Engaging first-year students in the arts and humanities

Beginning this fall, scholars will have the option to select from nine introductory classes being offered in the Division of Arts and Humanities as part of an initiative led by Sean Kelly, dean of Arts and Humanities and the Teresa G. and Ferdinand F. Martignetti Professor of Philosophy.

To address the widespread issue of diminishing enrollment in these disciplines, the initiative seeks to involve a greater number of first-year students in the academic pursuits.

While Kelly attributes the enrollment decline partly to insufficient focus on these subjects in American high school education, a particular Harvard statistic made him think twice: Approximately 12 percent of first-years arrive with an interest in studying arts and humanities, yet nearly half alter their course by the time they choose their majors.

“That was the detail that really resonated with me,” Kelly stated. “The types of introductory courses we are currently offering don’t captivate our students. That was the concern that prompted us to engage in discussions.”

There are exceptions to this trend — classes in Art, Film & Visual Studies, Theater, Dance & Media, along with creative writing and music performance, remain highly sought after by students. However, Kelly posits that the “Canon Wars” from the ’80s and ’90s — disputes over which key texts define areas such as English or art history — have influenced the structure and attractiveness of many introductory humanities classes. While these discussions expanded our appreciation of what can be deemed a “great work,” Kelly emphasized that they also made it challenging to curate a definitive list of essential readings to introduce the subjects.

“The notion that you are studying something ‘great’ serves as motivation for a student, and our difficulty in asserting any text’s greatness has impacted the kinds of courses we can create and teach,” Kelly clarified. “This complicates matters for a first-year student, as they are unable to grasp what holds significance in the field.”

“I aspire for these courses to meet students at their level and genuinely help them appreciate the fundamental value of our work. My hope is that these courses will profoundly impact their lives.”

Sean Kelly, dean of arts and humanities

Kelly drew inspiration from the Department of Philosophy, which has nearly quintupled its number of concentrators since 2006 after shifting its objectives from preparing students for doctoral studies to stimulating undergraduates’ engagement with fundamental inquiries about humanity and existence. Questions like these can prove advantageous irrespective of a student’s intended career.

The department introduced intro courses such as Professor Samantha Matherne’s “Phil 129: Kant’s ‘Critique of Pure Reason,’” which achieved an enrollment of 80 students, and Professor Gina Schouten’s “Phil 16: Sex, Love, and Friendship,” bringing in 120 students during its initial offering.

Building upon this framework, and after several discussions with faculty last fall, Kelly issued a request for proposals for introductory humanities classes. He received almost twenty submissions. Ten were chosen, with nine set to commence in the 2025-2026 academic year.

This fall, Karen Thornber, Harry Tuchman Levin Professor in Literature and Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, will instruct “Introduction to the Medical and Health Humanities”; Richard F. Thomas, George Martin Lane Professor of the Classics, will teach “Bob Dylan the Classic”; Lauren Kaminsky, associate senior lecturer in History & Literature, is set to lead “Culture in Context”; and Raquel Vega-Durán, senior lecturer in Peninsular and Transatlantic Film and Literature, will offer “Migration and Border Crossing in Film and Photography.”

Next spring, Moira Weigel, assistant professor of comparative literature, will present “Humanity, Technology, and Creation”; professor of linguistics Kathryn Davidson will handle “Language”; and incoming assistant professor of comparative literature Spencer Lee-Lenfield will conduct “Translation and the Craft of Reading Carefully: A World Literature Introduction.”

John T. Hamilton, William R. Kenan Professor of German and Comparative Literature, will offer “HUM 17: The Human Sciences: Fundamentals and Basic Concepts” next spring. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the methods, inquiries, and tools that characterize the humanities, similar to how introductory courses like LS50 or CS50 function in other disciplines. Students will explore metaphor and metonymy, epistemology and ontology, along with the constructs of language, and engage with philosophical concepts such as consciousness, perception, and moral freedom, all topics that
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define what it signifies to explore human culture.

“It does provide you with that foundational framework,” stated Hamilton. “It indicates that if you’re intrigued by the humanities, this is what we engage in, this is how we tackle numerous concepts. Consequently, you may gain a clearer perspective on where you wish to immerse yourself during your subsequent time at Harvard.

“Just as understanding how momentum operates is essential for studying physics, and comprehending cell reproduction is necessary for biology, grasping what a metaphor is, what realism entails, and what consciousness signifies is crucial for engaging in the humanities.”

Laura van den Berg, senior lecturer, alongside Neel Mukherjee, associate senior lecturer in creative writing within the Department of English, will jointly instruct “HUM 9: Reading for Fiction Writers” in the coming fall. This course familiarizes students with a variety of texts, featuring authors such as Anton Chekhov, Ursula Le Guin, and Octavia Butler, to illustrate how reading influences writing and to encourage them to craft their own narratives.

“Our goal is to blend the analytical aspect of the English Department, which prepares students to closely read, comprehend, and dissect texts, with the creative writing aspect, which hones techniques and craftsmanship,” Mukherjee explained. “We sought to unite the two to demonstrate that excellent writing invariably relies on being an astute reader.”

“Our capacity to narrate our own stories to ourselves and to others, as well as to absorb the stories of others — this aspect is fundamental to our identity,” van den Berg concurred. “A more profound, rigorous, and nuanced comprehension of narrative dynamics, of how we engage with stories, and how stories influence us, is exceptionally vital as a human endeavor.”

For Kelly, the introductory course initiative goes beyond merely boosting enrollment; it aims at fostering a more welcoming and dynamic humanities culture for newcomers. He aspires to highlight the inherent worth of the humanities, rather than just their practical applications. As he articulated, it’s the distinction between studying Shakespeare’s “King Lear” to dissect tyranny versus reading it to contemplate what it means to be human.

“I desire these introductory classes to be centered not just on the practical benefits of the disciplines, but on their intrinsic significance. I want them to emphasize why it’s essential for everyone involved in the human endeavor to learn how to appreciate great literature, contemplate profound philosophy, and engage with remarkable art,” Kelly remarked.

“I hope these courses resonate with students where they are and genuinely aid them in recognizing the innate value of what we do. I aspire for them to be transformative courses that make a lasting impact on their lives.”