Humanities: Home
Welcome!
Welcome students of the humanities! This LibGuide is built to give Fisk students an overview of for the School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences at Fisk University. The school shares the common focus on studying human behavior. While each discipline examines human behavior from different perspectives, together they answer the questions that many of us ask about thoughts, actions, and interactions. Check out this guide to learn more about the school and individual departments.
Related Books
Shaping Humanity
Inspired by a lifelong fascination with all things prehistoric, and gifted with a unique artistic vision, Gurche has studied fossil remains, comparative ape and human anatomy, and forensic reconstruction for over three decades. In Shaping Humanity he relates how he worked with a team of scientists to depict human evolution in sculpture for the new hall for the Smithsonian. He reveals the debates and brainstorming that surround these often controversial depictions, and along the way he enriches our awareness of the various paths of human evolution and humanity's stunning uniqueness in the history of life on Earth.
What's Happened to the Humanities?
This volume of specially commissioned original essays presents the thoughts of some of the most distinguished commentators within the American academy on the fundamental changes that have taken place in the humanities in the latter part of the twentieth century. In the transformation of American higher education from the university to the'demoversity,'the humanities have become a less and less important part of education, a matter established by a statistical appendix and elaborated on in several of the essays. The individual essays offer close observations into how the humanities have been affected by declining academic status, by demographic shifts, by reductions in financial support, and by changing communication technology. They also explore the effect of these forces on books, libraries, and the phenomenology of reading in the age of images.
Conflicting Humanities
How might we reinvent the humanities? This is the question at the heart of this provocative volume. It is a difficult mission and definitely one which needs to be addressed with increasing urgency. There is no better cast to confront and problematize this question than the contributors to Conflicting Humanities. They are world-renowned thinkers who can tackle the problem as researchers and teachers but also as prominent public intellectuals.Taking the intellectual and political legacies of Edward Said as a point of departure and frame of reference, the contributors – working in a range of disciplinary settings – consider the current condition of humanism and the humanities. Said's definition of the core task of the Humanities as the pursuit of democratic criticism remains more urgent than ever, though it needs to be supplemented by gender, environmental, and anti-racist perspectives as well as by detailed analysis of the necro-political governmentality of our time. An innovative piece of scholarship, this volume is committed to the refusal of a world riven by new kinds of warcraft, injustice and exploitation.
Department of Behavioral Sciences & Education
The disciplines of education, psychology and sociology comprise the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Education. Psychology and sociology share a common focus—human behavior. Both emphasize the scientific method in answering these questions. Our special education major applies many of the perspectives of these disciplines to an important social institution and to the students the educational institution serves. The teacher certification program allows students interested in elementary or secondary education to pursue a major in a specific academic discipline and to meet the requirements necessary to become an enthusiastic and well-trained teacher.
Academic Disciplines:
- Criminal JusticeThe focus of the criminal justice major is an evolving study of crime, law, and justice that draws upon the knowledge bases of sociology, psychology, law, public policy, statistics, and research methods – all relying on a strong liberal arts foundation. Students will have the opportunity to share real-world experiences and participate in internships. The criminal justice program will offer undergraduate students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and capabilities that blend the theory and practice of criminal justice through a critical analysis of structural inequalities and injustices.
- Homeland SecurityFisk University’s Homeland Security baccalaureate degree program is designed to promote the success of scholars and leaders within a global perspective. Students enrolling in the program will gain an understanding of the modern challenges of transnational security, terror groups, and cyber warfare through a mix of theoretical and applied learning opportunities. At the completion of the program, students will know how to identify and neutralize domestic and international threats and how to perform homeland security investigation.
- PsychologyThe Discipline of Psychology seeks to develop graduates who are well prepared to proceed to graduate training or to employment. The faculty perceives its responsibility as going beyond instruction, to challenge and to stimulate students, and to develop students' commitment to academic excellence, social responsibility, and professionalism.
- Sociology & AnthropologyThe program in sociology seeks to offer to the sociology major the knowledge and skills necessary for pursuing graduate studies and for careers in the professions such as law, medicine, business, teaching, research, government, planning and human services.
