Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a series of responses to common questions regarding the humanities sequence, and reasons to consider these courses as a valuable step towards becoming a successful student and scholar.
Why two terms?
The HUM courses cover a great range of eras and texts. Two Dartmouth quarters allow barely enough time to study this material. Hence the two-term sequence.
If I am accepted, do I have to take both terms?
No. You may choose to complete Humanities 1 in the fall and receive credit for fulfilling the Writing 5 requirement. If you choose not to take Humanities 2 in the winter, which fulfills the first-year seminar requirement, you will be required to take another designated first-year seminar
* Please note: If you begin by taking Writing 5 in the fall term and then decide you would like to apply for Humanities 2 in the winter term as your first-year seminar, you may do so if there are spaces available. More information is available here: https://www.dartmouth.edu/hums1-2/apply_for_humanities_2.html
What do I need to know about the First-Year Writing Requirement?
The first-year writing requirement is a sequence intended to equip students with the skills to develop and present scholarly work. Humanities 1 & 2 together fulfill the first-year writing requirement. That is, Humanities 1 replaces Writing 5 and Humanities 2 replaces the first-year seminar.
What dates do I need to know?
The application period for Humanities 1 (Fall 2023) and Humanities 2 (Winter 2024) opened on June 1, 2023 and closed on Friday, June 30, 2023. The application for Humanities 2, 2024 is currently open.
Apply for HUM 1 and 2 (summer deadline) at http://www.dartmouth.edu/hums1-2/forms/appform.html.
Apply for HUM 2 (fall deadline) at https://www.dartmouth.edu/hums1-2/forms/h2appform.html
Who are this year’s faculty?
Winter 2024, Varieties of Intimacy, will be taught by Paul Carranza (Spanish and Portuguese), Ainsley Morse (Russian & Comparative Literature), and Dennis Washburn (Asian Societies, Cultures and Literatures; Comparative Literature).
The course will also feature guest lectures from Veronika Fuechtner (German and Comparative Literature), Carlos Minchillo (Spanish and Portuguese), Steve Swayne (Music), and Paul Young (Film and Media Studies). Vievee Francis and Matthew Olzmann (English and Creative Writing) will visit the class at the end of the term to discuss their poetry.