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Past Articles
A foundation for education:
the humanities program at Reed
You
may have heard your child talk about all those “Hum” papers
that are due, or all the dense books that must be read (Lucretius! Nietzsche!).
It may seem that a vast amount of brain power and time is expended for
humanities, even for those who intend to major in the sciences.
Humanities at Reed—which stretch from the required course in the freshman year through courses in early modern Europe (Humanities 210), modern European humanities (Humanities 220), the Han and Song eras in China (Humanities 230), and senior symposium (Humanities 411) — form a basis for teaching and learning that encapsulates the character and mission of the college itself. Humanities classes establish a common intellectual experience that has united Reedies from all eras. Further, it teaches students the basics of Reed’s conference class system and helps students learn how to deal with different ways of thinking — both through other students from various intellectual and cultural backgrounds and the various fields of study represented in humanities — as well as how to think through problems and articulate their thoughts clearly, in speaking and in writing.
