Muppet maker Jim Henson '60 started his career in puppetry while a student here. His legacy of creativity and innovation still inspires.
Faculty and students in the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) study the cultures of the world, past and present, in all their rich variety. Through teaching and research that investigates human experience, thought, expression and creativity, the college aims to produce creative problem solvers and global visionaries prepared for a wide range of careers, who are ready to serve their communities and the larger society.
Academic Units / Departments
- American Studies
- Art
- Art History and Archaeology
- Classics
- Communication
- English
- History
- Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies
- Linguistics
- Philosophy
- School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- School of Music
- School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
- The Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
College Profile
- 3 Schools
- 11 Departments
- 19 Research centers, institutes & galleries
- 30 Undergraduate major degrees
- 38 Undergraduate minor programs
- 36 Graduate degrees
- 11 Undergraduate & graduate certificate programs
- 2,843 Undergraduate & graduate students
- 96% Job & graduate school placement rate for undergraduate students
*Data pulled from the 2024-25 Academic Year
Location
Our proximity to the rich resources of the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., metropolitan area provides faculty and students with unparalleled research opportunities, as well as the chance to work with organizations and institutions like the Smithsonian, NPR, Congress and the Washington Nationals. You’ll experience the tight-knit feel of a small liberal arts college with all the perks of a national research university.
We invite you to further explore ARHU to see how the college is pursuing its mission to prepare versatile and visionary leaders equipped to address the complexities of the human experience, both globally and locally.
The Value of an ARHU Education
With your ARHU education, you’ll develop the skills that employers seek:
- Creativity
- Analytical & critical thinking
- Ethical reasoning
- Communication
- Emotional intelligence
- Collaboration
- Digital literacy
- Global understanding
- Resilience
- Self-knowledge
- Civic engagement
- Intercultural competence
"Be Worldwise. Get Worldready." An integrated curricular-career initiative.
What is it?
- This undergraduate initiative creatively integrates career preparation in the ARHU curriculum by engaging faculty to develop new and reimagined courses and majors like Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and Immersive Media Design.
- Students apply scholarship to practice while working alongside faculty and partners, including alumni in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. metropolitan region and around the world.
- Career and academic advisors work together with faculty to develop creative programming and advising that ensures that all students have marketable experiences such as study abroad, internships and research.
- Students learn to understand and articulate how the learning outcomes from their coursework provides the knowledge and skills employers and graduate schools seek.
Our "Be Worldwise. Get Worldready." initiative seamlessly integrates career development into your ARHU education so that your academic journey is intentional and prepares you for life after graduation, whether that means going on the job market or continuing on to graduate school.
Learn more about the career initiative.Recent News From Graduates
A Love of Language Leads N’deye Diop ’26 to South Korea on a Fulbright
How a Philosophy, Politics and Economics Major Helped Shape a Policy Brief for Congress
How ARHU Students Can Get the Most Out of the Career Center
A Future in Conservation
From Fan to Force in Sports Media
From Pilot Helmets to Plane Parts, Undergrad Preserves Aviation History in 3D
“Spanish in the Community” Builds Cultural Bridges in College Park
Deciphering History, Unearthing Hard Truths
Exploring French Art and Film: Brendan Berger’s ‘Life-Changing’ Year Abroad