Humanities | Ithaca College

Departments and Programs in the Humanities:

STUDYING THE HUMANITIES:

The humanities probe the existential questions of what it means to be human, now and through time. Students investigate the myriad ways in which people express their understanding of the world. They explore moral and cultural ideas, values, symbols, images, and texts, and reflect upon and interpret the meaning of human experience. Whether grappling with the significance of a historical or literary text, debating the meaning of right and wrong, or articulating their thoughts in a new language, students are encouraged to ask questions and think critically, in the classroom and in the community.

What Careers do Humanities Students Pursue?

Our alumni are attorneys, editors, authors, agents, consultants, curators, collection specialists in museums, educators, entrepreneurs, librarians, leaders in arts organizations and non-profits, translators, and much more. Our graduates develop intellectual flexibility. They can adapt to constantly changing circumstances, and they have the confidence and imagination to envision solutions to our society's most pressing problems. They go on to become active, compassionate members of their communities and knowledgeable leaders in their fields, equipped with an invaluable understanding of the relationship between the day-to-day work they do and its impact on the larger world.

Jalen Lisbon '22 earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Writing. While a student in H&S, he gained valuable experience as a tutor in the Writing Center, and then as a student leader in the New Voices Festival where he moderated discussions, prepared contracts for visiting guest speakers—skills he still employs as a Program Development Officer at the West Side Community Fund, a consortium of leading companies based on the west side of Manhattan that have come together to support local and neighborhood initiatives in Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and Hell’s Kitchen. Of his time at Ithaca College, Lisbon says, “Students of writing, especially at IC, are always working on their craft, but the New Voices Festival taught me the value of working behind the scenes in a more managerial capacity. I learned that being an author, editor, or teacher is not the only avenue for someone who loves literature, and I learned how needed every role is.” Prior to WSCF, Lisbon was hired as a Programs & Partnerships Assistant at Poets & Writers in October 2022. There, he and his team supported writers by providing grants for their public readings and by putting on workshops, such as Mapping the Maze.

"A student’s undergraduate experience, and how well the experience advances [learning] (knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, intellectual and practical skills, personal and social responsibility, integrative and applied learning), is what matters... with 80% of employers agreeing that all students need a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences."

The Harvard Business Review

Theodore McDarrah '17 earned a B.A. in Philosophy. He is currently an Administrator and Analyst at Claims Conference, which represents world Jewry in negotiating for compensation and restitution for Holocaust victims and their heirs. Previously, McDarrah was a Data Specialist for the Osborne Association, New York State's leading criminal justice reform nonprofit. He holds a master's degree in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research in NYC and is a bi-weekly philosophy columnist at Forbes. His writing explores the impact that studying and doing philosophy can have on today's leaders. He is grateful to the Philosophy & Religion Department, especially Professors Tatiana Patrone and Craig Duncan, for cultivating the love of wisdom he has today.

Abigail Jamiel '11 earned a BA in Art History, where she also rowed on the Varsity Crew Team. She is currently the Emerald Network Director for the LivableStreets Alliance in Boston, MA, a non-profit organization that advocates for transportation solutions that are safe, affordable, and which make the community more connected and livable by removing barriers that divide communities and people. As an Urban Planner, Abby is particularly interested in the intersection of public space, arts and culture, and climate migration. Previously, she also worked as an urban planner with Agency Landscape + Planning. She taught as a volunteer with WorldTeach in Ongewdiva, Nambia, and as a U.S. Fulbright recipient in Polokwane, South Africa. She holds a Masters in Urban Planning with concentrations in Urban Design and International Development from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.