the meanings behind the words of their philosophers, works of art, and literature. If you have ANY interest at all in culture or history, you should take this class and you might just find out that this is where your passion lies…”

Senior, 2008

“Humanities has enabled me to thoroughly explore the history of the world, not simply through a textbook, but through music, art, literature, religion, philosophy, and so much more. This is really a hands on class that challenges you on all levels, but believe me, its SO worth it. The best part about this class, for me, has been the friendships and insight I have gained through the process of dissecting our history and culture. As long as you don't mind putting a little time and effort into this class, your return will be so much more.”Senior, 2009

“Humanities is a class for those who are passionate about culture, religion, art, philosophy, architecture, and ‘living the good life’. With in-depth thinking and mind stimulating class discussions, you’re guaranteed a better understanding of mankind and what unites us all. . . The world has things it wants us to do with our lives, and because of this class, I have found my ‘thing’.” Senior, 2009

It’s a Humanities thing . . . it’s a human thing.

Humanities

ASK ‘WHY ?’

Who can take the class? This class open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Because this is an honors-level class, you must have experience with either pre-AP or AP-level class work. It is a challenging class because, in order to talk about ideas, we must read; in order to discuss art & architecture, we must research. It is really important for any prospective student to be hungry to learn about our humanness and how we express that. The bonus factor!? You get pre-AP bump points (a reward for pre-AP level work).