- Teacher EducationFisk University, through its philosophy and mission, believes that the best preparation for excellence in teaching is a sound education in the liberal arts, together with highly developed instructional skills and competency in the disciplines comprising the major areas of study. Teacher education is therefore the responsibility of the entire University. Every discipline cooperates with the Office of Teacher Education in offering appropriate courses that lead to certification in specified areas.
Departmental Chair:
Dr. Dani Smith
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Education
Professor of Social Sciences
Office: 220 Park Johnson Hall
Email: dasmith@fisk.edu
Phone: 615-329-8564
Want More Info?
Dr. Kenneth Jones
Dean of School Humanities and Behavioral Social Sciences
Office: 124 DuBois Hall; 101 Park-Johnson Hall
Email: kjones@fisk.edu
Phone: 615-329-8738
Department of Arts & Languages
The Department of Arts and Languages encompasses the major disciplines of English, Modern Foreign Languages, Art, Music and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Our faculty offers a wealth of scholarship and experiences over a broad spectrum. This department is committed to the growth and development of our students as scholars, and contributors to a global community.
Academic Disciplines:
- ArtThe academic discipline of art exposes students to a rigorous program of undergraduate courses that are designed to prepare majors for advanced study and professional careers.
- EnglishWelcome to the discipline of English. As scholars and professors the goal of the faculty is to prepare students for graduate level work and other opportunities that support a higher level of communication and expression in an ever changing world. The discipline strengthens and supports academic excellence while facilitating student’s scholarly development through other key areas of the university.
- Foreign LanguagesThe Department of Modern Foreign Languages at Fisk University is multifaceted in its mission. We are a community of educators and scholars dedicated to our students, their education and our areas of expertise. We encourage our students to go beyond the mastery of verb conjugations and basic grammatical constructions. We promote an awareness of and an appreciation for cultural diversity.
- MusicMusic has occupied a central role in the Fisk experience since the University’s opening in 1866.Today, Fisk continues to provide students the opportunity to develop individual talent, appreciation, and aesthetic sensibility. The Fisk University Music Discipline is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Departmental Chair:
Dr. Holly Hamby
Associate Professor of English
Department of Arts & Languages
School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Office: 204 Park Johnson Hall
Email: hhamby@fisk.edu
Phone: 615-329-8823
Learn More!
Related Guides
- Honors ProgramA guide to help you learn more about the Honors Program at Fisk University!
- EnglishA guide to help you research and locate English materials at Fisk and beyond!
- French Language, History & CultureA guide to help you research and locate French materials at Fisk and beyond!
- Spanish Language, History and CultureA guide to help you research and locate Spanish materials at Fisk and beyond!
- PsychologyA guide to help you research and locate psychology materials at Fisk and beyond!
- SociologyA guide to help you research and locate sociology materials at Fisk and beyond!
- Music/Music EducationA guide to help you research and locate music and music education materials at Fisk and beyond!
- ArtA guide to help you research and locate art materials at Fisk and beyond!
- HistoryA guide to help you research and locate history materials at Fisk and beyond!
- Political ScienceA guide to help you research and locate political science materials at Fisk and beyond!
Put On Your Thinking Cap
Department of History & Political Science
The Department of History and Political Science's philosophy is that it aims to make a difference in the lives of its students so that they can, in turn, make a difference in the lives of other people throughout society. Through our superb faculty, rich curriculum and vigorous extracurricular programs, the department provides an exceptional well rounded education to talented and informed men and women, many of whom go on the pursue graduate and professional degrees.
Academic Disciplines:
- HistoryThe History Department’s goals are to foster the skills that history teaches: analysis, evaluation, and synthesis. To provide students the necessary prerequisites for coherent decision making in all areas of professional life, especially those useful for careers in international relations, public and corporate administration, and law and to develop in history students a greater appreciation of a “multicultural world, a pluralistic nation, and a technological society.
- Political ScienceThe political science department seeks to provide the student with knowledge of political life, research abilities, and the ability to confront problems of political significance. The department seeks to develop graduates who are well prepared to proceed to the next level of academic training or employment in areas where a knowledge of politics is considered both necessary and desirable.
Departmental Chair:
Dr. Jennifer Adebanjo
Associate Professor of Political Science
Department of History & Political Science
School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Office: 102 Park Johnson Hall
Email: jadebanj@fisk.edu
Phone: 615-329-8689
