Feb 27, 2025  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2020-2021 Graduate Catalog

Humanities MH

► Graduate School Policies and Procedures  apply to this program

Requirements for Admission

General rules for admission into the Graduate School , as well as the following apply to admission into the MH program:

  • evidence of a bachelor’s degree
  • an official copy of transcripts from all community colleges, colleges, and universities attended
  • overall GPA of at least 3.2 out of 4.0
  • a writing sample
  • three letters of recommendation (at least two from academic sources)
  • appropriate undergraduate training or professional background, or experience that provide evidence of ability to pursue the MH degree
  • a typed statement specifying the goal of advanced study in the humanities expressed in clear, correct, and effective English. Applicants should provide a statement of their background (education and experience) and its relevance to their proposed interdisciplinary graduate work, and why this graduate program is relevant to their interests.
  • standardized test scores are not required, but will be considered if submitted

After meeting all other requirements for admission, applicants may be required to have an interview to discuss their interest in the program and their plans for study. For out-of-state applicants, an appropriate substitute for the interview may be determined by the directors.

Provisional Admission:

Applicants may be admitted as provisional-status graduate students if their GPA is low and their complete record indicates a high probability of success.

Non-degree Students:

Potential applicants may take CU Denver graduate-level courses as non-degree seeking students (unclassified student with a bachelor’s degree) if they:

  1. wish to strengthen their record in order to demonstrate their potential to successfully complete courses in the program
    -or-
  2. wish to start coursework in the program prior to completing their application, with the understanding that taking courses does not guarantee admission

Up to 12 semester hours of CU Denver graduate-level work taken as a non-degree student or taken from another university may be accepted by the program once a student has been admitted to the program. For further information on non-degree graduate student status, see the Information for Graduate Students  section of this catalog. In the case of CU Denver graduate students transferring to the MH program, previous coursework may be accepted ias appropriate to the MH plan of study. 

International Students:

International students must also meet CU Denver requirements for international admission. See the Information for International Students  section of this catalog or call 303-315-2230 for further information.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Humanities (MH) program is a 36 credit hour program, of which 30 hours must meet all specifications of the Graduate School . Students must earn a minimum grade of B- (2.7) in all major courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 3.0. A grade below B- in any given course will not be counted toward the degree. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA. Courses creditied toward the MH degree must typically be taken at CU Denver (a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours may be transferred from other institutions after matriculating into the MH program, subject to the MH director’s approval). Students wishing to pursue study abroad options must seek advisor approval in advance.

Students may pursue a general MSS degree or concentrate their studies and coursework on an approved track.

Each student’s program is supervised by MHMSS faculty. All independent study, project, and thesis contracts must be approved in advance by the program director. A total of two independent study courses and one internship may count toward the degree. Only one graduate-level online course (up to 3 hours) may be taken toward the degree, with prior approval. A maximum of two 4000-level undergraduate courses may apply, with faculty approval.  Remaining coursework must be 5000-level or higher and must be completed with CU Denver faculty or approved study away programs. All students must complete and pass a final project or thesis and an oral comprehensive defense of that work, in order to graduate.

 

Three Required Core Seminar Courses

Take all of the following courses:

Total: 9 Credit Hours

Electives

Students must complete a total of 21-24 credit hours. Students completing a project rather than a thesis take 24 hours of electives, while thesis students complete 21 hours of electives. Students may choose to create their own curriculum from at least two disciplines addressing their specific research interest. Alternatively, students may choose to follow an approved specialized track. Prior to taking electives, students must meet with a MHMSS program faculty advisor and establish their course of study. If students decide to change their course of study or want to substitute approved coursework, they must meet with a MHMSS program advisor in advance and gain pre-approval.

Study Abroad: Students wishing to count credits accrued from a study abroad program while pursuing the MH must follow the rules of the Graduate School  and must have approval of the program director in advance of studying abroad.

Total: 21-24 Credit Hours

Thesis or Project

In order to proceed with a project or thesis, all students must submit a proposal and gain approval from three faculty members and the program directors.

Total: 3 or 6 Credit Hours

Oral Exam

An oral exam defending the project or thesis before a committee of three faculty members must be passed in order to graduate.

Degree Total: 33-36 Credit Hours

MH Elective Pathways:

General MH Track

Students pursuing the general MH degree track create a course of study based on their individual interests and goals. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students choose two or three academic disciplines as areas of concentration. Students who opt to complete a thesis will submit a thesis proposal after completing 30 hours of course work. In the case of a project, students will submit a project proposal after 33 hours.

Specialized MH Tracks

Students may also focus in one of the tracks in the Master of Humanities program: Ethnic Studies, Health Humanities, Philosophy and Theory, Social Justice, Visual Studies or Women and Gender Studies. Tracks allow students to concentrate their studies in a defined field designed by faculty.  Students who opt to complete a thesis will submit a thesis proposal after completing 30 hours of course work. In the case of a project, students will submit a project proposal after 33 hours.

Ethnic Studies Track

Students pursuing the Ethnic Studies track explore the construction of race and ethnicity by governments and communities through the intersection of popular culture and public policy in both the historical and contemporary contexts.

In addition to the MH Core requirements, students must:

Health Humanities Track

Health Humanities teaches students to the ways in which humanities disciplines interrogate relationships among health, medicine and society and what those disciplines reveal about biomedical knowledge as well as healthcare policies and practices.

In addition to the MSS Core requirements, students must:

Complete all required foundations courses from the list below:

  • HEHE 5000 Foundations of Health Humanities (offered at the Anschutz Medical Campus)
  • HEHE 5001 Foundations of Health Care Ethics (offered at the Anschutz Medical Campus)
Philosophy and Theory Track

The Philosophy and Theory Track in the Master of Humanities Program offers students an interdisciplinary approach to studying philosophy, critical theory, and related theories of criticism and analysis in various Humanities disciplines.

In addition to the MH Core requirements, students must:

Social Justice Track

The Social Justice Track encourages graduate students to broaden and deepen their intellectual tools as well as their practical knowledge as to how democracy, education, consumerism, media, race, class, gender, policy, and law intersect.

In addition to the MH Core requirements, students must:

Visual Studies Track

The Visual Studies Track provides students focused studies in disciplines that apply critical analysis to our visual world, such as art history, museum studies, film studies, new media studies, and cultural studies. In a world whose work forces and creative citizenry are focused on the growth and use of visual technologies, visual literacy with sophisticated analytic skills is critical.

In addition to the MH Core requirements, students must:

Women’s and Gender Studies Track

Students pursuing the WGST track, focus on issues of sex and gender as they manifest in societies through culture, language, politics, visual representation, and history.

In addition to the MH Core requirements, students must: